Another picture from Al. Thanks Al! Taken 10/25/03
4 weeks
November 4th, 2003
Okay gang, hate to rush anybody but we have to figure out who's going where. I was talking to Mark, from California, last night and realized the babies will be 6 weeks old this weekend.
I need to figure out who has to go to the vet for a health check before flying to California. If we wait too long it will be too cold to fly and Mark and Heather won't get their baby until Spring.
I'll try to get more pictures but no flash and too cold and wet for babies to go outside. Excuses, excuses, excuses, hehehe.
Babies got de-worming number three today.
Mark and Heather;
Flight # 5679 leaves La Crosse, Wi. at 11:10 a.m.
Arrives in Minneapolis, Mn. at 12:01 p.m.
Flight # 315 leaves Mn, Mn. at 2:30 p.m.
Arrives at LAX, Ca. 4:19 p.m.
These same flights go every week day. Northwest Airlines.
Two and a half hour lay-over in Mn, Mn. = $175.96
(V.I.P. Flight, one hour lay-over = $275.00)
24 hour notice to get the flight.
Trying for the 25th of November so I have Monday to give notice. You need to find out where Northwest CARGO PICKUP is. It's often a totally different building than where the passengers load and unload.
You'll need a clean, throw away, rug, towel, whatever, to replace the bedding baby flew with. Be prepared for a messy puppy. Garbage bag and paper towels can't hurt.
Bring a little jug of water. I put ice cubes in two little trays but he could be thirsty by the time he gets there. The ice cubes don't slosh out right away and tend to provide water longer.
They used to say the babies couldn't fly if the temperature was below 35 or above 85 degrees. Animals fly under the plane with the cargo. Today she said 10 degrees. She said the cargo area is pressurized the same as the cabin. I don't trust that. I'm stickin' with 35 and 85. But now you guys don't have to worry about the airlines turning us away if it's too cold. You just have to fight it out with me :)
Warning to EVERYBODY, don't take the puppies ANYWHERE until they've had ALL OF THEIR SHOTS!!
My first Akita had 2 sets of shots when I got her. I tried to save a little money and brought her to a "shot clinic" at Pet Co. Within two weeks she was dead of Parvo! Two shots aren't good enough to protect them. They need ALL their puppy shots before being exposed to ANYTHING.
Stock up on Purina Puppy Chow. I'd get the brown or blue bag for a while and then switch to the Puppy Large Breed Formula at 4-5 months. I tried the large breed stuff and the chunks seem to big for the little guys. They seem to eat the smaller chunks better. The three varieties of Purina Puppy Chow are similar enough that I haven't had any problems switching between the three of them.
If you want to switch to another brand of puppy food you have to do it gradually. I think Purina Puppy Chow is balanced and complete. Once baby is 7-8 months old you should switch to an adult food. If you want to continue to feed dry food find something with MEAT as the first ingredient. I feed all my big kids Purina Dog Chow mixed with Pedigree canned food and hot water. I don't think Purina Dog Chow is complete alone. I do swear by Purina products. There are some very good adult foods made by Purina, "Lamb and Rice", "One"... Totally up to the new owners of course. I've got 5 adults and no allergy or tummy problems with Purina and Pedigree. Knock on wood :)
Right now the babies are "free feeding". That means I keep a big pan of dry Puppy Chow out and they can eat all they want. When you get your baby home you can either continue with this or start 3 times a day feedings. I find free feeding the best with Akitas. I think they're less likely to be food aggressive if they know it's there all the time and they can eat whenever they want to. The dogs we've rescued scoff their food and aggressively protect it. We think that's because they often had to wonder when their next meal was coming and they had to experience hunger. Don't worry, they won't over eat and get sick.
Have fresh water available at all times. Akitas seem to drink more than other breeds.
HOW EXCITING IS THIS?!?!?!
November 5, 2003
Mellissa just asked me about shots. So I don't have to repeat myself, ELEVEN times, hehehe, here's the deal :)
I used to start their shots at 6 weeks. I don't any more. I don't like pumpin' stuff into um when they're so little. The vets really don't know when mama's antibodies stop working and when the shots should start. Since Sasha is still nursing them I'm assuming they're still protected. Seems to me that's how nature would work it.
I think the vets suggest starting at 6-9 weeks with their first Parvo shot at 5 weeks. (I'm not poking tiny babies with scary stuff nor will I haul eleven pups to the vet for him to do it. The only disadvantage I can see is it's a little longer before they can go out in public with ya. Even on the trip home you must do your pit stopping at out of the way places where other dogs haven't been. Lots of Parvo in Illinois! Don't let um near any animal poo of any kind.) Next week Sasha will start drying up. She only goes in the bedroom with the kids 2-3 times a day now. So I'll probably start the shots on the 14th when they're 7 weeks old. (Any and all shot information will be included with your paperwork. Ready to take to your vet.) The shots should be administered 3 weeks apart. 3 sets of shots. So, 1st shot at 7 weeks, 2nd at 10 weeks, 3rd at 13 weeks. Some vets suggest 4 sets. I'm not sure if that's for extra protection or for veterinarian revenue. Don't let um con you into bringing the puppy in for a weight check for Heartworm medication either. We all know that a 6 month old Akita, male or female will be over 50 pounds. Just get the 51-100 pound doses. As soon as you get your puppy call your vet. You'll be able to tell him what puppy has had to date and he'll take it from there. Make sure your vet knows about bloat. My breeding program has been bloat free, knock on wood, but better safe than sorry. Also ask the vet if he knows that Akitas are sensitive to some drugs.
November 6th - babies are almost 6 weeks old.
Doesn't get much
cuter than this!
Still getting used to the camera. Can ya tell? hehehe
Blooper, her big girl name is Stella :)
Boo-Boo, pullin' on the rug. He's not the only one :)
He's neat shades of brown. I don't think he'll get brindling. Not sure about this
guy yet. He sure is
adorable!!!
Boo-Boo
Boo-Boo
Boo-Boo
Blooper/Stella
Goof
I brought um out, into the living room, two by two.
They were all a little hesitant at first but soon were all looking for trouble.
Goof wandered around for a while and then laid down, near me, with a bone. He's the most like his daddy. Lazy and care free. :)
Boo-Boo reminds me of Blitzen/Zachy and Chevy/Kodiak. Personality wise. A little more hesitant and thoughtful about stuff.
There's Marky with my slipper. He wasn't the first to chew on it, today, but he was the first to carry it around the living room. hehehe
Goof
Marky
Looks are deceiving :)
My boot says, "Gen-5", which is kinda' funny since this is Sasha's 5th litter. :)
Oops
"Scooter"
Oops
Marky
Marky
Yikes
Yikes
Champion rug pullers.
Yikes
He's got pretty eye shadow around his eyes.
The other three white
boys, and Missy, all look like Oops but they're bigger and their ears aren't up yet. They're noses are a little more square than Oops too.
Boot Scootin' Boogie
Don't Kick the Baby - "Baby"
From "South Park" :)
Blooper/Stella
"Baby"
Mama's Sweet Skeet - "Skeeter"
Woah
Woah
Woah
Woah
Woah
Woah is lookin' most like Macky did at this age. I think he's the biggest puppy now too. I just weighed Goof and Missy and they both weighed about 10 pounds. They're too big for the scale and they won't hold still. :) Missy is the tallest and the longest but Woah and Goof weigh the most.
Blooper/Stella seems to be the bravest. They all take turns though. Same with the size and weight thing.
I'll get the white kids out this afternoon and try to get some pictures. Won't be able to tell them apart though. Except one is always having the hiccups, one's a girl, and Oops is still the smallest.
I only managed to get 2-3 nails clipped on each puppy. I shoulda' done it when they were 3 weeks old. They're on a mission now and won't hold still. Their new vets can take up where I leave off. :)
3 babies still available, Nov. 7th, 2003. Soon we will know who. Right gang???
There's two of the white boys. The guy with his ears almost up looks just like Oops. They're the smaller of the five. Missy, the guy here with his ears down, and the other white guy all look alike. A little more blocky like their daddy.
"Am I cute or what?"
I went in to clean up the place and some of us didn't bother to get up :)
It might be nice enough tomorrow to go outside and play!
Blooper/Stella
???
Goof
Boo-Boo sleepin' with the dish ON his head. He don't care :)
Boo-Boo
Gloomy today, pictures are coming out worse than usual.
Too cold to play outside. I let um run around the hallway and bathroom this morning while I cleaned their pen. Adventure for all of us :)
Boo-Boo
"I'm big enough to eat this stuff!"
Woah
Woah
Bobble, Bumble or Uh-Oh???
Uh-Oh was the biggest at birth. Oops was the smallest and Bumble and Bobble weighed the same. Either Bumble or Bobble caught up to Uh-Oh and the other is slightly bigger than Oops. No, this isn't a riddle or a story problem. Just seems like it. :)
The rug thing is in the genes. Sure can't leave one out on the back deck. Gives new meaning to the words, rag rug :) Maaaaaac.
Bobble, Bumble or Uh-Oh???
Woah found the bone bin.
Bobble, Bumble or Uh-Oh???
Woah
I've been lettin' um run around free and now they don't want to be in the pen. Some of um anyway :)
Akita in training :)))))
He carried that all over the living room. hehe
It was soooooo funny. It's bigger than him and he kept trippin' over it.
This is also either Bumble or Bobble. He's the guy that's only slightly bigger than Oops. Can't be Uh-Oh. Process of elimation :)
This guy was dragging the garbage bag full of poopy papers through the kitchen a second ago.
