Almost time to go home already! December 5

​These last 2 weeks have been busy for this litter. Thankfully, the record-setting amount of November rain finally ceased and we were able to quickly resume potty training outside, which has been going incredibly well. This fluffy litter is also a playful bunch — they especially like their rope toys and tennis balls. Playtime outside also involves nature’s toys: pinecones and leaves! As you can see in the pictures, leaves are fun to chase, romp around with, and put between your teeth (we caught one puppy saying “Cheese!”). Mama Lacey has gracefully neared the end of weaning them and it’s delightful to watch her play and interact with them.

Cashew - new name is Clover! female, buff, 4.9 pounds

Peanut - now known as Sky! female, buff, 4.4 pounds

Hickory - keeping the name Hickory! male, apricot, 4.8 pounds

Mac - new name is Calvin! male, buff, 5.2 pounds

Hazel - now called Joelle! female, apricot, 4.6 pounds

Looking forward to meeting our families! November 13

​Lacey's puppies have reached 4 weeks of age. They are getting close to meeting their new families! The McLaughlin kids are interacting with the puppies throughout the day, taking notes on their behaviors and individual temperaments. We like to think the puppies are also taking mental notes -- that it's a world filled with trustworthy big people who want to snuggle, play, and even do noisy things like ride hoverboards nearby (in the house no less!).

Cashew - female, buff

Hazel - female, apricot

Hickory - male, apricot

Mac - male, buff

Peanut - female, buff

Pups are 3 weeks old already! November 5

Hickory - male, apricot, 1.6 pounds

Hickory was the first of the litter to walk across the whelping box. We’ve noticed he is already moving away from his sleeping corner to take care of business in another corner! 

Peanut - female, buff, 1.6 pounds

​Peanut has a beautiful buff color and the waviest coat in the litter. Like the others, she is walking a little in between being in a tight pile sleeping with her litter mates. 

Cashew - female, buff, 1.8 pounds

It’s hard to tell much about personality at this point, but Cashew was the one we caught trying to play first! Cashew and Peanut look almost identical. Like the others, she’s progressed from seal-like dragging movements to being up on all fours. 

Hazel - female, apricot, 1.7 pounds

Hazel started walking the same day as Hickory. She’s the darkest of the 3 girls and the faint white markings on her chin, chest, and bottom of paws is most pronounced. 

Mac - male, buff, 1.9 pounds

“Big Mac” is sturdy and handsome, standing out as having a larger build than brother Hickory, and he is notably lighter. This big guy is just as likely as the others to yawn the most giant yawn a 3 week old puppy ever could when we pick him up for human snuggles. Adorable, Mac!

Lacey's Litter is Here! October 14

Lacey surprised the McLaughlin family Sunday evening by making an early and fast debut into the world of motherhood! Thankfully, our oldest daughter was at home that evening with the dogs and her keen instincts picked up on Lacey’s mild behavior changes. We hurried home to assist and got there in time for Lacey’s first delivery — little “Hickory,” the smallest and darkest of the two boys, came at 8:37pm.

After Hickory, Lacey’s other four pups were delivered like clockwork, one every hour... and with relative ease! We praised Lacey for her calm demeanor while navigating the new territory of contractions, pup licking, and nursing! All the puppies are gaining weight steadily and staying warm with Lacey and some heating apparatuses!

We went with a nut theme for this litter:
--Hickory, 6.7 oz, male, darker
--Peanut, 6.7 oz, female, lighter with largest light spread across chest
--Cashew, 7.0 oz, female, lighter
--Hazelnut (“Hazel”), 6.9 oz, darker, small white patch on chest
--Macadamia (“Mac”), 7.8 oz, male, lighter