Small Dog Puppies and Big Dog Puppies

Oh my gosh, small dog puppies are SO much easier than big dog puppies. At least in large quantities.

Clean up takes a fraction of the time and the correlating stink is also much lighter!

Maybe the best part is that I can hold three of four of them on my lap at a time (which still leaves two yelling for my attentions).

And talk about cuteness – why are small things so much cuter than large things?

I’ve repurposed my cat tunnel for the puppies and they love it (although I’m not sure the kitties will love it or how I’ll get it clean after it’s been rolled through multiple tiny poop piles).

I’m getting to know these little darlings, and honestly, they are all sweethearts.

Peter is the most independent – he loves the tunnel and new things tossed into the pen. He eats faster than his brothers and consequently, he has a huge round belly and waddles for an hour after he eats.

Benjamin is the most confident and also certain that if I’m in the pen, it’s to see him. He loves his littermates and will lie on his back and invite their wrestles. He’s that middle of the pack puppy – not too bossy, not too shy. He’s also a mini-me of his mama (there’s one in every litter), so hopefully, he got her sweet disposition too.

Flopsy is a goofball and really enjoys his toys – growling and pouncing on them, and then shaking them, like a real dog! He piles them on the beds (and in the sleeping crate), like a little hoarder.

Flopsy and Mopsy can both climb the fence – kind of like a cat would – which is a first for me and puppies. They usually make it about a third to halfway up and then fall back down. Agile little critters!

Mopsy is quieter and loves to cuddle. That said, he can also hold his own with the larger crew. His small size/weight (he’s the littliest) probably gives him an advantage on the fence climbing. His coloring is just like a rottweiler – with the shield across his chest, brown legs and butt and eyebrows, he’s a toy rottie.

Tiggy Winkle is simply scrumptious – such a darling heart-shaped face and round inquisitive eyes. And he’s feisty – getting into the midst of everything. But he’s also the first to hit the puppy (repurposed cat) bed at naptime. He also poses well for pictures – maybe there’s a turn as an Instagram star in his future.

And Cottontail is beautiful and seems to know that. He loves snuggles, and is the first one to the fence at the sound of me (or his mama). He is more a cream color than a white color and has faint fawn-colored patches. I only imagine he’ll get more beautiful as he grows. He reminds me of a miniature white lab.

Two of the puppies have approved adopters. I’m hopeful that everyone will find an adopter before I leave for shelter tour April 14. If not, they’ll be moved to another foster home. The puppies (and Beatrix) are available for adoption through Operation Paws for Homes.

Beatrix Potter is also looking for another foster home, so she doesn’t spend two lonely weeks alone in my office. She’s such an easy girl, that I’m sure my family could take care of her, but it would be better for her to be in a home with humans. She is great with everyone she meets, including other dogs (she’s very submissive). She is housebroken, crate-trained, quite, and wonderful on a leash (but at 24 pounds it wouldn’t be an issue if she wasn’t!).

If you’ve ever thought of fostering, Beatrix would be a great first foster experience. She has just stopped nursing this week, so she’ll have to wait four more weeks to be spayed, but then I’m sure she’ll be adopted quickly. They don’t come any easier and sweet as this girl. For information on fostering, visit OPHRescue.org, and hit me up if you have any questions about it!

Meanwhile, we had a quick visit from Gracie Lou, who was very curious about what was behind the curtain (Beatrix and the puppies!). She looks great and it still amazes me that no one has chosen to adopt her.

Marley is also still here, waiting patiently. She’ll relocate to another foster home while I’m gone. The more time I spend with her, the more I believe we should amend her bio to say that she loves children and would be fine in a home where children know how to treat a dog respectfully. I also think she’d do well with another dog – one bigger than her and maybe male. She needs activity. She is bored out of her adorable skull here with just me and my laptop for company (my personal dogs are not dog-friendly so they don’t interact with her, much to her loud dismay).

She recently went to the vet to have two tiny lumps checked out. Thankfully, they both proved to be benign. She didn’t enjoy the temperature taking, but was great for the needle aspiration and definitely didn’t hold it against Dr. Moffitt (who adored her).

As I get ready to leave on a shelter tour, I can’t help but mention how hard things are right now in rescue. We desperately need more foster homes to save lives. If you’ve ever considered it, please give it a try. Contact me if you have questions, and contact your local rescue to get involved.

NOTE: The Humane Society of Shenandoah County really needs dog fosters. Too often they can’t help because there are so few foster homes (exactly two). I’d love to have you join us and save more lives right here in the valley. Sign up at HSSCVA.org or contact me.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com.

If you’d like regular updates of all our foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips, and occasional foster cat updates (!) be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org and subscribe to our blog where we share stories of our travels to shelters, rescues, and dog pounds.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Or its follow up that takes you to the shelters in the south One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

If you’d like to support the work we do (and save the rescue and me some money), shop our Amazon wishlist.