Violet's 2026 Puppies ~ 7 Weeks Old

Welcome to week 7 - it is full of energy and curiosity!  7 week old puppies are challenging to photograph as they want to explore rather than sit and show off their cuteness.  With many theatrical noises, I managed to capture their cuteness today.  In true Sadie style, she was the only one to lie down during the photo shoot.  (In case you missed their introduction videos - see them here and get a window into their personalities.)  Click on their pictures for more photos and details of each puppy.

Life changes rapidly for puppies as they transition from care from their mother to care from us.  Violet no longer feeds or cleans the puppies.  We feed them three times a day.  They are now able to handle dry kibble.  We choose to feed all our dogs food and treats from Life's Abundance.  Read all about it here.  As independent representatives for the company, you are helping support our family when you purchase their products through us here.

What we are feeding the puppies

The puppies also got their first bath in the past week.  We keep the first bath short and full of lots of positive encouragement.  Still, it is not their favorite experience, but they love the clean feeling after the bath and brush.  They smelled wonderful after the experience as well because we used our favorite pet shampoo.

And, we now have lots of puppy teeth!  Chewing is a very important part of a puppy's life - it aids in reliving teething pain, it helps them explore their big, new world, and it's simply an enjoyable activity.  Chewing is not a problem in dogs, but chewing on the incorrect items is a problem.  We begin their training by not allowing them to chew on our fingers and toes.  For some reason, puppies love toes!  Instead of people, we steer them towards some healthy chewing options.  We love Life's Abundance chew products because many of them are a single ingredient!  No unhealthy additives.

These water buffalo lung chews are our go-to puppy chew product. It's the first one we introduce to them. It is somewhat spongy and dry, and it does not have an offensive odor.

These water buffalo bully sticks are a favorite among the Russell canines. They are much harder than the buffalo lungs, and they do have a bit more odor than the lungs. I like them because they last longer once the puppies are older.
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We've given the puppies plenty of new experiences since our last update - hearing the lawn mower from a distance, playing with various toys of different textures, going outside in the dark and in the drizzle, meeting new people, and much more!

On the house training front, these little guys are well on their way!  Thanks to the lovely weather we've been having, we take this litter outside every few hours.  It is amazing how quickly they prefer the outdoors to their "potty box" inside.  While I tell families taking puppies home that their puppy is not house trained, they are doing a very good job!  They are absolutely ready for crate training as they keep their bedding area clean.  However, with puppies, accidents are inevitable - enter Life's Abundance Biodeodizer spray!

If you'd ask us what are some must-have product for puppies, this biodeodizer spray would be at the top of our list.  It is safe to use around pets and children, and it eliminates the odor naturally with viable bacteria cultures.  I haven't found a surface yet that I can't use it on - including ones that come in to direct contact with the puppy, such as crates and bedding.  

As this will be my last post for this litter, I will answer some frequently asked questions for those families taking a precious bundle home with them soon.

What bathing and grooming products do you use?  My crew of mini schnauzers gets a bath using Life's Abundance Revitalizing Shampoo and a mist of Life's Abundance Bath Fresh Mist. The mist is also helpful to freshen them up between baths.  For grooming, if I were told I could have only one grooming tool in my house, it would be a simple comb (as in the human kind).  When brushed weekly, mini schnauzers do not typically get mats and tangles.  I occasionally use a slicker brush.  Rarely, I pull out my dematting tool to get a stubborn tangle.

What flea and tick products do you recommend?  We do not treat our puppies with any flea and tick medicine.  (We do deworm and vaccinate them, but no flea and tick medicine.)  We choose not to use flea and tick products due to their small size.  In addition, they live in a low-risk environment because all our adult dogs and cats are treated with Bravecto.  You should discuss flea and tick prevention at your first vet visit.  Since Bravecto is not recommended for use until after 6 months old, I would recommend using Frontline on your puppy once he/she is 10 weeks old or five pounds.

What do I need to purchase before bringing my puppy home?  See my blog about puppy shopping here.

Will my puppy be house trained when he/she comes home at 8 weeks?  No.  Your puppy will be ready for crate training when he/she comes home.  We do the Misty Method of house training for our puppies.  They have a basic understanding of a place to sleep, play, and potty at 8 weeks old.  They are ready to begin crate training at 8 weeks, but they are not house trained!  This litter definitely prefers to do potty business outside.

Is it hard for your children when the puppies go home?  Yes and no, and harder for some than for others.  My children understand the responsibility and the training an 8 week old puppy requires because we’ve had the privilege of raising our adults from puppies.  They love playing with the puppies and are, of course, sad to see them go.  At the same time, they get to see the joy a puppy brings to someone else.  We try to encourage them as the puppies grow that we are helping get them ready for their new family.  Another thing that softens the blow of seeing their puppies leave is that new life is part of a homestead - every year we typically welcome puppies, goats, and kittens.  So, our children may or may not seem sad when you pick up your puppy, but they say their goodbyes before your arrival to limit any teary last-minute goodbyes.

Thanks for following along as these precious little bundles "grew up."  We will spend the next week continuing their socialization and giving them the very best care.  They will have their first vet visit (other than their tail dock and dew claw removal at a few days old), and we will get them all ready to go home.  Thanks for joining us on this journey!  A few (mostly) sleepy pictures to conclude things.  My favorite is Tyke and Flicka asleep on LEGOs :)