Sounds good Joe, wean anytime after 3 weeks, the bitch will keep nursing as long as the pups have access to the teet. I've heard as much as 6 months. Not reccomended. Pheby's due date was yesterday, (63 days from 1st observed interlock), so I should be able to report a litter any day now. I felt movement last evening.
So have you introduced them to any rabbit smells yet? I went out yesterday and recut my trails in the field I manage for rabbits I am still seeing a good number of them, I even saw a little one duck into one of the pipes I put out for them and also for the new puppy. I cant wait Joe I am so excited about the new puppy.
Here's a couple pics' of the new pups. The females are the black ones and the spotted one is a male. They'll be available for sale in 8 weeks. PM me if interested.
RT, I have been putting some cotton tail scent on a couple of their stuffed toys that they play with to start them off. When I get back from vacation tomorrow, I'll really start their training off in earnest. They'll be intro'd to real bunny parts and pieces and we'll also start the weaning process, which I'll also incorporate with them having to go through tubes to get to their meal. I've heard from the lady who is caring for them that the two females are starting to become much more outgoing. She also said that the male, Cazador, is starting to "kill" everything that he can get his hands on, especially the stuffed bunny with the cotton tail scent on it. The females are actually starting to mimic his actions as well. I hear they're also running full bore around now. I'ts amazing how much can happen when you're gone for only 9 days. -Joe
Thats good to hear Joe, I went out yesterday to look for a collar for the little girl I am not real sure on the size I need? I know it has to be very small. So what shots do I need for her and when are they do for a vaccine? Thanks for the update I am glad they are doing so well. Lee
Hey Lee, Vets are now recommending a different vaccination protocol. It used to be at 6, 9 and I think 13 weeks. They're now recommending it be started at 8, 10 and I think 14 weeks. They'll have their 8 week vaccinations when you and David get them and I'll also give you a copoy of the protocol info that you can read up on and show to your vet. But, as I mentioned before, REMEMBER TO ADVISE YOUR VET NOT TO GIVE THEM THE LEPTO VACCINE, unless it is prevalent in your area!!! Doxies have some VERY SERIOUS reactions to the Lepto vaccine and can die from it. So, just be certain to remind your vet about that.
Other than that, the pups started their weaning tonight. I gave them their real first meal of hard stuff and they jumped into it (both figuratively and literally) and started eating like pros. The male Caz is just a little demon and is just full of piss and vinegar. I introduced them to Cobie for the first time today and while Pheby and Chance just froze and let him sniff them, Caz actually growled at him and then jumped on him. They all love to chew on your toes and are just crazy fun. They'll be taken outside for the first time tomorrow night and will start their "tunnel training". I'll be throwing a bunny head down in the center of a 4' x 8" tube and letting them go in there and fight it out for the head. Should be fun!! -Joe
I asked Noah to post a couple of pics of the pups. One is of them eating their second meal of "solids". The other pic includes Caz to the left, Pheby in the center, and Chance to the far right. I don't know what got into Pheby tonight, but she really went ballistic on Caz, grabbing him by the ear, growling at him and just plain making his life miserable. Basically what he's been doing to her the last couple of days. -Joe