4.5 weeks old--pups enjoy a pink bunny toy

4.5 weeks old--mainly pepper & salt pups

Happy 4th Week Birthday to Pups!

Are Flute and Ash's puppies really 4 weeks old?

Time both flies and stands still when raising young pups. All the time simply watching them sleep or nurse or play with each other is wonderful.

It often feels like moments stretch on forever and will last equally long in memory. In contrast, they grow and develop so quickly and even in one day can seem so different.

Raising pups is a lot things: magical, entrancing, fun, funny, warm, delightful, and, as they get older and require more care and maintenance from humans and less from Flute, definitely, messy and indisputably challenging.

Always, no matter what, raising pups of this quality is rewarding and, beyond that, a true privilege.

I am grateful to the generations of dedicated standard schnauzer breeders/exhibitors who made both Ash and Flute possible so that these pups would ultimately come to be born.

Beyond all that (as important as it is), raising pups gives the gift of time to reflect and especially focus on bits of life that must be savored.

In the midst of the profound tragedy and strife across the world at this time, I am deeply grateful for these pups and the sweet, simple focus and joy they are able to bring to my life every day.

(Okay, remind me of this tomorrow morning when I am deep in cleaning the puppies and puppy box because weaning brings, ahem, "challenges" to keep everyone and their environs tidy as their systems adjust to a significant change from Flute milk with the additional food.)

Photos are a look back at Flute and Ash's puppies the day they were born. How many changes can a pup have in just one month? Amazing.

Hard to believe that in just 4 more weeks, pups will be very different, quite developed and super ready to leave their littermates and even Mama Flute for their new homes where they willl be the center of attention of new families ...

as it should be for both pups and families!

Pups' first (sort of) solid meal

This video shows pups enjoying their first non-Flute meal.

The meal consisted of raw ground beef, goat milk, plain yogurt, and ground, overcooked barley.

Pups found it super yummy.

The adult schnauzers were very jealous, so each got a little bit with their own meals.

Wearing their first meal!

After these photos were taken, Flute came to visit the pups and offered her cleaning service.

Flute is very dedicated, but it certainly didn't hurt that Flute finds their meal of raw ground beef, goat milk, plain yogurt, and ground, overcooked barley delicious.

3.75 weeks and feeling frisky

Pups are feeling frisky after a good meal!

Nursing pups at 3.75 weeks

You can see how challenging it has become for Flute to nurse her pups.

They are not unusually large, but they sure look massive in this photo.

See how quickly they drain Flute of milk in the video.

Pups at this age need to begin the weaning process.

Both Flute and pups will appreciate that!

3.5 week old cute black pups

I love how this pup seems to proclaim, "This is MY toy!" in the first photo.

Super cute pups. No bias here!

3.5 weeks is play time

Pups are at the age when they are really enjoying playing with each other and learning about toys.

Mainly Lighter Pepper & Salt Girl

Pups are 3.75 weeks old.

I love this pup. I call her Kabuki because her face coloration looked like a mask when she was smaller.

3.5 weeks old videos

Black boy at 3 weeks

This little boy looks so much like his sire, Ash.

Mainly Pepper & Salt girls