August 23

As the puppies are getting bigger and more active, it is really easy
for me to start feeling overwhelmed. The last litter of puppies that I
fostered had 5 puppies that were this litters size at about 8 weeks
old. This litter, is, well, wow!

Everytime I start to get frustrated I think about why I get
frustrated. Most of the time, the sense of being overwhelmed is caused
by something very positive. It is tough to get down on the floor to
scrub it because the puppies are too friendly! They all want to be
played with by their humans. They don't care that they are running
through a puddle of piddle, they want loving. Over night I try to keep
the puppies corralled in their play pen so if there are accidents, it
is contained. Waking up and immediately needing to mop the floor is no
fun! But any of the breakouts are because Annabelle is such an
attentive mother that when the puppies whine for milk, she does
whatever she needs to to get to her puppies (often making a hole in
the play pen when she goes in, inadvertantly, letting them out).
Even though the puppies can cause stress in my life, there is nothing
more relaxing than curling up on the couch with a puppy or two on my
chest! So even when it is stressful it is still a good experience.