Grooming one moving target is challenging, but managing five puppies who believe the grooming table is a playground becomes a whole different sport. 😂

At approximately ten weeks old, the puppies had their very first bath today, and they all did wonderfully. Chianti also had her bath and grooming, which meant washing six dogs altogether.

Everyone received a nano-bubbler ozonated bath, which I use as part of a thorough but gentle skin-and-coat cleansing routine. The puppies were then dried, had their ears cleaned and nails trimmed, and were introduced to the clippers with a small amount of hair trimming rather than a full puppy clip.

The dryer’s noise and airflow can often be more intimidating to a young puppy than the bath itself, but all five handled the entire experience remarkably well.

These early grooming experiences are about much more than simply getting clean. For Poodles especially, learning to accept bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear care, clippers, and standing on a grooming table is an important part of preparing them for the lifelong care their coats require. At this age, we want every new experience to be introduced patiently and positively so they can grow into confident, cooperative adults.

Puppies are on a very tight schedule. We wake up around 6 AM, and from there it is a continuous cycle of eating, playing, peeing, pooping, sleeping, and repeating. They rotate through three main areas during the day, with each one offering something different for their development. The living room gives them exposure to normal household activity, the outdoor porch provides fresh air and opportunities to explore, and the bedroom gives them a quieter place to rest and begin learning how to settle.

Caring for them really is like caring for babies, and it requires constant attention. They pee and poop nonstop, and now that they are running everywhere, they can turn one little accident into a full-room art project within minutes. Staying ahead of the cleaning and laundry is becoming its own full-time job!

Their food is also beginning to take a different shape now that their baby teeth are fully in and they are actively teething. Alongside their balanced raw meals, we have started introducing whole prey and appropriate raw meaty bones. These offer an interactive and enjoyable way for the puppies to explore real food and begin learning how to work through different textures.

It takes them a while, and they often share, but that is part of the experience. So far, they have explored whole quail and guinea pig, along with raw meaty bones such as chicken feet and necks.

Mom Chianti often steps in to help, but everything must be closely supervised to ensure the puppies only receive pieces appropriate for their size and developmental stage. Chianti is incredibly generous with them and will often take her own food and allow the puppies to share it. Even with those very sharp little teeth, she is still letting them nurse. She really is such a good mama. 😂

We are also going through approximately one gallon of colostrum every two to three days, which is certainly not inexpensive! To clarify, this is the colostrum they are drinking as part of their feeding program, separate from the broader variety included in their balanced raw meals.

We have also introduced smelt, kefir, and eggs in moderation, since too much egg can sometimes make their stools a little loose. These additions are part of a much broader, carefully balanced raw diet rather than the entirety of what they eat.

Raising puppies this way is messy, expensive, exhausting, and incredibly hands-on. But every bath, meal, new environment, carefully supervised experience, load of laundry, and emergency cleanup is helping them become more capable, adaptable, and confident.

Watching them learn how to navigate the world and experience everything for the first time makes all of it worthwhile.

Today’s final lesson was that five freshly bathed puppies may smell wonderful, but they still have absolutely no intention of holding still for the camera. 😂❤️