Phoenix puppies - two weeks old!

It's amazing how much development can happen in the space of severn short days! Phoenix's pups are growing by leaps and bounds - they now range from 600-800g, almost three times their birth weight!

Their eyes are almost all open - just the last-born still has eyes mostly shut. Ears are also opening. This opens a whole new world of sensation to the little doods. They still rely mostly on smell and touch, but over the coming days and weeks they will start to use their vision and, in particular, hearing, more and more as those senses gain in acuity and precision.

Their leg muscles are also growing stronger bit by bit. They cannot yet stand but they are starting to try! When they crawl, they on occasion manage to lift their bodies off the ground for a fraction of a second, as opposed to simply "swimming" like little alligators.

And we have seen the first signs of play! Two puppies interacting in a way beyond just crawling over each other, but actually responding to the actions of the other. It is too cute,and will continue tokeep us entertained as they become more and more like real little dogs.