Week 6: Backyard Bonanza & Hot Dog Heaven

Big news for The Howlers—they've officially expanded their real estate! With a brand-new backyard to call their own, playtime has reached new heights (literally, thanks to some fun new equipment). Toys have been tested, approved, and thoroughly slobbered on.

Training Time & Culinary Critiques: This week marked the beginning of individual training, complete with a gourmet tasting menu. Soft cheese? Hard pass. Peanut butter? Not a fan. But hot dogs? A resounding YES! We also introduced ‘table time’ (getting stacked on high places like the regal beasts they are) and ‘push-ups’ (sit, down, sit, down—who needs a gym?). More visitors stopped by for socialization, and each pup got special one-on-one time with kids, new environments, and lots of cuddles. But the true highlight? Adventure walks through the backyard and into the empty pasture. Nothing beats free time with the pack—who, by the way, have already established a rotating security detail to watch for winged predators. These outings usually end with a giant puppy pile in and around my lap, at which point I lug them one by one back to their pen.

The Not-So-Fun Stuff: This week’s least popular event? Deworming. Let’s just say it was met with great resistance. However, vanilla pudding as a chaser made it slightly more tolerable—because even the toughest pups have a sweet tooth.

Personalities Emerging: We’re starting to see glimpses of who these little ones will become, but there’s no rushing the process. For now, we simply observe and enjoy. Homes won’t be chosen based on this week’s antics (or next week’s). Instead, we’re focused on introducing them to as many new sights, sounds, smells, animals, and people as possible before the fear stage kicks in.

Manners Matter: Polite behavior is still the golden ticket for attention, and the “no bite” rule was rolled out this week with impressive results—turns out, sharp teeth aren’t great for making friends.

Vet Check & Custom Vaccine Plan: The Nomograph results are in, and the vet is on the books. This litter’s customized vaccine schedule calls for distemper at 9 weeks and parvo at 16 weeks. We’ll be keeping the pups long enough to give them their first vaccine before they head to their forever homes, so mark your calendars—The Howlers will be ready to start their next big adventure on April 1st!

Ches

A true Explorer Extraordinaire, Ches takes adventure seriously—channeling his inner Lewis and Clark with every step. He’s fearless in his quest for discovery, always pushing the boundaries to see what’s just beyond the horizon.

While he’s never in a rush to return (there’s too much to investigate!), he has an impressive internal compass and always finds his way back to the pen—eventually. Of course, I keep a watchful eye on his expeditions, just to make sure he doesn’t end up founding his own colony somewhere.

Confident, curious, and always on a mission, this week Ches is the definition of an independent spirit with just the right amount of homing instinct.

Mahala

If Ches is Lewis, then Mahala is undoubtedly Clark—his fearless co-pilot on every grand expedition. These two are the dynamic duo of discovery, setting off together to investigate the wonders of the world: the tangled roots of a walnut grove an entire pasture over, a freshly fallen pile of pine branches over the hill (yes, they were covered in pitch), or the ultimate jackpot—a glorious mud puddle courtesy of the ducks.

Eventually, their adventures take them in separate directions. But while ‘Clark’ is busy charting a course back home, Mahala has a different approach—she instinctively finds her way back to the group, always returning from her journey with a sense of purpose, a story to tell (and usually a bit of dirt).

Adventurous but grounded, Mahala was the perfect mix of explorer and loyal companion.

Sarge

Sarge is still belting out the blues with Dolly, though their performances have been less frequent this week—perhaps the duo is taking a creative break.

This big boy has also taken on the role of self-appointed referee in sibling scuffles. With all the seriousness of an older, bossy brother, he rushes in as if to break things up… only to end up in the thick of it, often making things worse. His confidence is unwavering, his strut undeniable, and not much ruffles his feathers—except, of course, actual feathers.

His prey drive officially kicked in this week, requiring a few gentle redirections away from chasing chickens. The rooster, however, handled the matter more… decisively. Lesson learned.

Sarge is always on the go, squeezing in only a quick muzzle hug during the day—until bedtime, when he finally slows down and makes sure to claim his well-earned snuggle time. With an independent streak a mile wide, he spent much of the week doing exactly as he pleased—but hey, when you’ve got that much swagger, who’s going to argue?

Dolly

Dolly is always up for anything—cuddles, exploring, or playing with toys; you name it, she’s in. If you want a snuggle buddy, she’s your girl. If you’re headed on an adventure, she’s right there by your side, ready for the ride. Right now, toy play is her absolute favorite activity.

She still shares the occasional "locked up" blues gig with Sarge, but Dolly is quickly learning to self-soothe and is showing impressive improvement this week.

Dolly is a wild card in the "sit to ask" area. Sometimes she's a perfect princess, some times she’s more likely to tackle those sitting patiently, waiting for their turn. Like a shark in a school of fish, she swoops in and takes them out, one by one, in her signature playful style.

Fed

Fed has been the undisputed chaos instigator this week, kicking off and (quite spectacularly) wrapping up all the mayhem. After a few more escape artist attempts, we’ve finally managed to tame her convict ways—so now, I affectionately refer to her as my “ex-con.”

This week, she’s been a bit more aloof, less interested in cuddles and more focused on making her mark in the "prison" yard. Stealing toys, calling names, and even pulling off a needle-toothed shanking here and there—she’s been running the joint.

On the outside, however, she’s a model of reformation. A true peach, she’s happily playing with the adult dogs. Her worst offence is the occasional drive-by lap stay for a quick dose of affection before vanishing again into her own world of adventure.

Punch

This week, Punch has been extra sweet, now settling comfortably at the lower end of the pack, but always right in the middle of the action when it comes to games and playtime. His eye contact is mesmerizing, and he’s quick to follow along with whatever’s happening.

More of an explorer than a snuggler, Punch prefers to wander and discover new things, but when it’s time for morning coffee or bedtime, he’s the first to politely ask for a good hug before anything else. His gentle, affectionate nature shines through in those quiet moments.

Sam

Raggity Sammy is an absolute dream to snuggle—small in size but big in heart. As the littlest of the litter, she keeps us laughing with her determined sprints, tiny legs working overtime to reach us as fast as possible.

Unlike some of her rowdier siblings, Sammy takes life very seriously. She’s not one to flash a smile often, but when she does, it’s pure gold. The best one yet? When she found her way back to the group after an adventure walk—bounding toward us with a huge grin of relief and pride. That pride puffed her chest out, curled her little tail up, and gave her a peacock-worthy strut that said, “Yep, I did that.”

This week, she’s been extra focused on her people. She’ll explore, but only so far—why wander when she could be playing with toys, or sticking close to her favorite humans or playing with her favorite human's toys?

JT

Mr. Cool, JT has fully embraced his lone wolf era this week, happily forging his own paths while the rest of the crew dashes off on grand adventures. Case in point: during an adventure walk, while everyone else was off exploring, JT got completely lost in the intoxicating new scent of duck. By the time the others had returned for a well-earned nap, JT was still out there, basking in his personal paradise of wonderful smells. Doing his own thing, just chillin.

Super mellow and unfazed by the chaos around him, he’s a quiet, affectionate soul who always makes time for a little one-on-one connection. Whether it’s a gentle muzzle hug, an ear rub, or a good old-fashioned full-body hug, JT knows the true value of a slow, meaningful moment.

Squire

This week, Squire has settled comfortably into the middle of the pack—less wild than last week, likely channeling some of that boundless energy into a growth spurt. But don’t mistake his slight mellowing for a lack of action—he’s still right in the thick of it all.

From WWE-style wrestling matches to Dora the Explorer adventures, from conquering the “tunnel through the pine branches challenge" to sneaking in for cuddle requests, Squire is everywhere. He’s got a natural ease about him—relaxed, confident, and always ready to engage.

With his striking eye contact and steady presence, Squire is shaping up to be a well-rounded pup—equal parts adventurer, playmate, and snuggle enthusiast.

Bush

Bush is the definition of happy-go-lucky—a joy to be around with a perfect balance of playfulness and affection this week. Whether he’s romping with toys, making new canine friends, or soaking up attention from people, he’s always ready for fun.

He’s a natural gentleman, often the first to sit politely and ask nicely. While he enjoys a good adventure, he never strays too far—nose to the ground, exploring with curiosity, only to come bounding back with floppy ears, a wagging tail, and a big, goofy grin. And just when you think he’s settled, he’ll leap into your lap to give you a full report on his latest discovery—before dashing off for the next one.

A true explorer with a loyal heart, Bush is the best of both worlds this week—independent enough to wander, but always circling back to his person.

Week 6: Backyard Bonanza & Hot Dog Heaven