Weekly update on what’s happening down on the farm:

  • It’s been an extremely hot week!  With more still to come, extra care is being taken to aid in the comfort level of the pack.  Fans are going at full strength, water in their pool is being freshened with cold water more often, and a bowl of water containing electrolytes is on hand.  The activity level is down during heat waves.  They pretty much run to the pool, splash around, run back to the shade and lay down.  Then repeat as needed.
  • Projects are no fun during the heat!  The simplest tasks prove overwhelming.  Time outside is spent more on what HAS to be done.  Certain projects can wait until it cools off a bit.
  • During the next week, we celebrate three separate birthdays for puppy litters!  First, on July 19th, (This Friday) Aleu and Demon’s litter from last summer turn one year old!!  This litter was relatively small.  It includes: Kayda, Onyx, Dega, and Apache.  Two days later, on the 21st, It’s birthday number 2 for Sophie and Demon’s litter from 2011.  This was a very small litter.  Only Eyezayah and one other puppy (unknown name).  Finally on the 23rd, we have another first birthday!  Miya and Denali from last summer.  This was a bigger litter, which includes:  Yuki, Vader, Zeus, Maylin, Naia, Dax, and one other.  Happy Birthday!!
  • Fair is rapidly approaching.  That is fine with us.  We look forward to it every summer.  It’s a lot of work, but very fun and rewarding.  Definitely a good way to break up “the dog days” of summer.  Horses, ducks, and chickens are the order for this year.  The chickens are of the “fancy bird” variety, (much smaller and funny looking!) and the ducks are Jumbo Pekins, and have become the biggest ducks I have ever seen!  This is our first year with ducks, so maybe this is normal, but wow…
  • The routine for the horses changes a bit during the heat.  At this time, our pasture has no shaded areas.  They are out on pasture from about 8pm through until about 7am the next morning.  A little longer, depending on our work schedule.  They spend the daylight hours in their stalls. 
  • Update on Chance:  He is doing very well, and growing at an almost normal rate!  He still has to eat a blended liquid diet (about like a milkshake), and we still have to watch closely because he is a food vacuum, but beyond that he is a normal puppy.  Later this summer, our vet will perform a “Barium Swallow” to determine what is the extent of the restrictions.  At that time we will determine if and when additional surgery might be needed.  We are also going to have him neutered.  Since this condition could be passed down, it is best not to breed him.