Daybreak Puppies 2011: Daybreak Morning Blend Litter is 7 weeks old!

The sweet and silly puppies that were such snuggle bugs last week have turned into crazy wild, rambunctious, button pushers and limit testers. They are noisy and demanding and push me to the brink of my sanity; and in one glance can melt my heart and make me forget all of their naughtiness. Last week, I had 7 puppies who wouldn't let go of my pant leg as I walked through the yard and now when the door opens, they all take off in different directions. Vienna has several times lead a brigade through the fence into the neighbor's yard - too far out of my reach and yet fully aware of my pleas to come back close enough for me to grab their scruff and hoist them back through. Last week when I moved out of sight, 7 puppies would bound along after me like perfect little ducks in a row. Now, they actually RUN away from me when I bend to pick them up if they do not want to be brought inside. They make me furious and they make me laugh --- I guess this is how I know they are ready for the next chapter. This past week has been full of outdoor adventures, high spirited chases and wrestling matches, and time spent apart from the group --- to see what life will be like beyond the Brew Crew. It is crazy that these puppies have seen everything from summer-like weather to a Nor'easter and back to a more normal autumn. This week was rainy and brisk. It was a good test to see which pups would brave the raindrops to go outside for a potty break and which would just pee on the deck. :) Check out some of these little wet pups!

Several nights this week we brought each pup out one by one to play, apart from the group, with Tioga and Dakota. Dakota has finally fallen in love with the puppies and spent a lot of time lying on his back letting them lick his ears and paw at his belly. He was perfectly gentle and tolerant. Tioga is having a great time wrestling with them and running circles around them in the yard. She loves to grab them by their back leg as they are making their escape.. not hard or mean; it is all very playful. She looks fantastic and is full of spunk. She still allows the pups to nurse (usually while she is trolling the playpen to see if they left any kibble at their last meal) She makes a deep, guttural groan at them which sometimes makes me think she might snap at them, but then she patiently waits for them to suckle just enough to settle themselves down before she hops back over the gate. She amazes me --especially knowing what a crazy, mischievous puppy she was! To see her so calm and nurturing warms my heart.

The absolute best thing about this week is that we have found placements for all of the puppies. I could not be more happy. Everyone who is opening their hearts and homes to one of these little coffee beans are fantastic, loving, warm, fun.... the list goes on. I am so excited to be sharing this journey with them. I can't wait for them to take their puppies home and begin to experience all of this cuteness for themselves! I remember how I felt when the shoe was on the other foot and I was waiting anxiously to collect my furry babies and bring them home. I think about Connie and Bob Jones and how they did all of this for our Dakota (remember meeting at Starbucks, Connie? It was chilly and I held a shivering Dakota in my jacket and felt so lucky when passers by were inquiring about the pups and I got to say THIS ONE'S MINE!); and Maria Sommer went through all of this for our Tioga (A sneaky Maria planned all of this puppy getting with my husband, behind my back, as a Christmas surprise. I remember wearing a ridiculously frilly sweater and all the puppies attacking me! Maria pointed to Tioga and said, "That one's yours!" I had only seen a small picture of her. I remember thinking she was absolutely perfect ---and I was right!). It is wonderful to share that excitement with these amazing families.
And here they are - my naughty, adorable, curious, clever, loveable Morning Blend coffee beans:

VIENNA

female, id: purple, weight at birth: 15.4 oz, weight at week seven 10 lbs 10.2 ozs