Three weeks has flown by!

Here we are in the puppies' 4th week since birth. I see tiny teeth when they yawn or tussle, tails are wagging, play is happening, fierce growls and sharp barks are replacing the tiny noises that were building up to this.

Goat milk is a daily supplement, and tonight they will taste their first "real" dog food. As they mill around after nursing, they have been eagerly sniffing the kibble in Star's food bowl, so it is time. This will be canned puppy "mousse", which we are trying for the first time. Easy to swallow, and hopefully a good transition from all liquid to something that tastes deliciously meaty.

We added colored collars, to more easily tell the pups apart. Here is the line-up, with short descriptions of what we are noticing. Most of these photos were taken at a very sleepy time, when milk had dried on their faces. Still, cooperation was happening, and some good photos were taken.

Tara, first born, hot pink collar. She seems playful and active. One of the largest pups, she is always eager to eat and then one of the first to sleep. During play time, she is the energizer bunny, going the longest of all the pups before crashing.

Beacon, red collar, second born. Beacon is a nice pup, not pushy, seems very curious. He is middle-of-the-pack at 3 weeks old, playing but not trying to take charge. He sits nicely when we hold him, unless it is feeding time.

Gale is still a lively one, with a love for hearing her own voice. Third born, royal purple collar. She is likely black rather than "seal", with the most white of any of this litter. She is quick to launch into the food bowl, quick to launch out of the open ex pen doorway (to get to Star for nursing), and is a beauty who stands out. Her photo looks subdued and sweet, but she has a lot of energy when she is awake.

Cole, fourth born, neon orange collar. Cole was the first one to wag his tail, and is a good solid pup with what seems like an easy going personality. Hardly any white, and his color seems more seal than black. (Mama Star is "seal" and white, which is sable covered by recessive black) His face was particularly well-saturated with milk for this photo.

Sparky, fifth born, yellow collar. He is a little smaller than Cole, playful, and seems like a nice calm pup without a lot of "drive", just happy to be part of activity without instigating.

Sparky has white on all four paws, but not as much on his front paws as Beacon has.

Next to each other, Sparky and Promise look like identical twins.

Vesper, sixth born, a shaded sable female wearing a mint green collar. She is a smaller pup, but active. When the pups dive into the pie plate of goat milk, her front end is usually under the others, as she laps up the milk and comes up soaking wet. Her photo is also an image of milk-covered, sleepyhead cuteness.

Promise is a larger dark (possibly seal) female. I chose teal for her collar color. She has white on both front paws and one back paw. She seems bright, curious, not pushy, but able to hold her own. Once again she has given us a wide yawn which is too cute not to choose as her 3-week-school-photo.

Sable is his name.. We took a while to choose a name for this boy, who was born with a blue/slate sheen and a coat that looked like it would be black. Sable's shaded sable coat has a more gray tone to it than the other sables in this litter. I expect that he will stay dark, at least in facial features, with the black mask inherited from his father Steady. His collar is brown, and he has minimal white on his paws and chest. A very fun puppy, not an instigator, not looking to be top dog, but seems easy going with a side of mischief. He will maintain his position at the milk bowl, but not push others out of the way. He was quite soaked with milk, and his lovely fur is still caked with it for his photo op.

Lyra, the smallest puppy who is going strong. She is tiny and mighty, all at once. Her collar is light pink, and her petite size is not keeping her from playing with the big pups as if she was just the same size as they are. Lyra has very minimal white.

Gage remains one of the largest pups, although Cole might be passing him. Gage has a forest green collar, and white only on his chest, his chin, and two front nails. He remains a take-charge sort of pup, who finds the best milk supply and then crashes hard for a nap soon after nursing. He is fun to watch, vocal, and entertaining. He may shape up to be the leader of the litter, although the larger Gale might try to challenge that if given the chance. Another milk-face, who was so soundly sleeping that his photos turned out to look startled rather than handsome and dashing.

Last born, is Midnight. She is wearing a black collar (so fitting!). When the pups are nursing, I can tell which she is by the velvety black back paws, without a speck of white.

Midnight is about the same size as Vesper, not the smallest, but not hefty like some of the others. She blends in so well, that I have not observed specific behavior on her part.

Perhaps that blending in will be a description of her personality as the next weeks roll along.