So we are at the 6 week point and I've been given the word from Union of Corgi Mamma's local 109 chief negotiator, Ginger, that it's time. That means all puppies are fat, sassy and big enough to be weaned. Which means they're on me now. No more cleaning up mess, sleepovers or extended daytime baby care from the corgi mammas. When mamma dogs are done they only check twice a day to make sure I haven't messed something up.
The mamma dogs started this process last weekend by refusing to sleep overnight with the puppies anymore, then they got scarce during the day. Oh they sashay by the playpens several times a day to look in and see what's up, but they only want to go in with the little busy bees about twice a day. When they do it's like a swarm with mamma dogs standing up and puppies on their backs and heads underneath like mechanics in a pit-crew. It takes all of 2 minutes for the crew to get all the milk available and then the mammas are all about getting OUT of the playpen NOW. Otherwise they are forced to lay down to cover their belly and they make nasty noises at those who dare to try and burrow underneath in search of more milk. It's pretty much "we're outta here" until the puppies realize they are weaned.
For puppies at the 8 to 9 week point they will be considered good company again as long as they don't try to nurse the mamma dogs. This then becomes a fun and educational time in a young pup's life as the mammas will now engage in more advanced "how to be a corgi" lessons and general play time. How to be a corgi often looks like chaos, but upon further study you can see the fine points of such lessons as How to tear up paper balls, Make the cat run, Barking at squirrels, and, of course, Looking innocent when you did it (whatever "it" may be).
As you can see by the photo above, Ginger is fully confident that I've got my chores covered.
