It’s been a rainy week here, but playtime never stops! Even though it’s only Wednesday, we’ve already hit some exciting milestones.
The babies had their second round of shots yesterday and were once again deemed healthy, happy, and thriving by our vet!
We’ve also made it several days with zero poop accidents in the house (yay!).
Since all the rain has slowly turned our backyard into a muddy marsh, we moved playtime to the cul-de-sac today. The puppies loved the change of scenery and had so much fun exploring!

First video: Miss 1 and Mister 5 (our last available puppy)

Second video: Miss 3 and Luka

Ten weeks old already. This week feels full in every way. We have our second vet appointment coming up, two more goodbyes ahead of us, and so much love left to pour into these babies.
Our head count, which we do about 500 times a day while bringing puppies in and out from trips outside, is slowly shrinking. The line of crates is getting shorter, and somehow the days are moving faster and faster.
They’re playing with toys and chewing on bones like seasoned pros. They chase, tackle, cuddle, and sniff out kibble like it’s their life’s calling.
Even with fewer pups, at ten weeks the house feels louder and a little messier. Chores are pushed aside for potty breaks, extra snuggles, and one more round of playtime.

Our hearts and hands are still very full. I say it often, but it never feels like enough... We are so blessed to have the opportunity to love on these babies for their first few months of life and forever grateful for every person who trust us to help them grow their families!

There is truly nothing sweeter than puppy ears flopping in the wind as they give it their very best effort to run straight into our arms.


At 9 weeks old, their confidence is growing more each day. They know our voices. They come when called. They follow us around the yard like tiny shadows.
Not much has changed in the big milestones this week… but somehow everything feels different. They aren’t just little babies anymore. They’re bold, curious, playful, and so ready for their forever families.


These last few days together feel extra special. The kids are spending lots of time in the puppy pen, soaking up snuggles while watching TV or playing video games, laughing at the zoomies, and cheering on those determined little runs across the yard.
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We’re soaking in every floppy ear, every wagging tail, and every tiny paw sprinting our way.

Per my 8 year old's request, we purchased this giant duck yesterday for the puppies for Valentine's Day! He also thought it would be a wonderful idea if we snapped a group photo of the three puppies who are still waiting for their people to find them with the giant duck, just so everyone would know they are definitely DUCK Tolling Retrievers. Ha! Ha!

Goodbyes have begun! Two sweet pups have officially made it home and are settling in beautifully with their new families. We love getting those first updates and seeing how quickly they bond.

The puppies here (and even Momma!) haven’t seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. Everyone is content, playful, and completely at ease.


The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, which means we’ve been taking full advantage of outdoor time. House training is coming along nicely, and we’ve continued nightly crating with a buddy. The puppies are adjusting so well to routine and structure. We plan to move pups to individual crates in the next day or two!
On Monday, the litter had their first round of vaccines and they did fantastic. Not a single fuss from anyone. The veterinary staff even told us they were their favorite patients of the day. We’ll proudly take that honor.
It’s such a joy watching their personalities continue to develop. Each one is growing in confidence, curiosity, and connection. This season of raising them is always bittersweet... full of excitement for their futures and gratitude for these sweet weeks we get with them.
We can’t wait to see where each of these little hearts will land.

Look at how grown up we look this week! Seven weeks has absolutely flown by.


We officially started crate training, and I am so impressed with how quickly these babies acclimated. We always begin with the buddy system, and last night not a single pup made a fuss. Even better, we woke up this morning to zero accidents in the crates. *Knock on wood.* That almost felt too easy.


House training has been going well, too. Frigid mornings have set us slightly behind schedule, but we are taking them out frequently throughout the day and they are doing a great job taking care of business as soon as we get outside. We are offering lots of over the top praise every time they go potty outdoors to help build a strong, positive association with going outside.
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One thing is certain. These babies love attention, and we absolutely love giving it to them.

The pups are getting more adventurous by the minute. Today marked their first group breakout from the puppy pen as they explored the living room. It only took a minute for them to follow the boys into the cabin—and just as quickly, for the boys to shut the door behind them!

Last week brought 13 inches of snow, and with temperatures feeling like negative 7, we knew it wasn’t safe for the puppies to spend time outside. We even tried bringing some snow into the puppy pen, but surprisingly, not a single puppy had much of a reaction.

Today, with highs reaching 50, we were finally able to take these babies outdoors! There was still some snow lingering in the shaded areas of the yard, so we let the puppies explore. Their opinions were very mixed—some absolutely loved it, some wanted nothing to do with it, and one little pup didn’t seem to notice the snow at all.
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Six weeks is a big milestone for puppies. Weaning begins, house-training foundations start, and crate training is on the horizon. We also stocked up on new toys and chews today and will begin rotating them throughout the week. We can’t wait to share these moments and reactions with their families!

It's so hard to believe in just two short weeks we will begin our goodbyes! 

The girls, so sweet and pretty! 

Mister 4 and Mister 6, Opposites! Spunky and Sleepy.

Mister 5 and Mister 7. Our laid back lads.

​​Mister 8 and 9. Our curious duo.

The fabulous 9 are 5 weeks old! They are loving puppy food, becoming quite playful, are really enjoying the toys that are randomly making appearances into the puppy pen.

Speaking of the puppy pen, they have officially joined the family in the living room. They all acclimated quickly to the new surroundings, can sleep right through any household commotion, and happily greet every human who passes by with wagging tails and the occasional puppy bark.