Full Bassetty Behavior

 As we are approaching the six weeks mark the Candies are all showing real Basset behaviors more and more. This morning at eight we opened the pen so that the babies could go outside with Lilly and Pixie. )It is just a whole lot easier to change out bedding without twenty-eight little feet helping the process.) They all came out of their pen quickly and ran as a group for the front door. This is new. Yesterday they came out in a trickle, a few didn't seem interested at all, and then they sort of milled around in the dining room until we picked them up one at a time and took them outside. 

Yesterday a few of the have good mastery of the stairs out front. When we built the stairs we set the stair height at seven inches because it makes for an easier climb, but the easier climb is still a bit much for the babies at first. Eventually they figure out using their forelegs to do the first part of the lift and then catching a hold with a back foot. This morning had all seven going down stairs and four going up. And when we ask Lilly to take them inside she lead the way as the four ran along after her after climbing all the way up. We helped the other three  and they ran in to catch Mom as well. So the babies are well aware of outside and eager to go, eager to return. A big improvement over carrying them all out and then carrying them all back in. 

Everyone is wrestling, if they are awake, and dreaming if they are asleep. But it isn't very quiet these past few days. We're hearing a few barks, quite a bit of growling, and even heard on little howl from someone, along with the puppies talking a chirping that has been the norm for a few weeks. Soon there will be a lot more barking.

Personalities are beginning to emerge as well. There are a few who are intredip explorers, they push the envelope as to how far from the front door they will roam and lead others away to the edge of safety. A couple are loners, more interested in whatever they find interesting. These are independant types. And then there's those whose favorite thing is climbing up and down stairs, because they can and others can not. These stand on high and taunt the less fortunate into games of "King of the Mountain" that they alone can win. Soon there will be retribution and a more fair game to play.

Nobody has been to the botttom of the stairs yet, down into the world of plants and dirt clods to chew on. They are all looking down there where all of the big dogs settle down for naps. And there have been a few who tunbled down  a stair level or two and needed help getting back to the group. But so far there's an invisible frontier nobody seems to want to cross.

By next week everyone will begin running up and down stairs, and the yard immediately at the bottom of the stairs will become the new playland. Things are so much more fun and getting better all of the time.