From Whelp to Wean: Homeward Bound- The Final Chapter

The Whelping Box Update

Week 9 is always a week of mixed emotions — full hearts, quiet moments, and the gentle realisation that our time together is coming to an end. The Toybox Trio spent their final days here playing, exploring, snoozing in sunbeams, and enjoying the familiar rhythm of home… right up until the moment they stepped into the arms of their forever families.

There’s a softness to this week. The pups are confident, steady, and beautifully prepared for the world beyond my doorstep. Their personalities are fully formed, their resilience is shining, and their readiness is unmistakable.

This week isn’t about new milestones — it’s about savouring the last moments: the last morning pile‑ups, the last playground romps, the last sleepy cuddles after breakfast.

And then, one by one, they headed off to begin their new lives — loved, wanted, and welcomed with open arms.

Milestone Moments

•Even though the big developmental leaps have already happened, Week 9 still brings its own kind of magic:

• Confidence: Calm, steady, and beautifully self‑assured.

• Social Play: Balanced, communicative, and emotionally intelligent.

• Independence: Short separations and crate naps paid off — each pup transitioned smoothly.

• Handling: Grooming and gentle restraint accepted with ease.

• People Skills: Soft curiosity and open hearts as they met their new families.

Forever Families

After so much patient waiting from our families, the moment we’d all been preparing for finally arrived

One by one, the Toybox Trio were scooped into loving arms, kissed on their little noses, and carried off to begin their new adventures. There were happy tears, proud smiles, and that familiar tug at the heart that comes with every goodbye.

They leave with:

• confidence

• curiosity

• resilience

• trust

• and the promise of a lifetime of love ahead

It’s never easy to let them go — but it’s always right. This is what I raise them for.

Playschool Puppy Curriculum

In their final week, the focus was on gentle reinforcement rather than new challenges:

• short recall games

• calm crate time

• soft handling

• exposure to household sounds

• predictable feeding and toileting routines

• quiet, confidence‑building play

Everything was designed to help them transition smoothly into their new homes — and it worked.

Health & Care

The pups finished their time here in excellent health — bright eyes, glossy coats, strong bodies, and steady appetites. Their first vaccination and microchip were completed earlier, and this final week was simply about maintaining calm routines, monitoring their wellbeing, and ensuring they were well rested for their big transition.

Poppet stepped gracefully into her “big‑kid mum” role — offering comfort when needed, supervising play, and gently encouraging independence. Her job is done, and she’s done it beautifully.

My Next Tasks

Once the puppies leave, the work doesn’t stop — it simply shifts.
The days that follow are quieter, but full of purpose:

• deep‑cleaning the whelping box and puppy pen

• washing bedding, toys, and equipment

• sanitising bowls, mats, and grooming tools

• packing away pens, barriers, and enrichment items

• restocking supplies and updating records

• storing everything neatly for next time

It’s a quiet, reflective ritual — closing one chapter while gently preparing for the next.

Poppet’s Post‑Puppy Pause: Settling Back Into Herself

After weeks of pouring her whole heart (and a great deal of milk) into raising her puppies, Poppet is finally exhaling.

Her body, of course, hasn’t quite caught up with the news. Her mammary glands are gently reminding her that motherhood doesn’t switch off instantly. Over the next days and weeks, her milk will naturally dry up, her hormones will rebalance, and she’ll ease back into her usual rhythm.

For now, we’re keeping things calm and steady: short walks, soft bedding and plenty of quiet time together. I’m checking her mammary glands twice a day to make sure they’re softening as they should, and she’s returning to her normal adult meals (no more bottomless lactation buffet).

Emotionally, she’s doing beautifully. She’s content — leaning into cuddles, stretching out in sun patches, and rediscovering the joy of having me all to herself.

Over the next few weeks, Poppet will settle fully back into her pre‑mum self. And while I’ll miss the tiny squeaks there’s something incredibly special about this phase too — watching a devoted mother rest, recover, and bloom again.

Here’s to Poppet’s well‑earned post‑puppy pause. She’s earned every moment of it.

What’s Next

For now, the focus is simple: rest, recovery, and renewal.

Poppet will enjoy a well‑earned break — long walks, gentle conditioning, coat restoration, and plenty of one‑on‑one time. Once she has fully recovered and, importantly, once she receives a Fit to Breed clearance from our vet, we’ll begin planning her third and final litter.

It will be her last chapter as a mum — a thoughtful, intentional pairing designed with the same care, ethics, and love that guide every decision here.

But today, we rest.
We breathe.
We enjoy the quiet.
And we hold close the joy of watching three little lives begin their new adventures.

Closing the Whelp to Wean Series

From their first breaths to their first steps into the world, the Toybox Trio have been a joy to raise, nurture, and share with you. This final chapter marks the end of their journey here — but the beginning of everything else.

Thank you for following along, celebrating their milestones, and cheering them on.
Here’s to new beginnings, full hearts, and the beautiful families now holding these little souls close.