Raising Puppies Guideline
Raising Puppies Guideline
WEEK ONE (DAYS 1-7)
Development of the puppies
90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from female
Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
Weight should double by end of week
Care of the puppies
Chart weight
Examine puppies daily
Trim nails weekly
Pups at one hour old
Keep whelping box around 85 F/29 C (this means if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box) When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating! Dew claw and tail docking must be done between day three and day five.
Care of the female
Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
Feed three full meals a day after that
Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection)
Make sure female eats, drinks, and relieves herself
To do list
Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
Keep charting female's temperature
Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
WEEK TWO (DAYS 8-14)
Development of the puppies
Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F/36-37C
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Keep whelping box around 80-83F/26-28C
Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
Begin doing Biosensor
Trim nails weekly
Care of the female
Female should get three times her normal amount of food
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK THREE (DAYS 15-21)
Development of the puppies
Teeth begin to erupt
Puppies stand up and start walking
Begin to lap liquids
Defecate/urinate without stimulation
Start becoming aware of environment
Start playing with littermates
Develop sense of smell
Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
Care of the puppies
Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life
Start giving Biosensor
specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently).
Start giving pups water to lap -- after two days, add some very mushy food
Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
Trim Puppies Nails
Start weekly Grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.)
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Feed kibble that has been Moistened with warm water
and also leave dry kibble available. Mom will demonstrate to them to eat it.
WEEK FOUR (DAYS 22-28)
Development of the puppies
Begin to eat food
Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase
Use legs well
Tire easily
Depth perception starts
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Mom is seperating herself more and more from the pups. She wants to be with us.
Each pup needs individual attention
Food and play is provided by us getting them interested in Humans.
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Start limiting female's access to pups before offering them food
WEEK FIVE (DAYS 29-35)
Development of the puppies
Group activities and sexual play will begin
Dominance order starts
Rapid growth/development
Care of the puppies
Reduce fluids in puppies' food
Make sure friends and family start coming to see pups
Begin weaning
Play radio at normal volume near pups
Care of the female
Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
WEEK SIX (DAYS 26-42)
Development of the puppies
Groom puppy again
Encourage Puppy Owners to check out our Bring home puppy page to get ready for their puppy
Growth and development continue
Shipping is arranged
Shipping Waybill number is sent to Puppy People and site to track shipping
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Puppies first bath and blow dry
Offer soft, damp food
Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with you away from litter
Care of the female
To prepare female for weaning: Day 1 -- no food
Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
Keep female on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
Keep careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK SEVEN (DAYS 43-49)
Puppys are fully weaned and ready to go home.
Pups are Vaccinated
Pups are Vet checked clear to go home and receive Health Certificate.
Total hearing/visual capacity
Will investigate anything
Respond to "puppy puppy" name
Care of the puppies
Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
We use Iams Puppy Large breed in a yellow bag
Care of the female
Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK ONE (DAYS 1-7)
Development of the puppies
90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from female
Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
Weight should double by end of week
Care of the puppies
Chart weight
Examine puppies daily
Trim nails weekly
Pups at one hour old
Keep whelping box around 85 F/29 C (this means if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box) When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating! Dew claw and tail docking must be done between day three and day five.
Care of the female
Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
Feed three full meals a day after that
Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection)
Make sure female eats, drinks, and relieves herself
To do list
Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
Keep charting female's temperature
Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
WEEK TWO (DAYS 8-14)
Development of the puppies
Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F/36-37C
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Keep whelping box around 80-83F/26-28C
Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
Begin doing Biosensor
Trim nails weekly
Care of the female
Female should get three times her normal amount of food
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK THREE (DAYS 15-21)
Development of the puppies
Teeth begin to erupt
Puppies stand up and start walking
Begin to lap liquids
Defecate/urinate without stimulation
Start becoming aware of environment
Start playing with littermates
Develop sense of smell
Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
Care of the puppies
Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life
Start giving Biosensor
specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently).
Start giving pups water to lap -- after two days, add some very mushy food
Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
Trim Puppies Nails
Start weekly Grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.)
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Feed kibble that has been Moistened with warm water
and also leave dry kibble available. Mom will demonstrate to them to eat it.
WEEK FOUR (DAYS 22-28)
Development of the puppies
Begin to eat food
Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase
Use legs well
Tire easily
Depth perception starts
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Mom is seperating herself more and more from the pups. She wants to be with us.
Each pup needs individual attention
Food and play is provided by us getting them interested in Humans.
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Start limiting female's access to pups before offering them food
WEEK FIVE (DAYS 29-35)
Development of the puppies
Group activities and sexual play will begin
Dominance order starts
Rapid growth/development
Care of the puppies
Reduce fluids in puppies' food
Make sure friends and family start coming to see pups
Begin weaning
Play radio at normal volume near pups
Care of the female
Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
WEEK SIX (DAYS 26-42)
Development of the puppies
Groom puppy again
Encourage Puppy Owners to check out our Bring home puppy page to get ready for their puppy
Growth and development continue
Shipping is arranged
Shipping Waybill number is sent to Puppy People and site to track shipping
Care of the puppies
Time to deworm pups and mother
Puppies first bath and blow dry
Offer soft, damp food
Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with you away from litter
Care of the female
To prepare female for weaning: Day 1 -- no food
Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
Keep female on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
Keep careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK SEVEN (DAYS 43-49)
Puppys are fully weaned and ready to go home.
Pups are Vaccinated
Pups are Vet checked clear to go home and receive Health Certificate.
Total hearing/visual capacity
Will investigate anything
Respond to "puppy puppy" name
Care of the puppies
Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
We use Iams Puppy Large breed in a yellow bag
Care of the female
Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up
To do list
Continue as above