My dog had 11 puppies, help!!!

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Heatherew

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#1
Hi, this is my first post here. My dog(half German Shepherd, half lab) had eleven puppies two weeks ago, and I am clueless.....I have them in a huge box(as big as a refrigerator), and I have a notch in the side so that the mom can get out but the puppies can't. I'm just not sure what to do as they get older. I put newspapers in the bottom of the box, but it seems like I have to change them every hour or so. My main question is, where do I keep them when they get older? I have a dog door that goes outside, so will they follow their mom outside to go the bathroom? Also, a couple of them cry a lot, could it be that they are having trouble going to the bathroom on their own and they need their mom to lick them? Sorry for all the questions, I am just lost as far as newborn puppies go.
 

Aussie Red

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#6
ok you do need help and I am not a breeder so I will offer you some advice.
First thing is mama will take care of cleaning pup first week or so as they need stimulated to relieve themselves.
second: I doubt very highly that they will follow mama to go outdoors to relieve themselves'they will go out to play.
Allowing such a young one out side is a disaster waiting to happen as it is not vaccinated.Do you plan on giving these puppies their shots ??
I am sorry to say this to you but you were not prepared to breed your dog and you do need a ton of info to see to it that these dogs are healthy and get good homes.
For what it will be worth please do not do the breed thing again as there are more then enough mixed breeds in the world now looking for homes and not finding them. Please have your dog spayed. It will be better for her and for you. About allowing puppies outside. Do you know about parvo ?? please don't let that happen. Talk to a vet in your area or the SPCA about how to care for them and what you need to do.
 
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bubbatd

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Wish you had contacted us months ago. Go to all the sites and get the book" How to Raise A Puppy You Can Live With "..Rutherford and Neil from Amazon.com ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

cowgurl6254

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#10
Maybe there is a local rescue group that can help you. I know it's been said but I'll say it again....please spay her ASAP!:rolleyes:
 
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#12
I agree. Spay the mother. Most of the dogs in the shelters here are either sheppard, lab or rotty mixes. There is no need for more puppies that will not get good homes.
As far as taking care of the pups you have, use the links posted.
And take our advice....don't let her get pregnant again.
 

smkie

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#13
YUp..you not only change those papers every hour, you monitor that no one pup is getting excluded, the biggest puppies will often push the weaker ones out of the way. I like to make sure the runt or smaller puppies get first dips on those fat loaded teats in the back. You make sure their nails are clipped for they are very sharp and will tear at Mama's teats. And check them every day to make sure you didn't miss anybody. Mom gets EXTRA nutrition and watch her that she is being nursed evenly and isn't getting sore. As the puppies get older you will change papers even more often (bring in those big ol grocery bag size and know that a cardboard box will not contain them for long. In fact 11 can take down baby gates if your not careful. Expect to keep them the full 8 weeks since you are responsible for their being in this world and start finding people that want a mix breed. finally make sure THEY GET THEIR PARVO SHOTS ON TIME AND BOOSTERS BEFORE THEY LEAVE AND THAT THE PEOPLE ADOPTING KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE HAD AND WHEN THEY WILL NEED THE NEXT SHOTS! IT will be expensive, but without that you are risking their dying an unneccessary and unbelievably painful death. You will have your hands full for the next month and a half. BElieve me this is the easy part. Finally as soon as they are weaned RUN mama all the way to the vet and have her spay so this never ever happens again. Having an oops litter is a responsiblity of the owner just like having an oops baby. Having two oops litters is worse. Good luck with your babies, handle them as much as you can gently, do not let small children (even ones that seem old enough in your mind are still capable of causing great harm) handle the puppies or God forbid be alone with them.
I pray all find good homes and Mama remains healthy and happy.

in case i missed anything http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=3635&cat=500&perpage=20&ppuser=2623 hope this helps..your mama should look like this if she has enough milk.

I forgot where to keep them..i took a small room of my house (we had 8 puppies) and removed all the furniture, electric cords, anything that they could be harmed by, first i put down plastic and taped that too the floor all the way to the sides and up a couple inches, secured with heavy duct tape. Then good thick pad of papers. make sure all foam rubber or anything else they could chew and swallow is removed. As they get older toy ropes with big knots tied on the end are nice, my old boss put rocks in a plastic jug for them to nose around to help them get use to sound (we raised hunting dogs) and not be jumpy too..A baby gate would not have fit across the entree way and there was no door so a large piece of masonite secured by three chairs on the other side blocked them in there. OUtside needs to be babyproofed as well. If you scoot them out as soon as they wake up, and right after they eat a lot of the dung will be deposited outside. Make sure not to take them to public parks and when you take them to the vet do not let them on the floor for they are so at risk for parvo infection. While nursing they have some of Mom's protection but you cannot possibly be too careful. IF you do let them toddle around outside secure your fence, look for choking hazards, and never ever leave them out unattending. I had a friend that had pom puppies. they were so small and she left only to grap the phone and came back out to find one forever missing. Probably a crow or other large bird. We lost one pup at the kennels to a raccoon too. We think the raccoon came up to raid the food and the pup toddled out and surprised the racoon that promptly tore the puppy up. WATer buckets for Mom must be tall enough that pups can't fall into them as well. I can;t think of anything else off the top of my head but you are free to pm me if you have any other questions.
 
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R

RedyreRottweilers

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#14
You should also either spay and neuter each puppy before it leaves, or by legal contract require this done so that your puppies don't pupulate the local shelters.
 

smkie

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#15
I personally do not want my pup operated on at 8 weeks. sorry but imo that is too young. I doubt any of us that isn't well financed could afford the fixing of 11 puppies, lets get serious here. Help was asked for and that is what i am hoping to give. The new owner is usually the party that can take the responsiblity of that, unless you are adopting from a shelter where the fee is included in the adoption price. Just makes dang sure the dhlp and parvo boosters are done. If you know someone that is a vet tech or has farm experience those shots can be purchased at a feed store. THey are not hard to give and that will help with the cost. I forgot to add that MOm will need extra meat ontop of her regular diet and if any pup falls behind, nutrical (a gel supplement availabe at pet stores) is very good at adding the nutrition they need to catch up.

here is a pic of our outside play area. WE kept it very clean so there were no fly attraction, and they were able to get some air and sun and learn a bit about thier new world. http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=3634&cat=500&perpage=24&ppuser=2623
 

Heatherew

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#16
Thanks to those of you who have given helpful answers(thanks especially to Smkie). I HAD set up a spay appointment for this dog, then she got pregnant. I did not plan it, and I cannot go back and change it. I did not post on here to get attacked or get sarcasm, I posted to get some help so I can do what is best for the puppies, most of whom already have homes to go to. Yes, the puppies will all get their shots. A person has to learn sometime, I have never had newborn puppies before so obviously I will not know everything! The father of the pups was a lab mix also. And to the person who mentioned not breeding mongrels, it's my understanding that a mixed breed will sometimes escape the health problems that plague a particular breed.

I have tried supplemental feedings, but I wasn't able to get the puppies to drink from the bottle.
 
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Serena

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Each puppy should be spayed/neutered PRIOR to going into its new home.

Having the pups s/n BEFORE they go into their new homes is the only way to absolutely 100% ensure they will not be bred.

In regards to not being afford the s/n surgery for 11 puppies...thats too bad. It is the responsible thing to ensure it is done.

Heatherew said:
Thanks to those of you who have given helpful answers. I HAD set up a spay appointment for this dog, then she got pregnant.
So why were you not supervising your dog? If you were watching her then this would not have happened..."Oops Litters" are the sole FAULT of the owner.


I did not plan it, and I cannot go back and change it.
You may not have planned it but you certainly could have prevented it. Why was the pregnancy not terminated?

Yes, the puppies will all get their shots.
Don't forget to s/n each pup too.

A person has to learn sometime,
Next time you want to learn something read a book or rent a video.

I have never had newborn puppies before so obviously I will not know everything!
All the more reasons why you should have never allowed your dog to have pups.

The father of the pups was a lab mix also. And to the person who mentioned not breeding mongrels, it's my understanding that a mixed breed will sometimes escape the health problems that plague a particular breed.
Your understanding is wrong.

The only people that say mutts are healthier are byb's and puppymillers seeking to capitalize on the myths and hype surrounding "hybrid vigor" ( which as we all know is BS) from unsuspecting pet owners that sadly have no clue about canine genetics.
 

Heatherew

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#18
Serena, thanks for your helpful tips. And no where did I say that I couldn't afford to have them spayed and neutered. If I had known people like you would gripe about something that has already happened(over and over again), I would not have posted on here. Thanks, Smkie, at least you have been civil.
 
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#20
We have talked about this many many times.........someone coming on here for help and getting attacked. Let's just try to help her!!!

I had a litter of Corgi puppies....here's what I did:

I kept some old towels in the whelping box and changed them several times per day...it made for lot's of laundry. I also kept a heating pad on low in under the towels...it was cold then, so you don't need to worry about that.

When the puppies became more mobile...it put puppy pads and they would usually go on those. Newspaper will work to.

I WOULD NOT let the puppies go outside because they haven't been immunized.

DO they seem to be getting enough to eat from Mom? That's alot of puppies.

If you're worried that she's not able to get to them all for them to potty...you can always take a washcloth...wet it with lukewarm water and wash the area and that will stimultate them to potty.

I hope this helps a little.
 
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