Yes, she is a sassy little one too. She was squirming and wiggling all the way out, and when mom broke that bag, she was a squealing! She crawled her way past the 2 boys born ahead of her, and grabbed a nipple! She will actually wag her tail when she is nursing, and if she cannot get to a nipple, screams and yells until she gets one, and she kneads ciciously like a cat! The male, w/ the mask on, he is a violent "sucker" he is twisting Dixies nipple and turning and tugging so hard, man....chillax..........
Beautiful pups, and that last photo is a real winner. Sounds like that pup has much the same type of personality my Shiva has . . . look out
But please, Grammy and Redyre have really given you some sterling counsel - and they've done this a few times . . . You can bet I'm going to be asking them a zillion questions when it's my grrrrls turn . . .
But please, Grammy and Redyre have really given you some sterling counsel - and they've done this a few times . . . You can bet I'm going to be asking them a zillion questions when it's my grrrrls turn . . .
Red~I HEAR YOU, sorry, been busy and in pain, she has been ousted from the cage since last night. She is not adapting well, but will have to get over it!
My problem now is that she wants to lay ON TOP of them. They will all be sleeping peacefully, and she will look at them, then flop right smack on top of them. Ive got to pull them out. I try to correct her, she wont listen. She acts like a chicken, not a dog! HELP!!!
My problem now is that she wants to lay ON TOP of them. They will all be sleeping peacefully, and she will look at them, then flop right smack on top of them. Ive got to pull them out. I try to correct her, she wont listen. She acts like a chicken, not a dog! HELP!!!
R
You made a serious mistake by disregarding my advice and not putting her in the whelping box BEFORE she had the puppies.
Puppies are less than one week old. At NO TIME should she EVER stand up that someone is not there to HELP her. At NO TIME should she lie down with her puppies that someone is not there to HELP her. If I were having that issue, each time she had to get up, I would put puppies in a basket, and return them to her after she was lying down.
Unfortunately, the needs of the bitch and the puppies don't end because you are sick. Maybe your boyfriend, who engineered this breeding, could take a little responsibility at this time when you need help.
I cannot express how TERRIBLY IMPORTANT it is for someone to BE THERE with bitches for the first week when they are acclimating to puppies, even bitches who are not maidens.
SOme bitches get very anxious when they are away from the box, even for a few minutes, and they rush back into the box, and want to cape over the puppies, and so may lie on them and accidentally crush them. I routinely pick up puppies and put them in a basket when the bitch is out of the box, and when she gets back in and settled, I put them back with her.
Puppies are less than one week old. At NO TIME should she EVER stand up that someone is not there to HELP her. At NO TIME should she lie down with her puppies that someone is not there to HELP her. If I were having that issue, each time she had to get up, I would put puppies in a basket, and return them to her after she was lying down.
Unfortunately, the needs of the bitch and the puppies don't end because you are sick. Maybe your boyfriend, who engineered this breeding, could take a little responsibility at this time when you need help.
I cannot express how TERRIBLY IMPORTANT it is for someone to BE THERE with bitches for the first week when they are acclimating to puppies, even bitches who are not maidens.
SOme bitches get very anxious when they are away from the box, even for a few minutes, and they rush back into the box, and want to cape over the puppies, and so may lie on them and accidentally crush them. I routinely pick up puppies and put them in a basket when the bitch is out of the box, and when she gets back in and settled, I put them back with her.
I would pull the pups away from the end of the whelping pen as that's where all my " girls " wanted to stretch out... then would place the pups back to them. Each " maiden" dam seemed to be very concerned the first weeks about lying on them so really appreciated my in put. This only had to happen 3 or 4 times a day as they only left the pen to go potty. BTW.. the kneading and pulling is natural ... just make sure you watch the nail growth.If you have a weak nurser, give them hind tit... make the machos work on the front smaller ones.
R
Good point about the nails, Grammy.
I clip nails by the second day, and at birth if needed.
Puppy nails get attention at least once per week. If you don't keep them short and blunt they will really scratch her breasts up. I'm always worried about a scratch developing into mastitis, so I keep up very close with puppy toenails.
All you need is a regular nail cutter and a little emery board. Clip the hook off each nail, and file it a couple of strokes to smooth it.
I clip nails by the second day, and at birth if needed.
Puppy nails get attention at least once per week. If you don't keep them short and blunt they will really scratch her breasts up. I'm always worried about a scratch developing into mastitis, so I keep up very close with puppy toenails.
All you need is a regular nail cutter and a little emery board. Clip the hook off each nail, and file it a couple of strokes to smooth it.
Yeah, last night I filed them down alittle. I was holding a puppy, and he was scratching my face up, so I knew they were too sharp.
Last night, hubby caught Dixie moving the puppies. He corrected her. I made sure the two she already moved(To a stray pillow on the floor!) were alright, as I know the mom will sometimes mover them away if they are sick or whatever. But they were just fine. Thank GOD!
I have noticed that Dixie seems to be getting lonely. I hope she is not getting tired of them! She cries for us to come talk to her. And if we dont, she will make her way to the baby gate and just watch for us. She is a good mom, but I think due to her age, is missing the interaction with all of our family members too much. When she hears my son open the door, she tries to get up because she wants to play baseball. If she goes out to play, or potty, she is not quite as anxious to get back to the babies anymore. But, she still lays and nurses all day, and cleans them.
Boy are they going potty so much more now! She must have been asleep good last night, this am there were little poop spots all over the place!She woke up and started cleaning them up like"Oooooops!'
The red nose male has gotten so big already, he is alomost DOUBLE any other pups size. He is huge. But not an impressive head size to equal out. The chocolate, he is short and stubby, but boy, his head is wide and snoot is short.The little female is justa as full of spunk as she ever was. The one male w/ the black mask, he was small, but is almost comparable to the huge one already. He is also my crybaby!The black male is gorgeous, he is a good boy. The red female is also getting bigger, but she is calm.
If you gently scratch just above their tails, they will literally kick their back leg out of pleasure. It is hilarious. I didnt know they could do that this young!
Last night, hubby caught Dixie moving the puppies. He corrected her. I made sure the two she already moved(To a stray pillow on the floor!) were alright, as I know the mom will sometimes mover them away if they are sick or whatever. But they were just fine. Thank GOD!
I have noticed that Dixie seems to be getting lonely. I hope she is not getting tired of them! She cries for us to come talk to her. And if we dont, she will make her way to the baby gate and just watch for us. She is a good mom, but I think due to her age, is missing the interaction with all of our family members too much. When she hears my son open the door, she tries to get up because she wants to play baseball. If she goes out to play, or potty, she is not quite as anxious to get back to the babies anymore. But, she still lays and nurses all day, and cleans them.
Boy are they going potty so much more now! She must have been asleep good last night, this am there were little poop spots all over the place!She woke up and started cleaning them up like"Oooooops!'
The red nose male has gotten so big already, he is alomost DOUBLE any other pups size. He is huge. But not an impressive head size to equal out. The chocolate, he is short and stubby, but boy, his head is wide and snoot is short.The little female is justa as full of spunk as she ever was. The one male w/ the black mask, he was small, but is almost comparable to the huge one already. He is also my crybaby!The black male is gorgeous, he is a good boy. The red female is also getting bigger, but she is calm.
If you gently scratch just above their tails, they will literally kick their back leg out of pleasure. It is hilarious. I didnt know they could do that this young!
R
You should have a clean box at this time. During the first week, you should NOT see poop spots in the box. Talk to your vet about this, and you may need to help encourage her to clean the puppies.
During the first week most bitches will NOT leave their puppies at all except to eat and eliminate, because they instinctively know that the puppies cannot control their body temp and need her body heat.
Once a week is up, most bitches will spend a little more time outside the box.
Your bitch should be more closely supervised if she is trying to move puppies.
If you have a puppy who is crying, be sure to check to see if it needs to relieve itself.
I do not leave the whelping room, or the side of the whelping box, for the first week except to go to the refrigerator or the bathroom. I am literally there 24/7 to help the bitch each time she stands up, or starts to clean puppies.
During the first week most bitches will NOT leave their puppies at all except to eat and eliminate, because they instinctively know that the puppies cannot control their body temp and need her body heat.
Once a week is up, most bitches will spend a little more time outside the box.
Your bitch should be more closely supervised if she is trying to move puppies.
If you have a puppy who is crying, be sure to check to see if it needs to relieve itself.
I do not leave the whelping room, or the side of the whelping box, for the first week except to go to the refrigerator or the bathroom. I am literally there 24/7 to help the bitch each time she stands up, or starts to clean puppies.
Every time I hear her move, i check. Every little squeak, I check.
One week makes that big of a difference?
Maybe 2 or 3 of them will actually group up to sleep. It had been like this from day one. When they feed, usually 2 will feed first, then go sleep, then the others will wake and feed.They cannot regulate their body temp, this I know, but they are always spread out sleeping independantly. I will group them, and they crawl away. I feel their paws and noses all the time and they are warm. Maybe the box os just in a place where there are no drafts and such. The AC is on, as it is hot here, but it is set on 80 or so.
Im trying...
One week makes that big of a difference?
Maybe 2 or 3 of them will actually group up to sleep. It had been like this from day one. When they feed, usually 2 will feed first, then go sleep, then the others will wake and feed.They cannot regulate their body temp, this I know, but they are always spread out sleeping independantly. I will group them, and they crawl away. I feel their paws and noses all the time and they are warm. Maybe the box os just in a place where there are no drafts and such. The AC is on, as it is hot here, but it is set on 80 or so.
Im trying...
Maybe she is wanting to be maternal and doesn't want to leave them, but is so unsure about her mothering capabilities that she's trying to find someone to help her like you've been doing. I'm guessing she doesn't quite know what to do without you, so I would make up a nice comfy nest of your own and settle in.
R
Just because the thermostat says 80 in your house does not mean it's that warm in the box.
I keep a thermometer near the floor of the box. I don't keep the house so hot, the bitches get too hot, but I do keep a heat lamp on one corner of the box so puppies can get heat if they want it.
By the time you hear a squeak, it might be too late.
And YES THE FIRST WEEK IS THAT IMPORTANT.....
>:-[
I keep a thermometer near the floor of the box. I don't keep the house so hot, the bitches get too hot, but I do keep a heat lamp on one corner of the box so puppies can get heat if they want it.
By the time you hear a squeak, it might be too late.
And YES THE FIRST WEEK IS THAT IMPORTANT.....
>:-[