What to expect when you get your dog's first litter?

First-time moms are young and need reassurance. A puppy's eyes are not open; they do use rooting behavior to find the nipple, but first-time moms don't realize a puppy isn't positioned to eat – older moms will tuck them. You can help them find the nipple and get a full tummy. Not eating goes with puppies getting cold.


How do I prepare my dog for his first litter?

It is advised that you have a clean, sanitised whelping station for when the litter is due, comfortable bedding, lots of knowledge of what's expected of you throughout the birth and your local vet on hand for any questions, queries or concerns you may have at all during the pregnancy.

How many puppies should I expect first litter?

A normal litter size can range from 1 to 12 puppies, with 5-6 puppies being average across all dogs. But just as every breed of dog differs by size, function, and personality, they also differ when it comes to litter size, according to AKC registration data.


How do you take care of a new litter of puppies?

How to Take Care of Newborn Puppies
  1. Create a Den. ...
  2. Keep Them With Their Mothers. ...
  3. Avoid Guests and Visitors. ...
  4. Weigh the Puppies Regularly. ...
  5. Assess the Puppies for Signs of Illness. ...
  6. Assess the Mother for Signs of Illness. ...
  7. Enjoy Caring For a Litter of Puppies.


Do female dogs change after having a litter?

Many mother dogs display behavioral changes after giving birth, and these can range from mild to extreme. Depending on the cause, uncharacteristic dog behavior after having puppies rarely lasts more than a few weeks before a new mom begins acting more like herself again.


Tips for FIRST TIME PREGNANT DOG parents | Hunter's pregnancy journey FIRST LITTER PART 2



What to expect after my dog gives birth?

Once your dog has given birth to all her puppies, she is likely to be very hungry and tired. She will need to eat, rest with her pups, bond with them and feed them – make sure they are in a quiet, comfortable space where they won't be disturbed.

What do you feed a mother dog after giving birth?

To help your nursing dog get enough nutrition, you can try several tactics:
  • Feed a nutrient-dense diet such as puppy food.
  • Without increasing the amount of food offered at a meal, increase the number of meals throughout the day.
  • Free-choice feed them, offering unlimited access to dry food throughout the day.


Do I need to stay up all night with newborn puppies?

You should expect a few sleepless nights while your puppy is getting used to their new home, their new routine, and learning how to hold everything in so there are no accidents in the night. It can also take you by surprise how much sleep these fur-baby's actually need.


Do most puppies in a litter survive?

Death usually occurs within the first five days of life, but can happen up to ten weeks of age. It is responsible for about 50% of deaths of new-born puppies. Around 30% of pedigree puppies die in their first few weeks of life, with only about half of them dying due to identifiable causes.

Will my dog reject her puppies if I touch them?

It is not necessarily bad to touch a newborn puppy, but there is no one-size-fits-all response. Many mother dogs - especially if they are our pets - will not mind humans touching their young puppies. However, newborn puppies, like all newborns, are delicate, and it is easy to unwittingly hurt them.

Why should you not get puppies from the same litter?

The most common reason given for not adopting two pups from the same litter is that they will “bond better” with each other than with you. This intuitively makes sense, in that the pups have already had the closest and most intimate experience with each other, and often during important phases of socialization.


Can you keep 2 puppies from the same litter?

It is a very poor decision to get two puppies from the same litter in almost all cases. Sometimes, people with extensive prior K9 knowledge may be able to handle the added stresses of getting two dogs from the same litter, but it is still generally not recommended.

Why can't you keep two puppies from the same litter?

Taking on two puppies from the same litter often results in what is known as littermate syndrome. The puppies will be bonded to each other and this will make them less likely to bond to you. The dogs may not listen to you and will be much harder to train.

What do I do after my dog has litter?

After the birthing process, clean up the mother as much as possible without upsetting her using a warm water and washcloth. Do not use any soaps or disinfectants unless instructed to by your veterinarian. Remove any soiled newspaper or bedding from her whelping box.


What should be in a dog whelping box?

The best bedding materials for a whelping box are soft, warm, have good traction, and are easily cleaned and disinfected. They should be insect-free, moisture resistant, and not easily ingested by puppies. You should avoid hay, straw, shavings, or stiff particles that can cause eye and skin irritation.

What do I need for arrival of puppies?

Things to buy before they arrive
  1. Food and water bowls.
  2. A collar, harness, lead and ID tag.
  3. Chew toys especially for puppies.
  4. A bed and comfortable bedding.
  5. If you're planning on crate training, get your crate now.
  6. A car-seat harness or crate for travel.
  7. Grooming products like a brush and nail clippers.
  8. Dental health products.


Are dogs first litters smaller?

The age of the dog when breeding plays a key part in litter size. The older the dam, the smaller the litter, especially in larger breeds. Dams bred from 2-5 years usually have the largest litters. Despite the age of the dam, the first 2 litters will generally be smaller than the ones afterwards.


How many litters should a female dog have?

A best practice is 4-6 litters per dog

Most reputable breeders will cap even their fittest, best mothers at around 4-6 litters so that she can be spayed while she is still young and at her healthiest.

How do you know how many puppies a dog will have?

But the proper way to count puppies is to do an x-ray around the last week of her pregnancy when all the puppies' bones have formed so they'll show up on the x-ray. And that's the best way to count all the tiny skeletons and see how many puppies to expect.

Should a mother dog always be with her puppies?

Newborn pups need to be with their mother and the maternal instinct usually means a mother dog will want to stay with her litter most of the time. If your dog is lying or sitting away from the litter for long periods, it's likely she may have rejected them.


What to do when puppies are first born?

Keep them with their mother

The presence of the mother is what sustains puppies when they are first born. They are not to be separated from the mother under any circumstances during this critical period. Given that the mother has just given birth, she should be given time to rest with her puppies undisturbed.

Is it OK to sleep with puppy first night?

Sleep in the same room for the first few nights.

For the first few nights, your puppy will need time to adjust to being without their mum. Wherever you decide to settle them in your house, it's a good idea to spend the first few nights in the same room with them so they don't wake up in a panic because no-one is there.

How should a mother dog act after birth?

Her newborn pups can also trigger strong maternal instincts in your dog. Your once calm and well-socialized dog can become possessive (or aggressive) to whoever goes near her litter. She may also become overprotective and will try to hide her pups from people or other pets at home she may see as a threat.


What kind of vitamins should I give my dog after giving birth?

Folic acid is especially important in the early stages as it's crucial for puppy development - while iodine, calcium, iron and all vitamins A, D, E, K, C and the B family will also prove important both during and after the dog's pregnancy.

How many hours can a dog eat after giving birth?

After whelping, the mother dog may not want to eat very much for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. She should regain her appetite within two days. It is recommended to feed her frequently, gradually increasing the amount per meal as her milk production increases and as her puppies grow.