My dog is about to have puppies, what do I do?
I set up a pen in the bedroom, and for two or three days I rarely leave the room. Of course, in nature, a wild canine doesn’t want or need the assistance of a human, or even another pack member, when giving birth. In fact, a pregnant female ` will wander away from the pack to make a nest, and all the other dogs will respect her give her some space.But these puppies can (and hopefully) will be BEST IN SHOW someday. As a show breeder, if a puppy dies it is a huge tragedy. I need to be available at all times in case there is an emergency with the puppies or the mother.
In the pen is a box with three raised walls, to keep out drafts; newspapers and a heating pad; and a railing around the side known as a "pig’s rail," to prevent any situation where a puppy might get crushed if it happens to crawl behind the mother.
I recorded the time that she went into labor and I recorded the time that the puppies were born. I also have a scale waiting nearby. Once the start nursing, I weigh them two or three times a day, to make sure they are gaining weight.
Italian Greyhound FAQs . . .
