After giving birth / whelping
When you are confident that your bitch has finished whelping (giving birth)
it is recommended that you have her checked out by your veterinary surgeon
to ensure that all is well and there is no residue after birth left behind.
A bitch's first milk is called colostrum and through this will pass antibodies
necessary to prevent infection in the puppies, so it is most important that
the pups get their first drink sooner rather than later, occasionally it
is necessary to give a helping hand to the pups to latch them on to their
mother’s teats.
Hand Rearing
If for any reason your bitch is unable to feed her puppies, hand rearing
is an option, however, this is not without its own problems. You should
consult your veterinary surgeon as to the best way to go about this. Correct
equipment and substitute bitch’s milk is a must. Under no circumstances
should cow's milk be used to feed your puppies as this is highly indigestible
to them and can cause untold problems.
Care of Your New Puppies
Weeks 1 & 2
Puppies at this stage tend to eat and sleep and very little else. Your
bitch will clean up after them.
Make sure that your bitch is on the correct, good quality diet to ensue
that she is producing enough milk to feed her puppies.
Kennel Club Registration (KC Reg) Make sure that you fill in your stud form given to you at the time
of mating and send off to the Kennel Club to register your puppies; it is
also recommended to obtain pedigrees for each of your puppies, as it is
usual to let the new owners have a copy on purchasing their puppy. These
can also be obtained from the Kennel Club.
Think about advertising the puppies
Contact any prospective new puppy owners to let them know your litter has
been born, but do not encourage them to come and view your puppies at this
time, as at this early stage in life their immune system is still building
and they may be susceptible to any infections and viruses that could possibly
be brought into their environment by visitors, especially if they are the
owners of other dogs.
Choosing Prospective New Puppy Owners Advertising There are many ways of advertising your puppies; one of the best ways
is to advertise them on a puppies’ for sale register (such as the one at
breedadog.com). This will enable people that are interested in a puppy of
your breed to make their enquiries directly to you.
Answer enquiries as honestly and simply as possible
Having made contact with you the prospective new owner will undoubtedly
have numerous questions to ask you, answer these as honestly and simply as
possible. Having answered all their questions it is important that you have
your own list of questions to hand.
Suggested questions would be:-
1) Has the prospective new owner any experience of dogs, if so what?
2) Why have they decided on a puppy of your particular breed?
3) Have they sufficient time to organize 4 meals a day and help a puppy
to become house trained?
4) Would the puppy be left on its own for long periods of time?
5) If there are children in the prospective new home would they be instructed
how to care for and respect a puppy?
6) Would they be prepared to register their ownership of the new puppy
with the Kennel Club so that all documentation is kept up to date?
7) Would the puppy’s vaccinations and suggested insurance be kept up to
date?
8) Would the puppy be taken to training classes to assist in the socialising
and development of the puppy?
9) If the puppy is a coated breed have they taken into consideration the
time and effort in keeping the coat in correct order.
10) What do they feel that they can offer your puppy?
There are many more questions that you may think of that are relevant to
the type of breed that you own.
Concerned about the prospective owner?
If you feel at any time concerned about the prospective owner and their
home
Do not hesitate to say no, this is your prerogative.
Arrange a viewing date
Having satisfied yourself that the person enquiring is suitable for one
of your puppies then a viewing date can be arranged. Most breeders discourage
viewing until the puppies are at least five weeks old.
Deposits
If you are happy with the prospective new owner when they come to visit
your puppies, it is usual to ask for a holding deposit, a receipt should be
given and a copy of same kept in a file with all relevant paperwork, it should
be made clear that any balance due will be payable on collection of puppy.
A collection Date
A date for collection of puppy should be arranged and the new owner assured
that you as the breeder will only be a phone call away with any help and
advise that they require for the rest of the puppy’s life.
Week 3 Worming
It is recommended that both your bitch and her puppies’ be wormed at this
stage, it is best to consult your veterinary surgeon as to the best product
and dosage required.
Eyes open? Claws out?
Your puppies' eyes should have opened by now and their claws will have
started to get sharp, having little fish hooks on their tips which will
need to be removed, small nail clippers are ideal for this job, but do be
careful to only take the tiny hooks off the ends of the nails. The nails
should be checked weekly at this stage.
Week 4 Introduce Puppy Food
It is time to introduce your puppies’ to some soaked puppy food. Place
a cup full of puppy food in a shallow dish and add cooled boiled water,
mash into a thick porridge, most puppies are keen to try this, but occasionally
they may need a little encouragement by gently dipping their noses into
the porridge.
Remember to check toe nails.
Week 5 Worming Round II
The second worming should be carried out, again in consultation with your
veterinary surgeon.
Potential Puppy Owners Visit
Potential puppy owners may now be allowed to visit for the first time,
it is recommended that you do not let the prospective new owner choose their
own puppy, as at this stage it is difficult to assess each puppy's personality
and if the puppy is required for showing purposes, showing potential is
not always evident at this time.
Food again
Your puppies’ food will now need to be increased to three feeds per day
at this stage, but remember to decrease the amount that you bitch is eating
to encourage her milk to diminish.
Check toe nails once again.
Week 6 Reduce the dam and puppies time together?
It is now time to decrease the amount of time your bitch spends with her
puppies;
Food In fact she will be glad to spend less time with them as they are
now getting much stronger and needing to rely on her less. As the quantity
of milk intake is reduced, as well as their regular meals, which should
be four a day by now, it is a good idea to encourage your puppies to eat
their food dry. Place a small amount of food in a shallow dish and leave
with them when the bitch is not present. Make sure water is also made available
to them, but always placed in a shallow dish to avoid accidents. Toe nails
to be checked.
Week 7
Decrease the amount of time your bitch spends with her puppies even more,
as by week 8 the puppies should be totally self-sufficient.
Food changes Your puppies should now be consuming more dry food, and their
intake of water should have increased accordingly. Start to reduce their
wet feeds, but be sure to replace these feeds with dry food instead, always
ensuring that water is made available at all times.
Personalities
Your puppies will by now have started to develop their own personalities
and you will be starting to decide which prospective owner would be right
for each puppy.
Worming Round III
The third worming of your puppies should also be carried out; veterinary
consultation is recommended as to which product to use and the correct dosage
required. Check toe nails.
Week 8
Weaned and almost ready!
Your puppies will be totally weaned from their mother now and towards the
end of week 8 they will be ready to leave you to go to their new homes.
The return of paperwork By now you should have received all paperwork back from the Kennel
Club, check that this is in order and fill in all relevant details as needed.
It is a good idea to write out a dietary information sheet fully explaining
the puppies diet, number of feeds, amount and type of each feed etc, also
include all relevant worming information.
Veterinary checks & Vaccinations It is recommended that you encourage
your new puppy owner to make an appointment with their veterinary surgeon
as soon as possible after collection of their new puppy for a puppy health
check and first vaccination injections.
Confidence in the right home?
As a breeder it is your responsibility to ensure that you are confident
that you have found the right homes for your puppies and also that you are
available to give help and advice to the new puppy owners as and when they
need it, this is not just while the puppy is young, but for its entire life.
