| Raising a puppie into a dog can be a very | | | | up tight to conserve body heat. Make sure |
| rewarding experience. It is like seeing a | | | | the mother dog is clean and that all the |
| family member grow up, but in fast motion. | | | | puppies are nursing. The mother's udder |
| Of course, I am talking about dogs not | | | | should be checked every day for milk |
| people. My wife, Barbara, and I raise | | | | production and infection. She will not go |
| Yorkies and Maltese and tend to think of them | | | | far from her puppies during the first few |
| sometimes as family members. Except, these | | | | days, so bring her food and water very near |
| guys never need to borrow the car keys or | | | | to her.For a mother dog to do well, she needs |
| stay out too late.This morning, we had a | | | | a quiet, secure place to be with her puppies. |
| litter of six Yorkies born. Both of us were | | | | Stress can have a negative effect on the |
| on hand to help the mother. Most of the | | | | mother dog and her puppies. Keep other dogs |
| time, a mother dog doesn't really need any | | | | away from her. Strange people can cause |
| help, but sometimes there are problems. I | | | | undue stress. Don't bring in all your |
| cut the umbilical cords and tie them with | | | | freinds and their children for the first |
| dental floss. The mother dog would | | | | several weeks.A lactating mother dog uses a |
| ordinarily chew the umbilical cords into by | | | | lot of calcium and should be given calcium |
| herself. With some breeds, such as Yorkies, | | | | pills each day. If she suddenly goes into |
| sometimes the mother has too much trouble | | | | shock, she may be too low on calcium and will |
| turning around to reach the cord, so I am | | | | need immediate attention from your vet.For |
| there to help.After the puppies are born, we | | | | about a month, the mother will take care of |
| put them in a warm room in our house. They | | | | most things. After a few weeks, the puppies |
| get a dry, clean, warm bed consisting of a | | | | will open their eyes and start trying to |
| wooden frame about 24 inches square made of 1 | | | | stand up and walk. Playing comes soon after. |
| by 12 boards. There is no bottom. This | | | | In about 4 to 5 weeks, the puppies will be |
| square just sets upon a cloth pallet on the | | | | ready to start eating solid food. A mixture |
| floor. For the first week, we insert a small | | | | of canned and dry food with a little water to |
| heating pad beneath the pallet. If you buy | | | | soften it is a good first food. Then, slowly |
| the disposable bed pads made for human use, | | | | reduce the moisture content until the puppies |
| they are great for the mama and her babies to | | | | and eating canned or dry food only.Alton |
| lay on.We keep a close eye on the little | | | | Hargrave offers advice and resources for |
| family evey day. Make sure the puppies are | | | | those interested in a business online. His |
| warm and dry. You can tell when the puppies | | | | website, contains honest information |
| are warm...they will tend to spread out on | | | | regarding website software and low-cost |
| their bedding. Cold puppies tend to bunch | | | | solutions for your business. |