How We Raise Our Puppies

• Week Before Birth

• get puppy room ready

• have the mom dog stay inside most of the day

• take the mom dog’s temperature morning and night

• watch for signs of labor-panting, nesting, restlessness, clingy, enlarged nipples, not eating, and discharge

• check on mom dog frequently

• Birth

• stay with mom dog for whole process

• dry puppies if mom isn’t and suction lungs if their breathing is rasping

• check for cleft palate

• distribute Oxytocin or calcium if necessary

• if mom is stressed or being aggressive towards puppies give her a break

Waiting For Puppies

• Week One

• once puppies are three days old start ENS (early neurological stimulation)

• weigh puppies morning and night

• feed mom double her normal amount plus supplements

• check mom for mastitis daily

• Week Two

• continue ENS

• if puppies aren’t gaining well continue weighing once a day

• continue feeding mom dog double her normal amount plus supplements

• continue checking mom dog daily for mastitis

• Week Three

• introduce puppies to ground kibble/goat milk mush

• continue ENS

• continue feeding mom dog double her normal amount plus supplements

• continue checking mom dog for mastitis

• Week Four

• feed puppies thicker ground kibble/goat milk mush once a day

• continue ENS

• reduce amount of food for mom dog

• continue checking mom dog for mastitis

• take pig rails out of pen

• if weather is good take puppies out briefly

• put potty trays into puppy pen

• Week Five

• start feeding twice daily and switch to kibble softened in water

• reduce amount of food for mom dog

• continue ENS introduce puppies to tunnel, upside down kiddie pool, raised bed, and different surfaces

• put water dish in pen

• continue checking mom dog for mastitis

• if weather is good take puppies out for longer

• Week Six

• free feed dry kibble

• continue ENS, tunnel, upside down kiddie pool, raised bed, and different surfaces

• if puppies are doing well with potty trays take one out

• if weather is good take puppies out more often and for longer

• reduce mom’s food to almost normal

• continue checking mom dog for mastitis

• puppy picking day

• first vet visit

• Week Seven

• continue ENS, tunnel, raised bed, and different surfaces

• If weather is good take puppies outside frequently

• reduce amount of potty trays

• put mom dog back to normal feeding

• Week Eight

• puppy baths

• get blankets and puppy go home bags ready

• if weather is good take puppies out even more frequently

• switch to meals three times a day