WEEK ONE (DAYS 1-7)
Development of the puppies
90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from female
Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
Weight should double by end of week
Care of the puppies
Chart weight daily (2 x daily first 2 days)
Examine puppies daily
Trim nails weekly
Keep whelping box around 85 F/29 C (this means if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box) When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating! Dew claw and tail docking must be done between day three and day five, schedule this with your vet.
Care of the female
Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
Feed three full meals a day after that
Ask vet about supplements
If puppies are fussy, you could supplement female with Vitamin B complex, ask your vet
Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection)
Make sure female eats, drinks, and relieves herself
To do list
Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
Keep charting female's temperature
Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
WEEK TWO (DAYS 8-14)
Development of the puppies
Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F/36-37C
Care of the puppies
Keep whelping box around 80-83F/26-28C
Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
Trim nails weekly
Care of the female
Female should get three times her normal amount of food
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK THREE (DAYS 15-21)
Development of the puppies
Teeth begin to erupt
Puppies stand up and start walking
Begin to lap liquids
Defecate/urinate without stimulation
Start becoming aware of environment
Start playing with littermates
Develop sense of smell
Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
Care of the puppies
Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life
Start giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently).
Start giving pups milk replacer to lap for one meal a day -- after two days, add some very mushy food
Weigh puppies every 2 days
Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
Start weekly grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.)
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Purchase milk replacer to feed puppies, ask your vet
WEEK FOUR (DAYS 22-28)
Development of the puppies
Begin to eat food
Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase
Use legs well
Tire easily
Depth perception starts
Care of the puppies
Keep mom with them a lot! Things can get overwhelming at this age and Mom will add stability for them
Each pup needs individual attention
Offer food that is the consistency of cooked oatmeal
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Start limiting female's access to pups before offering them food
WEEK FIVE (DAYS 29-35)
Development of the puppies
Group activities and sexual play will begin
Dominance order starts
Rapid growth/development
Care of the puppies
Reduce fluids in puppies' food
Make sure other people start coming to see pups
Begin weaning
Play radio at normal volume near pups for 5 minutes at a time
Care of the female
Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
WEEK SIX (DAYS 26-42)
Development of the puppies
Growth and development continue
Care of the puppies
Offer soft, damp food
Chart weekly weight
Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with you away from litter
Care of the female
To prepare female for weaning:
Day 1 -- no food
Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
Keep female on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
Keep careful eye on mammary glands
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK SEVEN (DAYS 43-49)
Development of the puppies
Total hearing/visual capacity
Will investigate anything
Can't respond yet to name
Care of the puppies
Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
Pups can not go to new homes
Care of the female
Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK EIGHT (DAYS 50-56)
Development of the puppies
First fear period
Starts learning name
Care of the puppies
Don't ship puppies
Can start training puppies in small steps
Care of the female
Continue as above
To do list
Continue as above
WEEK 9 - WEEK 11 (DAYS 57-77)
Development of the puppies
Develops strong dominant and subordinate behavior among littermates
Begins to learn right behavior
Motor skills improve
Short attention span
Starts focusing attention on owner rather than other puppies
Separate littermates
Start house training
Care of the puppies
Continue lots of individual attention
WEEK TWELVE +(DAYS 77-84)
Development of the puppies
Safe to ship puppies by air at the end of week twelve
Information gathered off the WWW, books and advice.