Post by melonie on Oct 7, 2013 15:05:02 GMT -5
To those of you who have puppy experience...
My sisters 8 yr old Redbone had an accidental litter of puppies. This is her first and last litter. I thought she got her fixed awhile back, but I guess her and her (ex) husband had just been considering doing it. My sister has had a busy year, bought a new home, sold her old house, remarried this summer, and is prego with her first baby and missed Char going into heat. She feels so terrible, like she failed her dog.
Char has been a good momma dog, but her over all temperament is peeking through with her attitude toward the almost 4 week old puppies. She is a queen bitch, and doesn't tolerate female dogs well. So she had 6 female puppies, and two males. She is not a happy momma dog, and I don't blame her.
Part of her nature poked through when my sister gave her a milkbone treat. One of the puppies got too close to her and she growled, and nipped it away from her. She has done the growling with her dog brothers, so my sister feeds them separately to avoid issues.
So, we decided to make sure the pups stay away from mom while eating, and to remove mom when she starts the puppies on their food. (which she did today just to see how they would do and they went nuts over the food)
My sister wasn't dead set on finding them homes by 8 weeks of age, and wanted to give them time together to mature a bit more and figured 10-12 weeks would be better.
But she has been worried how momma dog will deal with the growing pups. She'd also like to keep one of the puppies, but again is worried if she were to choose a female.
What is the likelihood of momma dog allowing one of her female offspring staying in the family?
How often should she offer puppy food, and how often/long should the 'mommy breaks' be?
Also, when will it be safe to allow her other two dogs around the puppies? After first shots?
My sisters 8 yr old Redbone had an accidental litter of puppies. This is her first and last litter. I thought she got her fixed awhile back, but I guess her and her (ex) husband had just been considering doing it. My sister has had a busy year, bought a new home, sold her old house, remarried this summer, and is prego with her first baby and missed Char going into heat. She feels so terrible, like she failed her dog.
Char has been a good momma dog, but her over all temperament is peeking through with her attitude toward the almost 4 week old puppies. She is a queen bitch, and doesn't tolerate female dogs well. So she had 6 female puppies, and two males. She is not a happy momma dog, and I don't blame her.
Part of her nature poked through when my sister gave her a milkbone treat. One of the puppies got too close to her and she growled, and nipped it away from her. She has done the growling with her dog brothers, so my sister feeds them separately to avoid issues.
So, we decided to make sure the pups stay away from mom while eating, and to remove mom when she starts the puppies on their food. (which she did today just to see how they would do and they went nuts over the food)
My sister wasn't dead set on finding them homes by 8 weeks of age, and wanted to give them time together to mature a bit more and figured 10-12 weeks would be better.
But she has been worried how momma dog will deal with the growing pups. She'd also like to keep one of the puppies, but again is worried if she were to choose a female.
What is the likelihood of momma dog allowing one of her female offspring staying in the family?
How often should she offer puppy food, and how often/long should the 'mommy breaks' be?
Also, when will it be safe to allow her other two dogs around the puppies? After first shots?