013. Raising Puppies Timeline
Description
This article is from the Breeding, Whelping, and Rearing Puppies FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Liza Lee Miller.
013. Raising Puppies Timeline
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 bitch
+ 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 degrees Farenheit (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!
+ If your breed requires tail, ear, or dew claw docking, schedule this with your vet. CARE OF THE BITCH
+ Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
+ Feed three full meals a day after that
+ Supplement with 250 mg Vitamin C twice daily
+ If puppies are fussy, supplement bitch with Vitamin B complex
+ 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 bitch eats, drinks, and relieves herself TO DO LIST
+ Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
+ Keep charting bitch'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 CARE OF THE PUPPIES
+ Keep whelping box around 80-83F
+ Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
+ Trim nails weekly CARE OF THE BITCH
+ Bitch 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 BITCH
+ Continue as above TO DO LIST
+ Purchase milk replacer to feed puppies 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 BITCH
+ Continue as above TO DO LIST
+ Start limiting bitch'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 BITCH
+ 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 BITCH
+ To prepare bitch 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 bitch 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 go to new homes CARE OF THE BITCH
+ Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up TO DO LIST 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 BITCH
+ Continue as above TO DO LIST
+ Continue as above Week Nine (Days 57-63) 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 Ten (Days 64-70) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
+ Safe to ship puppies by air For more information on puppy development and raising, see Your New Puppy FAQ.
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