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After giving birth / whelping
When you are confident that your bitch has finished whelping (giving birth) it is recommended that you have her checked out by your veterinary surgeon to ensure that all is well and there is no residue after birth left behind.
A bitch's first milk is called colostrum and through this will pass antibodies necessary to prevent infection in the puppies, so it is most important that the pups get their first drink sooner rather than later, occasionally it is necessary to give a helping hand to the pups to latch them on to their mother’s teats.
Hand Rearing
If for any reason your bitch is unable to feed her puppies, hand rearing is an option, however, this is not without its own problems. You should consult your veterinary surgeon as to the best way to go about this. Correct equipment and substitute bitch’s milk is a must. Under no circumstances should cow's milk be used to feed your puppies as this is highly indigestible to them and can cause untold problems.
Care of Your New Puppies
Weeks 1 & 2
Puppies at this stage tend to eat and sleep and very little else. Your bitch will clean up after them.
Make sure that your bitch is on the correct, good quality diet to ensue that she is producing enough milk to feed her puppies.
Kennel Club Registration (KC Reg)
Make sure that you fill in your stud form given to you at the time of mating and send off to the Kennel Club to register your puppies; it is also recommended to obtain pedigrees for each of your puppies, as it is usual to let the new owners have a copy on purchasing their puppy. These can also be obtained from the Kennel Club.
Think about advertising the puppies
Contact any prospective new puppy owners to let them know your litter has been born, but do not encourage them to come and view your puppies at this time, as at this early stage in life their immune system is still building and they may be susceptible to any infections and viruses that could possibly be brought into their environment by visitors, especially if they are the owners of other dogs.
Choosing Prospective New Puppy Owners
Advertising
There are many ways of advertising your puppies; one of the best ways is to advertise them on a puppies’ for sale register (such as the one at breedadog.com). This will enable people that are interested in a puppy of your breed to make their enquiries directly to you.
Answer enquiries as honestly and simply as possible
Having made contact with you the prospective new owner will undoubtedly have numerous questions to ask you, answer these as honestly and simply as possible. Having answered all their questions it is important that you have your own list of questions to hand.
Suggested questions would be:-
1) Has the prospective new owner any experience of dogs, if so what?
2) Why have they decided on a puppy of your particular breed?
3) Have they sufficient time to organize 4 meals a day and help a puppy to become house trained?
4) Would the puppy be left on its own for long periods of time?
5) If there are children in the prospective new home would they be instructed how to care for and respect a puppy?
6) Would they be prepared to register their ownership of the new puppy with the Kennel Club so that all documentation is kept up to date?
7) Would the puppy’s vaccinations and suggested insurance be kept up to date?
8) Would the puppy be taken to training classes to assist in the socialising and development of the puppy?
9) If the puppy is a coated breed have they taken into consideration the time and effort in keeping the coat in correct order.
10) What do they feel that they can offer your puppy?
There are many more questions that you may think of that are relevant to the type of breed that you own.
Concerned about the prospective owner?
If you feel at any time concerned about the prospective owner and their home
Do not hesitate to say no, this is your prerogative.
Arrange a viewing date
Having satisfied yourself that the person enquiring is suitable for one of your puppies then a viewing date can be arranged. Most breeders discourage viewing until the puppies are at least five weeks old.
Deposits
If you are happy with the prospective new owner when they come to visit your puppies, it is usual to ask for a holding deposit, a receipt should be given and a copy of same kept in a file with all relevant paperwork, it should be made clear that any balance due will be payable on collection of puppy.
A collection Date
A date for collection of puppy should be arranged and the new owner assured that you as the breeder will only be a phone call away with any help and advise that they require for the rest of the puppy’s life.
Week 3
Worming
It is recommended that both your bitch and her puppies’ be wormed at this stage, it is best to consult your veterinary surgeon as to the best product and dosage required.
Eyes open? Claws out?
Your puppies' eyes should have opened by now and their claws will have started to get sharp, having little fish hooks on their tips which will need to be removed, small nail clippers are ideal for this job, but do be careful to only take the tiny hooks off the ends of the nails. The nails should be checked weekly at this stage.
Week 4
Introduce Puppy Food
It is time to introduce your puppies’ to some soaked puppy food. Place a cup full of puppy food in a shallow dish and add cooled boiled water, mash into a thick porridge, most puppies are keen to try this, but occasionally they may need a little encouragement by gently dipping their noses into the porridge.
Remember to check toe nails.
Week 5
Worming Round II
The second worming should be carried out, again in consultation with your veterinary surgeon.
Potential Puppy Owners Visit
Potential puppy owners may now be allowed to visit for the first time, it is recommended that you do not let the prospective new owner choose their own puppy, as at this stage it is difficult to assess each puppy's personality and if the puppy is required for showing purposes, showing potential is not always evident at this time.
Food again
Your puppies’ food will now need to be increased to three feeds per day at this stage, but remember to decrease the amount that you bitch is eating to encourage her milk to diminish.
Check toe nails once again.
Week 6
Reduce the dam and puppies time together?
It is now time to decrease the amount of time your bitch spends with her puppies;
Food
In fact she will be glad to spend less time with them as they are now getting much stronger and needing to rely on her less. As the quantity of milk intake is reduced, as well as their regular meals, which should be four a day by now, it is a good idea to encourage your puppies to eat their food dry. Place a small amount of food in a shallow dish and leave with them when the bitch is not present. Make sure water is also made available to them, but always placed in a shallow dish to avoid accidents. Toe nails to be checked.
Week 7
Decrease the amount of time your bitch spends with her puppies even more, as
by week 8 the puppies should be totally self-sufficient.
Food changes
Your puppies should now be consuming more dry food, and their intake of water should have increased accordingly. Start to reduce their wet feeds, but be sure to
replace these feeds with dry food instead, always ensuring that water is made available at all times.
Personalities
Your puppies will by now have started to develop their own personalities and you will be starting to decide which prospective owner would be right for each puppy.
Worming Round III
The third worming of your puppies should also be carried out; veterinary consultation is recommended as to which product to use and the correct dosage required. Check toe nails.
Week 8
Weaned and almost ready!
Your puppies will be totally weaned from their mother now and towards the end of week 8 they will be ready to leave you to go to their new homes.
The return of paperwork
By now you should have received all paperwork back from the Kennel Club, check that this is in order and fill in all relevant details as needed. It is a good idea to write out a dietary information sheet fully explaining the puppies diet, number of feeds, amount and type of each feed etc, also include all relevant worming information.
Veterinary checks & Vaccinations
It is recommended that you encourage your new puppy owner to make an appointment with their veterinary surgeon as soon as possible after collection of their new puppy for a puppy health check and first vaccination injections.
Confidence in the right home?
As a breeder it is your responsibility to ensure that you are confident that you have found the right homes for your puppies and also that you are available to give help and advice to the new puppy owners as and when they need it, this is not just while the puppy is young, but for its entire life.
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