Day 4...

Ever been so exhausted, but also wound at the same time? Well, I was there last night. I just could no go to sleep. Tossing and turning and waking at every little peep, licking or scratching of little feet digging in on the blanket or pool. I finally got a couple hours in right before it was time to wake up and then wouldn't you know, I had to get up for a 8:00 a.m. vet appointment for dew claws!

It was a mad dash to get early morning chores done and pups and Fig loaded in the van. I put down a nice soft quilt and they laid on that. My mom sat in back with Fig and babies to make sure they were all staying where they were supposed to and that there were no drafts that might chill the babies. Good job Grandma!

Figgy was such a good momma, she had to wait outside in my van with Grandma while I took pups into vets. She looked a little worried, but this is one smart, sensible dog. I just told her what we were doing and that she had to wait there and she didn't even get up. Sometimes the momma dogs are stressed and whining and panting, not wanting you to take their puppies away from them. She was concerned, but she trusts me.

We are all back home safely. Pups have nursed and are now asleep again. That is really all they do... sleep, eat, and pee and poop with mom's help by licking. If you have never had baby puppies before you may not realize that they cannot urinate or defecate on their own until around 21 days old. Eyes start to open around 7 to 10 days. They can see around 15 days of age. Their ear canals are closed at birth and start to open around 14 days of age, when they start to hear, but hearing is not acute until around 35 days of age. That is why the BAER hearing test is not to be performed on puppies until 5 weeks or older (35 days).

Pups are unable to regulate their own body temperature until around 5 weeks of age. This is why it is imperative to keep the temperature of the whelping box around 86 degrees for the first week. You can start to gradually lessen the temperature in the whelping box each week until they are 5 weeks of age and can maintain their own body heat.

Everyone wants a "Super Puppy", well there are actually a few simple stimulation exercises that you should perform on the pups each day to help neurological development. Over stimulation can have negative effects so a breeder should follow the recommendations closely not to exceed the amount of time or frequency of these little exercises. 

1. Tactical stimulation (between toes)

2. Head held erect

3. Head pointed down

4. Supine position

5. Thermal stimulation. 

For more information and the complete article go to: http://breedingbetterdogs.com/pdfFiles/articles/early_neurological_stimulation_en.pdf

The benefits are a healthier, more well-rounded, more adaptable, higher achieving puppy/dog.

11:00 a.m. Figgy Temperature 101.6  :) 
11:07 p.m. Figgy Temperature 101.2

Puppies are gaining well.