I had a mother who never slept with her puppies. Not once. She was my dog, and they were just not that important. I kept the box (with heating pad) beside the bed, and when they cried, she would get up, look over the edge of the bed at them and wait to see if it was really necessary for her to go to them. Then she'd jump down, feed them, and come right back to me. She raised 4 puppies this way for 8 weeks. Finally they were weaned and she didn't give them any attention. Now, she was the EXTREME for sure.
Usually I sleep on the couch next to the play pen (where the mom and puppies are) for about a week. During that time I check on them, talk to her, hand feed her, let her in and out of the box. Generally do everything I can to make sure everyone is okay, and then finally they are okay and I can get some sleep. You wouldn't be the first sleep-deprived mom on here.
Good luck.
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LaVail Yorkshire Terriers |