[bjh]

1. Once the puppies are born, how soon can they come into contact with the daddy and my other dog? I keep my mommas in a large x-pen in the spare bedroom. The whelping box will be on one end, food and water in the middle and pee pads on the other end. When the puppies are about 3 1/2 to 4 weeks old I take the whelping box away but I have a board across half the x-pen so the momma can still jump in and out with the babies. The momma will be very protective of the puppies the 1st few weeks so you have to make sure the other dogs don't bother her. Most male dogs don't want anything to do with the puppies so once you do try to introduce them to your other dogs you have to watch them very carefully. I do not let my puppies around other adults/males until they are about 10 weeks old.

2. What else can I use to tie the umbilical cord? My friend was supposed to send me hemostats and she didn't come through for me. I always tie off the umbilical cords with unwaxed dental floss if they are bleeding.

3. When should mommy and puppies be taken to the vet? . Most people take the female within 24 hours after delivery.

4. What is a good way to identify each puppy? I I never put anything on my puppies. Some people use nail polish, some people use colored yarn.


I know this may sound silly but how far should they be kept away? They can be in the same room as long as the others cannot get to the momma and her babies. If you use an x-pen just hang sheets on the sides so the momma can have privacy. Ideally the momma would be in a different room