When the puppies are a week old they are only going to nurse every few hours so it is natural that the mom will not want to be right with them all the time. If you have a female that is used to being with you all the time then it can be more challenging. Also, the momma's personality plays an important part in how you handle the situation. With my momma's, starting when the pups are about a week old, I let the momma in the living room with me and the other dogs. The pups are kept in the spare bedroom in their whelping box, which is setup in a big exercise pen. The mom will be perfectly content for a little while but she will let me know when she needs back in with her pups. Of course, it keeps me busy all day letting mom back and forth but she is happy and it does not bother me having to give her the extra attention. You just have to make sure the babies are in a safe place and just don't allow the momma to move them around. Good luck. |