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Originally Posted by DazzlinYT

It is just not feasable to keep a mother dog and her pups on a reclining couch, she needs quiet, PRIVACY..a "den" like area..and CONFINEMENT or you are going to find puppies sprawled out on your living room floor cold and mommyless if not dead. You need to quit giving into her, and put her in a LARGE crate or other confined area (much smaller than a walk in closet) with a heating pad under half of it...make sure the heating pad is WARM to your hand through the bedding, but not hot. You can't allow her to carry the puppies around, she is going to hurt them even not meaning to. You've got to be the smarter of the two species in this case, and make her do what she needs to do, even though you want to baby her...she is a mommy now herself, and she needs to be made to BE a mommy. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, I am just cringing at the thought of her carrying around puppies in her mouth with milk coming out their noses crying, no heating pad in your pictures, and the fact she's laying on a couch, not in a cozy puppy den where she can learn to be a mother, and has no choice in the matter. TOUGH LOVE on this one.

I gave up on trying to fight her about where she beds down (to an extent)

she needs quiet, PRIVACY..a "den" like area..and CONFINEMENT

Was this not the point of the first post? Was I not asking what to do since she was not doing well where I had her. She was picking the pups up, toting them around and bringing them to me. She was frantic and hassling and in a near panic. I subsequently moved her from the closet (where the pups were in a whelping box after being born and until she decided she didnt want them there anymore) to a crate/kennel. Until she decided she didnt not want them there either. I understand that the circumstances they are in now are not ideal for everyone and I would never consider advising anyone to do it themselves but it seems to be best for us - for now. The thought of dead pups is an absolute horror to me but so is watching all of them stressed to the point of death. The Momma is now (and has been for the entire day) content. She is not exhibiting any of the above mentioned behaviors. The pups are content, warm and well fed. I also know that this arrangement cannot continue for long but its what is working for us for now. I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert at this (far - far - from it) but I'm not as dumb as you think I am either. I am trying to provide you all with as much information as possible so I can have knowledgeable responses. The reason I came to this board is because I was in search of knowledge and experience as well as a love and enthusiasm for the breed. I do not mean for this post to seem harsh as yours certainly came across. Ruling with an iron fist is not my way but neither is negligence. I am doing the best that I can do for each situation as it arises.