Containing a bred female? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Rosiegirl · 03-07-2009, 08:40 AM

Good Morning all. My rosie is between days 36 and 31 of her pregnancy and she is still jumping down off my bed regularly. My mentor restricts her dogs their entire pregnancy and I am wondering if now is a good time to begin getting her used to being in her Ex-pen? Like I said she has always had free run of the house and is not used to being in the ex-pen. I was planning on starting to keep her in there on and off to get her used to it (this is her first 10 minutes of this and she's crying right now) I am just wondering if anyone thinks this is not nessesary? I have another dog in the house so she will need her own space once the pups arrive. I figure she should get used to all this before all the real stress of being fully pregnant comes. I am curious as to what you other breeders do with your pregnant bitches. Thanks!

clm56 · 03-07-2009, 08:59 AM

~Does your mom dog need petstairs or a chair to get on the bed? Mine do! So I always move the chair away from the bed when they are pregnant. I let them run loose in the house and maybe a couple of weeks before they are to have the puppies is when I get them used to the cage/x-pen, etc. They cry at first, but eventually get used to it. Good Luck!

Rosiegirl · 03-07-2009, 09:04 AM

Here is her new digs...

Rosiegirl · 03-07-2009, 09:10 AM

Yeah, I gave her something to chew on in there and she's quiet right now. She can jump on sometimes if the bed is made but if I am in the bed she has me pick her up, she hasn't jumped up there too much lately. I just don't want her to get hurt. It is the jumping off that bothers me most but it is all pretty tall for her to continue doing....She is just now starting to show a bit in her belly. I am really handy with making wooden things and I am sure I could whip up some stairs for her, but she will still need to get used to the ex-pen sooner or later.

bjh · 03-07-2009, 09:23 AM

I never try to confine my pregnant mommas until after they have their puppies. I feel it is better to have the momma in an environment she is used to. If she will go in a x-pen peacefully then that is no problem but if she started jumping up and down wanting out then I would not do it. Mine always jump up and down off the couch and I have stairs for my bed.

Your setup looks nice. If those are wood floors you might consider getting a piece of vinyl flooring to set the x-pen up on. Also, I prefer using the bottomless whelping box so it is easier to put down bedding with a heating pad on one side then set the box on top. That way the pups don't get tangled in the bedding. I just put a small fleece blanket loose in the box. Also, after the pups arrive, hanging some sheets on the side of the x-pen will give momma more privacy and help cut down on drafts.

Best of luck with you whelping.

Rosiegirl · 03-07-2009, 09:35 AM

That is great advise. I have a different bed ordered for her whelping, it has yet to arrive. And the whole pen is going into my bedroom when we get closer to the whelping time. (Yes those are VERY nice Brazilian Cherry wood floors, my hubby does those for a living and he was not too happy with me setting that up on our floors

) I will deffinitely need something to protect the floors, especially with pups running around on them. She seems to be fine in there right now, but I will let her out soon. I will makes some steps too.

sdtrippe · 03-08-2009, 10:48 AM

My Lexi did use the step to bed.But as she got closer to her due date she went on her on and started sleeping in her crate...But the night she went in to labor she wanted to be close to her daddy.She's a daddy's girl.She adores him....

TinyBit · 03-08-2009, 12:16 PM

I use a playpen for my puppies after welping. The plastic is easy to clean and they fold up out of the way when the puppies have thier new homes.
My welping boxes are the 30 gal rubbermade boxes with the side cut out so mom can get in and out. It is also easy to clean and has enough room for a heating pad on one side and none on the other. provides a private spot for mom and babies

03-07-2009, 08:40 AM	#1
Rosiegirl YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 344	Containing a bred female? Good Morning all. My rosie is between days 36 and 31 of her pregnancy and she is still jumping down off my bed regularly. My mentor restricts her dogs their entire pregnancy and I am wondering if now is a good time to begin getting her used to being in her Ex-pen? Like I said she has always had free run of the house and is not used to being in the ex-pen. I was planning on starting to keep her in there on and off to get her used to it (this is her first 10 minutes of this and she's crying right now) I am just wondering if anyone thinks this is not nessesary? I have another dog in the house so she will need her own space once the pups arrive. I figure she should get used to all this before all the real stress of being fully pregnant comes. I am curious as to what you other breeders do with your pregnant bitches. Thanks!

03-07-2009, 08:59 AM	#2
clm56 YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: in the beautiful USA Posts: 259	~Does your mom dog need petstairs or a chair to get on the bed? Mine do! So I always move the chair away from the bed when they are pregnant. I let them run loose in the house and maybe a couple of weeks before they are to have the puppies is when I get them used to the cage/x-pen, etc. They cry at first, but eventually get used to it. Good Luck! Last edited by clm56; 03-07-2009 at 09:01 AM.

03-07-2009, 09:35 AM	#6
Rosiegirl YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 344	That is great advise. I have a different bed ordered for her whelping, it has yet to arrive. And the whole pen is going into my bedroom when we get closer to the whelping time. (Yes those are VERY nice Brazilian Cherry wood floors, my hubby does those for a living and he was not too happy with me setting that up on our floors) I will deffinitely need something to protect the floors, especially with pups running around on them. She seems to be fine in there right now, but I will let her out soon. I will makes some steps too.

03-08-2009, 12:16 PM	#8
TinyBit It's a Yorkie Thing Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Walton KS Posts: 1,529 Blog Entries: 1	I use a playpen for my puppies after welping. The plastic is easy to clean and they fold up out of the way when the puppies have thier new homes. My welping boxes are the 30 gal rubbermade boxes with the side cut out so mom can get in and out. It is also easy to clean and has enough room for a heating pad on one side and none on the other. provides a private spot for mom and babies __________________ Loving Gizmo, Teddy, Duchess,and Faith : In Memory of My Duke of York 7-24-06 ~6-21-07 and Victorian Lacie Pearl 3-1-07 ~ 4-22-11

03-07-2009, 09:10 AM	#4
Rosiegirl YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 344	Yeah, I gave her something to chew on in there and she's quiet right now. She can jump on sometimes if the bed is made but if I am in the bed she has me pick her up, she hasn't jumped up there too much lately. I just don't want her to get hurt. It is the jumping off that bothers me most but it is all pretty tall for her to continue doing....She is just now starting to show a bit in her belly. I am really handy with making wooden things and I am sure I could whip up some stairs for her, but she will still need to get used to the ex-pen sooner or later.

03-07-2009, 09:23 AM	#5
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	I never try to confine my pregnant mommas until after they have their puppies. I feel it is better to have the momma in an environment she is used to. If she will go in a x-pen peacefully then that is no problem but if she started jumping up and down wanting out then I would not do it. Mine always jump up and down off the couch and I have stairs for my bed. Your setup looks nice. If those are wood floors you might consider getting a piece of vinyl flooring to set the x-pen up on. Also, I prefer using the bottomless whelping box so it is easier to put down bedding with a heating pad on one side then set the box on top. That way the pups don't get tangled in the bedding. I just put a small fleece blanket loose in the box. Also, after the pups arrive, hanging some sheets on the side of the x-pen will give momma more privacy and help cut down on drafts. Best of luck with you whelping.

03-08-2009, 10:48 AM	#7
sdtrippe No Longer a Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: West Mississippi Posts: 66 Blog Entries: 1	My Lexi did use the step to bed.But as she got closer to her due date she went on her on and started sleeping in her crate...But the night she went in to labor she wanted to be close to her daddy.She's a daddy's girl.She adores him....