Your mom obviously was hungry ...nursing increases the appetite, and remember what goes in must come out:)

I would suggest buying an x-pen (which would confine the mom and pups together when you leave) with a bed large enough for the mom and the puppies. The x-pen will allow a place for their pee pads, food and water and still leaves plenty of room to play. This will also prevent mom from having "mistakes all over your house"

IMHO keeping pups in a box is not the best answer, moms need the ability to access the pups and the pups need access to her, a pee pad, food/water and a clean area to play.

:( It is a whelping box... It has an extra pen area that has puppy pads in it that they can go on. I made the sides taller so that my cocker can use the same box for whelping her pups in. I personally think my yorkie was ticked off because I took the maltese with me instead of her. That is the only reason that I can think of for her not to use the potty pads. I have always kept the pads in the same place in different spots of the house but she didn't use them yesterday. I had an x-pen but it was in my van when I had a wreck and it burnt up. I don't have the extra money right now to buy another one. My yorkie had a c-section and then developed mastitis. I have spent alot of money on this litter and the care of the mom so I don't have any extra money right now. As soon as I do I am planning on replacing my x-pen. I also lost my income when I had my wreck because I groom dogs and all of my equipment was in my van when it burned up.

Kitty-sorry you're frustrated- My pup is all potty trained too BUT SOMETIMES he drives me crazy. One thing I find strange is that he ALWAYS will have an accident when I bring him home from the vet, groomer, shots. I think it's just a displacement of concentration after being away and tampered with. Maybe you're baby was just outta sorta after having to go so bad and turning into SUPERDOG and climbing the whelping box! Maybe she was just lonley as well (no humans-no YOU!)
It really sounds like you just had a frustrating day, I'm sorry!!! Tomorrow will be better- these potty problems sometimes happen- even to trained dogs! I'm glad all the puppies were okay though- that's what is most i mportant! :) :) Have a better rest of the day Kitty!!

Thanks for the encouragement. It was a stressful day to say the least. I didn't want to go to the city I just wanted my hubby to go get food. I didn't want to leave the pups that long. My hubby was the one that stopped for dinner and wanted to go shopping. If I'd known that he was planning on doing all of that shopping I definatly wouldn't have gone. Once I was there I couldn't just come home. I was just upset that she had left the pups and that she didn't even use the potty pads on the floor if she had to go that bad. As for the food thing she has always stolen everyone elses food. She will eat everyone elses food before hers not because she is hungry but because she don't want anyone else to eat. Today will be a better day for sure. :)

I am sorry for are your extra expenses and bad luck but there are things you should feel blessed about...perhaps you should concentrate on these...your mom is doing great after having such a tough whelping and the pups are healthy and hopefully happy little bundles of joy...

sometimes its best to focus on the positives!!!

One other thought on the food - I buy my dog food at the local Feed and Grain store. Have you checked into those? Are you in horse country? Maybe you would not have to go so far for their food. What food are you feeding them?

I am feeding Royal Canin and the only place that sells it in my area is Petsmart.

I'm glad everything worked out ok and today is a better day! We all have times we need to vent!!

Kitty,

I PMed you; I also feed Royal Canin to my doggies. I'd be willing to help you get the food. Buy a bag or two, and keep it until you, or you hubby are in OKC, and you can just pick it up.

Anyway, let me know. Petco also sells it; I'm always going back and forth depending on who has a special that I can use my Petsmart or Petco card on to get discounts. It would be nothing for me to pick up extra, and have it on hand in the pantry. . . Also, I could help you get discounts and sales since I live right down the street from both.

Might I offer a suggestion. I have a yorkie and maltese. When I have to leave and know I will be gone for longer than 4 hours, I make arrangements for someone to come in and check on one or both. Since you know that it will take you several hours when buying dog food, maybe making arrangements with someone ahead of time to check on them. It would give you peace of mind to know they are being checked and when you come home, you won't have potty messes to clean.

I don't know why your reaction was to be so mad.... It sounds more like a sad situation for everyone to me....the mother, the pups, you, and even your husband (who certainly didn't think that any of this would happen - and is in trouble now.....) Sometimes (not always) -- I think we women are more concerned about our children, pets and their babies, etc., than our husbands might be. It's a mother-thing!

I would have just felt sorry for the your mother dog and her pups when I got home --- very sorry --- and would have cleaned up the mess and would have resolved never to leave them unattended that long again.

I don't know if you were concerned about leaving them home alone for so long while you were gone -- but, if you were worried while you were gone, I think I would have settled for a smaller amount of food (or a different food this one time) and would have gotten back as soon as possible. And - would have made my dear husband take a raincheck as far as further shopping and dinner was concerned. Or - since I do like to go out to dinner - I might have wanted to go home and check on things and then go out to dinner closer to home.

Anyway - I'm sure we've all been there - in similar situations - (with our children, pets, or other things in our lives).... so, these things do happen.

I would have just cleaned up the mess and made everyone comfortable again. Of course, this won't happen again - you'll not leave for so long - or you'll leave your little mother and her pups in a better situation - or have someone there to check on them. I'm sure your little mother won't be taking care of these puppies forever. This is a good thing.

Your little mother dog may have had her accidents because she became anxious and upset while you were gone. I feel most sorry for her!

I'm sorry you had to go through all this. Not fun!!! And, yes - I agree with everyone - it is good to vent once in a while.

Carol Jean

Sure hope you're having a better day today. :hug:
I think your little mommy was upset because she
couldn't get back to her babies. I'm glad they are
all OK. :2hearts2: