Leading Up to and during whelping

 Leading up to whelping we get them settled in their whelping box 5-7 days prior. We get them used to the routine before puppies arrive and this way they feel more at ease when mother nature says its time. 

We start them on Oral Cal supplement (calcium, magnesium supplement) a few days prior to their due date to build up necessary fuel in their body. 

We give them a pre-baby bath, nails trimmed, and coat is deshed out. 

During whelping we provide oral cal paste between puppies, offer water and canned food to keep her fueled. We watch them through the camera and in person.  Every momma is different. Some like privacy some enjoy your company. 

We assist if needed, every momma is different. Some mommas we don't do anything but watch and some we assist getting the sacs off and rubbed up to squealing delight. 

Weeks 3-4

First Two Weeks

• We provide for momma as much as the puppies. Post birth warm bath, often use canned food with supplements to encourage eating after an exhausting whelp. We keep their space quiet and secluded. We offer a walk if they want one but often they just want to rest with their puppies. 
• After the puppies are born we don't touch them much the first 3-6 days depending on the mom. Some of our momma's like us to be involved and some need some time for those hormones to balance out. 
• We keep the nails on the front paws clipped short and leave the back ones till they are weaned. We like them to have good traction when nursing. ​
• We give them a post birth bath within that 2nd week time frame. 
• We start small stressors such as playing with their toes, holding them in different directions, set them on a cool floor for a few seconds. This activates their nervous system and prepares them to deal with stressors in a healthy way. 
• At around 2 weeks old their eyes start to open and they start to motor around a bit. 
• At this point we will deworm them for the first time along with their momma. Sometimes sooner if indicated. 

We use Magna boxes with whelping pads. We wash them regularly and wipe down the boxes. Its worked very well for us. What works for us is non slippery surfaces, allowing the puppies to keep their back nails uncut till they are weaned and no longer making that "pushing" motion to eat. 
We do NOT accept any puppy visitation or viewings for germ and scheduling reasons. We posit pictures and videos throughout the process. 

• We handle them a lot more, adding simple stressors. 
• This stage is my son's favorite because he can easily hold them and love on them. 
• We spend lots of time holding them, short durations on cool floors, stimulating in between their paws, different holding positions, adding little toys when they are ready to check them out. 
• About week 4 we start introducing food. I usually use canned food or a raw blend I purchase that has all the goods, and ground up in a blender dog food. Inukshuk doesn't soak well so we blend it up and that works just as good.   
• The kennel environment exposes them to so many sounds both loud and subtle.

We litter box train our puppies. Once the puppies are weaned we make a small space with litter boxes till they learn to use it. Within about a weeks time we gradually increase space in their area as they learn to use the boxes.  Puppies have free choice food and water, heat lamp, and elevated space to sleep. We will also put a crate in their space they can use freely as well. 

When do we wean?

This all depends on what mama looks and acts like. We like to wean them around 4-5 weeks old. If she is ready to ditch the kids for a vacation and doesn't seem to be cleaning up after them anymore then we do scheduled milk bar visits and slowly wean the puppies. If momma is content with her puppies and everyone looks good then we leave her till about 5 weeks and wean pretty cold turkey with only a few relief milk bar privileges. Every litter is different and is treated accordingly. We don't like our mommas to be dragged down (what mother isn't at this point) but do our best to figure out the best timing. 

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Weeks 5-6

• At this age we get the puppies outside as much as possible (weather allowing). 
• We provide toys, and stimulating activities. 
• Introduce them to birds and antler scent.
• Take them riding and introduce to water (weather pending). 
• Daily handling and care. All their nails are clipped regularly at this point and another round of worming. We do a broad spectrum worming along with treating for coccidia as a preventative measure. 

Weeks 7-8

• Its time to be microchipped and make our first vet visit!
• Our vet examines, vaccinates, and double checks their microchip. We then get a health certificate for the litter to go home with. 
• We really ramp up the experiences during this time and do as much as we can before they head home. 
• We prep everyone for picking day where everyone comes to interact and take the puppy of their choice home.