My pug has recently had a litter of pups. All but the one we are keeping have now gone to their new homes and it is time to get mum back into condition.

She has practically lost her entire coat (common in this breed), she is constantly tired and most noticably doesnt have the stanima she used to have or the enthusiasm to run and play.

Does anyone have any tips to get her back into condition? She eats Royal Canin so is on decent food.

Also, she seems to have a completely different personality to the one she went into the pregnancy with. She was a real live wire, hectic and a little over the top if i am honest. She is now calm, passive and so mature. Is it possible that bitches do go from puppy to adult when they have a litter or will she come back to loony?? She is 2 and a half.

That doesn't sound normal to me -have you had her checked by the vet? She shouldn't be tired and have lost stamina.

Hi yes and raised it but they say she just needs time to recover. It is like post natal depression, i have had family dogs over to visit that she used` to rough and tumble with and she just watches from a distance, supervising her pup. Maybe shes plain jealous?

Have you got her on a puppy food?  The extra calories and fat in puppy food would do wonders for getting her back into condition.   I also find some raw green tripe added to the diet makes a huge difference, they seem to digest all their food better ;)

I also give a daily dose of Keepers Mix (from Dorwest Herbs) and an Evening Primrose Oil capsule (from Savers Chemists) to help bring back condition.   Evening Primrose oil is wonderful for normalising the hormones and improving skin and coat ;)

Has the vet checked her over?  Are Pugs prone to Thyroid/other hormone problems?  Is it possible she could have an infection?

My bitches have matured considerably after having a litter, but they haven't lost their stamina, enthusiasm or playfulness, but my breed are particularly joyful, enthusiastic and have boundless stamina ;)

ETA Sorry writing while you were posting LOL

Thanks Dill, She was carrying a bit of extra weight when i took her to the vet. she said to take her off puppy food and put her back on her light diet. I did this for a few days until common sense kicked in that she needed the oils in standard food to bring her coat back so she is on Royal Canin Adult.
I will get some oil to bring the coat back.

It really seems like she is depressed as before if i just made eye contact with her she would have been in my face, now i have to use high pitched voices and persuade her to come. But physically she is ok.

Everyone has noticed the change....many prefer her calmer approach but she just seems plain sad to me.

It is possible that she's missing her other pups? How many did she have? if it was a large litter that would have taken it out of her. Try and get her to come out of herself by giving her a bit more exercise and if she will play with a toy on a walk, try that. Even take her places she's not been before. Anything to stimulate her and take her mind off whats bothering her and get her back to her normal self. Even to the point of taking her on her own so its just you and her and no puppy tagging along. I'm sure she'll soon be back to normal. Yumega is also very good for coats.

>It really seems like she is depressed as before if i just made eye contact with her she would have been in my face, now i have to use high >pitched voices and persuade her to come. But physically she is ok.

Ahh Bless!

If it is just sadness, perhaps some extra one to one with her and taking her out and about a bit more for romps in the park, and some exciting new places may have a positive effect ?

> Also, she seems to have a completely different personality to the one she went into the pregnancy with. She was a real live wire, hectic and a little over the top if i am honest. She is now calm, passive and so mature. Is it possible that bitches do go from puppy to adult when they have a litter or will she come back to loony?? She is 2 and a half

My two year old had a litter at Christmas and it has matured her (which I like) but she is just now starting to play the clown again with her half sister who is coming up to 8 months, so this is about 3 months after the pups were born.

Pleased to say though she is mostly much more grown up (I am not a great lover of the loony puppy stage, which the baby very much is).

She did need to calm down, she was very hectic but at the moment there is a little more to it i think. She cheered up a little with each puppy going so i think she is relieved but maybe even wants the last one gone!

I am doing one to one time with her. Strangley where we live i rarely take a lead as there is no traffic and straight out into off road running. When i tried to make her sit her come she looked at me like i was talking a foreign language. Even with treats on offer, wouldnt sit. It is like she needs entirely retraining?! Well that is what i have set about and she is doing ok. She is playing with her pup but with other family dogs she would have gone on forever with she is less keen.

Like you say Brainless another few weeks and she will come back to us in a mature way i hope.

A sad pug is not a nice sight......i know they have perfected the look but they never act sad!

I have found that my bitches are calmer, but have more of a mind of their own after a litter.  When out they'll pause longer on a recall as if to say 'I'm in charge now'  I've got one who wouldn't come when called for dinner despite being hungry, the look on her face was clearly 'why are you trying to tell me what to do?'  I just let her get on with it and removed dinner until the next meal LOL  She soon decided for herself she'd rather come when called ;)

But Bedlington bitches do seem to be more independent minded ;)

now that is interesting Dill. That is exactly what she is doing. She will literally look at me and ignore me. She has always been so responsive before. I know she knows what i am asking!
So, she really has gone up in the pecking order in the dog world now she has a litter. As long as she realises that i am still higher we will get along just fine!

She is currently asleep under my desk in the office with son pug asleep in his crate. All is ok in their world for now :0)

I in the two breeds would find it unusual.  Lana my Spanish who has still her pups with her is like a mad hatter and they are 6 weeks old.  She has had enough of them now though, though saying that so has poor Lastar though it's no wonder as they were literally swinging off the pair of them yesterday, good job she only had three I think.

Have you tried tuna Chunks in sunflower oil for good health & shiney coats.
Mine had dull coats now they all have shiney coats.

I have certainly found that bitches after a litter get a bit above themselves, quite natural as in the wild it is the Alpha's that reproduce.

I do find that if you do not take care to get things back to the normal status quo you can have problems with the other pack members.

Well she definately has thought about getting a bit above herself and playing deaf and stubborn.

We have started specific command training and she seems to have got that i am not letting her get away with it. One of the puppy owners said to me, "how do i train my pup to sit, can you show me with mum". Knowing her mood i thought it would be a complete embarressment but because she loves an audience she did sit, paw, down, stay, high five, dancing one after the other on one command. It was then i realised she was just choosing to ignore me so we now dont stop till she complys.

i think she just needs to find her place in the family again and she will cheer up. That and she needs to accept pup is staying, she is very used to being mummies only shadow and isnt enjoying sharing the role with her son!