Ruby had puppies Tuesday, spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday moping around obviously feeling tender and sore. Yesterday was obviously feeling much better and my son said she howled for 10 minutes after I left to take the others for their walk. This morning refused to go back to the pups as she wanted her walk. I took her for a quick trot up the road and back and she has settled back with them now.
I wiped her paws with antiseptic wipes before letting her back with them, but it seems awfully soon to resume normal walking?

I wiped her paws with antiseptic wipes
If you are going to risk infection, then you need Parvocide which covers bacteria, viruses and fungus infection.

thanks.  I think she will have to wait to start proper walks as I don't want to take any risks.

I have a mat soaked in Parvocide at all doors when I have pups anyway for everyone to walk though...... :)

She sounds just like my last bitch; for the first three days she had to be forced from her nest a few times each day to relieve herself and then she'd gallop back to her babies and settle down again. On day four or five, however, she'd appear in the hall when I was getting the other dogs ready to go out, so I put her collar and lead on too and she came for a short walk with them. She'd settle down happily again with her litter afterwards, obviously much more content and relaxed.

My previous bitches have waited a few days longer, but they've all been wanting walks before the pups' eyes were open, and they've all been taken out. A relaxed, not stressed and stir-crazy, bitch means a contented litter. I've never washed the bitch down with anything afterwards (if it was necessary you'd have to wash yourself down too, every time you came in from outdoors!) and never had a single poorly pup.

Thanks, thats exactly it. After her little walk she has gone straight back to the pups and settled down to feed them. She is an active bitch and lives for her walks and gets very upset if she has to be left behind, Having an upset mum can't be good for the pups.
With my last litter mum didn't want to start going out for ages, she was quite happy to stay at home with her pups.

I had a friend who sprayed everywhere with parvocide etc and she still ended up with parvo and losing some of the litter.  I have to admit it's not a risk I would want to take.  Is your dog game orientated?  Cd. you not do something within the homegrounds to stretch her brain and relieve her boredom?

I must admit I have a very active breed who love their walks, playing etc but when they have a litter they hardly ever want to leave their pups, although they are allowed in and out of the cage whilst we are around so aren't with the pups 24/7.

I think I was taking Ellie just up the road for 2 minutes, every few days, when the puppies were a week or two old. But I washed and dried her feet and tummy (small breed!) before she was allowed back with them.

Another one here that is the same, after the 4th day my girl would tell me she wanted to go out for a walk and so i took her for a quiet 15 - 20 min walk every morning thereafter.  I felt that i should put her and the puppies needs first and if she wanted to walk then i should take her because it would also keep her happy to 'have a break'.  As others have said the first few days they usually don't wish to leave the puppies at all, but to me it is also a good sign that the mum is feeling well in herself if she wants to go out for walks.  Maybe naively, i don't know' but i have never washed her feet on our return and i haven't had any probs with the pups catching parvo etc..  In hindsight, next time i may use a disenfectant to be on the safe side.

Good luck with your litter. x