Hi all my bitch has whelped this morning a gorgeous little boy puppy. She really isn't accepting him which has surprised me as she had a litter of 9 in November 2010 and was an amazing mum. She has cleaned him up but won't let him near her. When she is lying down I have put him on for a feed and she is growling and trying to snap at him but when I am holding him she is licking him. I daren't leave him in with her so we are having cuddled up in bed. What do people think is best I am happy to just keep trying him on her, but if she doesn't settle what would be the next best option I have hand reared kittens and rabbits from a few days old before but never a puppy or do I try and find a nearby foster mum who will accept him?
He is extra special as born a couple of days late but on my daughters 13th birthday who sadly died when she was a baby so whether show worthy or not he won't be going anywhere.

Hi we had a similar problem with our last litter there was two pups but the mum would only let one suckle. We tried and tried but she did'nt want to know so we made the decision to hand rear, we kept it going for about 36 hours but sadly lost him, when he had gone we checked him over and found he had a very short tounge which ment he could not suckle properly. I think hand rearing should be a last resort if its suckleing keep on trying but i would have the baby dog milk on standby.

I woudl suggest a trip ot the vets for your girl, as something as simply as as shot of calcium could settle her down and make her acccept the pup.  A check up is needed anyway if she is this unsettled.  If she will not let the pup suckle can you manage to get her to lie down and you support/guard pup while it feeds, keeping Mum in place?  IF not, then hand rearing is your best option.  IS pup sucking OK when you get it on, have you checked for cleft palate?  Try not to worry too much, I have successfully reared pups who were rejected by Mum by both assisted feeding from Mum and from bottle rearing.

Nothing to add, but I do hope things turn out ok, keep us posted. I had a singleton 18 months ago but all went well, I hope things settle down with your little one.

Are you sure she's actually finished?  Was she confirmed as having a singleton?  Sometimes my girls won't accept their pups until all pups have been delivered.

Hi thanks for all the replies. Yes she has definately finished but I did at first think she hadn't as with her 1st litter that is what she was like but definately finished. Been checked and all ok so just bonding to work on.
I have given the wee man a couple of feeds and sat with him and mum for the last few hours putting him on and trying to settle her while he is feeding and she is getting better so fingers crossed between us we can bring him up together.

How are things going?

Yes how are things going?

Hi thanks for asking he is doing great. His eyes opened on Wednesday and he is already starting to do drunken walking and barking. I have had to bottle feed him as mum for some reason stopped producing milk after a couple of days even with trying to latch him on every couple of hours but she is letting him cuddle now which is something at least.

Thanks for the update.

Glad he is doing well despite things not going to plan, I hope Mum teaches him manners etc as it is better coming from her

My girl is teaching her singleton manners, it can come across as quite worrying sometimes when she growls at her or snaps.  Mainly if goes to have mum's food.

I've found playing with her more as on her own.  She does like chasing one of my older pups (almost a year old) and he doesn't mind.  The girls are more wary as mum has told them off before.