Hi, this is my first post here but have been lurking for a while :)

My bitch had a litter of 9 pups 3 weeks ago tomorrow and as yet I haven't started taking her out for walks again, just out in the garden where she likes to get away from the little monsters for a while lol!

I think she is ready to get out for some more exercise but am worried about her bringing germs back. We live out in the country and have plenty of walks where we won't meet other dogs but all pretty muddy/fields etc.  Is just washing her down when we get home enough?

We started taking ours out at 4 weeks. I'd thought she might be anxious to leave the pups and/or go running over to them on her return but she wasn't/didn't! She is loving her daily walks though we have noticed she has lost fitness so our walks are shorter than they were atm.

she will be very tired from feeding the pups it takes so much out of her while she is produceing milk! and will tier very quickly,so small walks are best for now, all bitches are different tho and some would/could run and play BUT i still wouldnt allow my girl to if she was still feeding pups ,she would burn to much weight off and her milk could dry out quicker

My last bitch was asking to come for short walks when her litters were about 5 days old. She was giving them full antibody defence so the pups were at no more risk of disease than she was.

My girl was walking with the others days after pups were born. We do not have stray dogs around here and she was washed down every time she came back. Getting out with the others was her normal life and we try to keep everything as normal as possible. She really enjoyed her walks out.

I think I took Ellie just down the road and back when they were a week or two old, then on walks with the others, but not every day, when they were 2 or 3 weeks old, because she was asking to go. And I washed her feet and tummy (and dried them) before she went back to the pups, just to be on the safe side.

walking a few days after the pups where born and she washed down every time she came in , we did not walk her far but just so she would empty out as she would not go in the garden so we found walking her around the block  made her empty, but it does take it out of them but 10 weeks on and she is back agility and competing again at full strength

> We live out in the country and have plenty of walks where we won't meet other dogs but all pretty muddy/fields etc.  Is just washing her down when we get home enough?

My freind is in this postion and she puts a t shirt on her girl pinned up snug around her under carriage to keep mud and possible infectious things (lambing season) from being kicked up underneath.

She then gives her feet a clean and wipes her over with pet safe wipes.

Mine want to go out for walk from about one week post whelping

Mine usually are happy to stay home for three weeks.  Can't peel them out of whelping box for first week, and then only happy with pups in sight until then.

I can hardly get mine out of the door for a pee , then they pee , moving along ...they want to be back with their babies. Mum  has time away from babies later if she wants , puppies claws cut and filed to prevent bitches getting scratched ..mums don't go out in whelp or with pups at home.If other dogs go out they are sprayed(form H or cromessol) or washed down on return and not allowed near whelping room on return. X nurse so barrier techniques put into practice.

I gave in and let my bitch join the others for her normal daily walk from 5 days after birth, she was tearing around playing and being her normal self, she is a very active breed both mentally and physically and this is what kept her sane, I just gave her more food due to the fact she was burning more energy and also wipes/washed her feet and underside with parvocide.

I think you should just be guided by your dog.  Mine had wanted to get out with the other adult fairly early on so I just let her but kept walks short so she did not use too much energy.
I would wipe over with a damp cloth if she has got dusty or muddy to avoid the pups hovering up debris but you can't sterilise a hairy dog even if you wanted to :) so I just would not bother with anything stronger for cleaning as I don't want the pups inbibing it.  As JG says the pups will benefit from the dam's immunity to her usual environment.

Thanks, some helpful suggestions.
I took her out for a short 15 min walk yesterday which see loved, managed to get mud splattered all over her though :( I think I may try the T-shirt suggestion next time, if I can find one to fit her.
I washed her down with warm water and dried her well so hopefully all ok.

Pups have got teeth now so I think she was glad to have a break from the onslaught at feeding time! Started weaning today too :)