I would appreciate your advice. I look after dogs when people work, or go on holiday, in my own home. I have a litter due soon. My girl came into season two weeks earlier than expected  and I have two dogs booked in around whelping time and a week or so afterwards. The two visitors are one of my girl's own pups, now two, who comes back from time to time. The other is a cross breed girl who has come so often, she is considered part of the pack by my girls. I can keep my girl and her pups separate from the others, she wont let her mum in the room anyway, and she will be able to go out to relieve herself without being bothered by the others, as have two back doors.Do you think its fair to my girl to have the dogs here during this time. Would it be stressful for her?  The visiting dogs themselves will be fine as my granddaughter is coming in to see to them while I am busy. Would I have to take more precautions with them, being dogs coming from other areas, re: foot washing etc? I dont want to let these people down but my girl comes first, of course, so will ask them to make other arrangements if this is not a good thing to do.

The easy answer is to say turn your customers away.  BUT - you know your bitch.  She's had a litter before so you know what she is like.  What's your gut feel? 

If you feel it would be better to turn some/all of your customers away, but feel uncomfortable letting them down - then perhaps you could smooth the issue by letting them know asap & also doing some research for them re. alternatives.  If you have someone you recommend you could call them to see if they have space so you can give this as an option when you call the customers to let them know.  That would certainly make me feel that you cared about me as a customer - I would understand the situation, and definitely come back to you in the future.

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Yes, good point. It is early days yet. The way she was with her mum during her last litter makes me feel a bit worried about this. It was a good four weeks before she would let her mum anywhere near her. I dont like letting people down but as I say, my girl is top of the list in all decisions at the moment. I think, more than having them here, would be the fact that they come in from other areas. Maybe bringing unwanted "germs" into the house!!I seem to be talking myself out of this. lol. Just needed that push from someone else to  go with my feelings. Thank-you.

As you say your girl comes first.  From what you say she wasn't happy with her mum at the last litter so there could be problems with the other dogs especially as they are not there permanently.  If it was me i'd advise them now that it may be best if they found someone else.

I'm in this situation this time, have the daughter of the bitch who has pups staying due to the owner needing to go into hospital so short notice, last time she had pups I Had her brother back for re-homing four days before pups were due.

I don't worry about foreign germs as pups will be covered by maternal antibodies i9n the eraly days (obviously teh visiting dogs shouldn't be ill) and the adults are all well exposed to all sorts from walks and shows.

Unlike you I only have one back door and the pups from 3 weeks at latest have to integrate with the rest of the dogs in the kitchen where back door is.

Thank-you brainless, Right, yes, of course, you are right about the maternal antibodies. I think I go a bit overboard on hygiene. Making visitors take their shoes off at the front door etc but thats the way I am. I normally keep pups separate for four weeks, really because of mum's narky attitude when her own mum comes near. At four weeks, she will let her mum play with the pups. I bow to your experience as you have much more of that than I do. Its a bit of a quandry really. She adores the dogs that I have booked in, but at the same time, she adores her mother too, but things change, of course, when motherhood dawns. Maybe I shouldnt be so over protective.

PS So Brainless, does the fact that you have a "foreign" dog in the house, not have a stressful affect on your bitch??

When I had taken my girl to the stud dog, I told all clients whose dogs I board that I would not be taking any visiting dogs from a week prior to whelping until after the puppies had gone and the one I kept was vaccinated. I wouldn't take a chance with my puppies or their mother. I would not risk the germs coming in (how many times has a dog arrived & I have been told that he has had an upset tummy for the past week) and you can't possibly know if visiting dogs would react badly to puppies or how upset their mother would be to have other dogs around (the resident ones may give her stress in themselves but  they are used to being in another part of the house if necessary.)  Not worth the risk just to earn some money and if your clients are good people, you won't lose them from future bookings. The puppies & their mother are your priority as I'm sure you know or you wouldn't have asked the question.

Yes, I am going to have to say something soon, either way. She is normally spot on with her seasons. coming in two weeks early is very unusual but i suppose it happens.

When my bitch had her litter last August, none of our other dogs went anywhere for those 8-9 weeks. I'm lucky enough to be able to exercise them on my own land though so that did make a big difference. Having just moved to the area, I also put off setting up my dog club so I wouldn't risk bringing any potential germs back. Daft really because all the dogs at club have to be vaccinated and when I had my previous litter, 13 years ago, my bitch was running in the local park when the pups were a few weeks old (because she was going stir crazy, being a collie). We have home boarders too but think I would only have other dogs in if they could be kept out of sight and sound of the new mum, despite my bitch rearing her litter in the lounge with our other dogs milling round, the other side of puppy pen panels. 

No she hasn't minded her daughter or her brother last time, the only one she has slight issues with is her half sister, who is pushy, where the others are all deference to her status as a mother.

I have usually been able to have the pups in the kitchen with the others by two weeks with most of my girls, with them allowing the other dogs to actually come in to greet pups from about three weeks.

This particulary maternal bitch from her first littter has been more possesive of her pups towards the other dogs, so I keep them in the livingroom until three weeks.  She chunters under her breath at anyone looking too interested, but by about 3 1/2 weeks doesn't mind a bit, though so far no-one has shown too much interest in getting aquainted with the pups.

The money aspect of losing the boarders hadnt actually entered my head G.Rets. As I said before, my girl and her pups are top of the priority list. I am leaning towards finding alternative boarding for the two dogs which will take all the worry away. Than-you for your comments.

Personally I would have the dogs to stay as promised provided they were up to date on vacs etc., you know the dogs as do your other dogs so not like they are strangers.

You may find your bitch is less possessive with this litter only time will tell, you have somewhere away from the other dogs for her to feel safe and comfy in.

You have someone to help you out when you are busy with the whelping/puppy rearing which is something many of us don't have.

Good Luck what ever you decide, here's to a safe and healthy whelping.

thank-you Rhodach. Still hovering but will have to decide pretty soon.

Why don't you just talk to the owners of visiting dogs, you may find that they are very understanding and will be able to find alternative arrangements themselves. Good luck with you girl
Paula

I had one of our pups back to stay for a week when our pups were just 9 days old.  I say pup but she is 6 yrs old now!!lol.  Mum and babies were safely upstairs in my room(with the door open so mum could come/go).  Mum wasn't bothered in the slightest as she knows this bitch well.  The bitch knew not to go upstairs as mum's body language told her so and she respected this.
One thing, I did ask that if the bitch was unwell in any way, to let me know as it could harm/kill the puppies(what dog owner would sneak a sick dog in with pups?).  I regard her owner as a very good friend so I knew she would tell me.
Everything was fine and she has been back to visit and play with the pups now they are 6 weeks :)

But......I am the mum that found out my nephew had chickenpox last month and took my kids up with a pack of lollies to share!!That's my lot had chickenpox!!lol.  Builds a good immune system.

lol If only it was so simple with dogs!!!

It was normal to have Chickenpox parties during the long summer hols when I was young.