This is the first time I have ever experienced this. Puppies (small breed) are now 5 days old, we had 7 but mum lay on 2 of them as she had to be as close as possible to her babies so now we have 5. All doing well, very active, feeding well and gaining weight. Mum and babies are in a plastic whelping box in the spare room with vet bed and heat pad. On Sunday she moved all the puppies on to the futon so I moved them back into the box. Sunday night, same thing. I put the boards over the entrance so that she could not get out of the box (or so I thought). Monday 2 on the futon, 3 in the box. Took the boards away as I didn't want her to hurt herself or the puppies jumping in and out the box (18" high). Today we have a different scenario, 2 puppies UNDER the futon, 3 in the box. She is an excellent mother (first litter), feeding, cleaning them. I just do not understand why she keeps moving them. Any suggestions would be more than welcome.

She also tries to cover them with the vet bed when they are in the box.

are they too  hot? are you not with her?  I rarely leave my mum and babes for the first week.... they are in my bedroom and I only leave them to sort out the others, make tea etc

I don't think they are too hot and I do spend as much time as possible with her and the puppies. Haven't had a decent nights sleep since Thursday lol. Up at 1am this morning putting a puppy back in the box from the futon. Just don't understand the reason she moves them.

Hi Lynne, This happened to me last summer. Mum was constantly moving the pups. She always moved the same pup first then randomly moved the others. It turns out there was a problem with the pup she continually moved first. When this pup didn't make it she was a different mum, no more constant fretting. Very settled and no more moving pups. She knew there was something up with this pup. I don't mean to be alarmist. It may be worth getting the pups checked out by a vet for peace of mind. I really hope this is not the case for you and it is something daft.

Thanks for your replies. I don't think it is the same pup that she moves all the time (they all look the same) and they all appear OK, feeding and gaining weight. She pays the same attention to them all, cleaning etc. I will get them checked out at the vets just to make sure.

Are there lots of people coming and going from the house? She may feel insecure and wants to hide the pups.

Maybe the 2 dying and then disappearing has upset her so she moves them to stop it happening again.

Many breeders are with dam and pups 24/7 for at least 2 weeks, I sleep in the whelping room, the kettle and microwave move upstairs and I only leave them alone long enough for a wee and get fresh/frozen food to cook from downstairs, a friend comes in long enough for me to have a shower and brings me any shopping I didn't get online, this is the sort of commitment you have to plan for before having pups, I'd be devastated if a pup got squashed and died because I had taken my eye of things.

There are only my OH and I in the house, as I mentioned earlier I am with them as much as possible. I do have other dogs that need to be sorted and in the years I have bred dogs, this is the first time I have lost puppies in this way. It did happen overnight and we all have to sleep. The spare room is next to my bedroom with the doors open so I can hear any noise from there. The puppies were less than 24 hrs old when it happened and I had been up all night helping her. The puppies were born 5 days early so quite unexpected. I am devastated to lose them especially as I helped them into the world.
Thanks everyone for your positive comments, I do appreciate them.

It did happen overnight and we all have to sleep
I live on my own and sleep next to the whelping box starting 7 days before the due date.  Once they are born I only cat nap for the 4 weeks and only leave them to pop to the loo, and then I take the bitch with me.  As Rhodach has said, food store is prepared advance and the only time I'm not in the room is when someone else gives me half an hour to sit with them and only then do I get any time to myself.
It only takes a few seconds for a bitch to sit on a puppy and break its neck - it happened to a friend while he was kneeing in front of the whelping box but didn't realise that the sitch was going to sit down.  He heard the crack......  I couldn't live with that I'm afraid, so in 30 years I've never left mine unattended until their eyes open and then only for a few minutes until they are on their legs..

Does the whelping box have a top to it or is it open? Does your bitch regularly sleep in the spare room on an everyday basis?
I find that having a box with a top to it (so the box is more cave like and not so exposed), settles mum right down. She still has access to get in and out but I find they are more than happy to settle with babies this way.
Is it possible for you to make the futon up as a bed for yourself and sleep in the room with her? It may help to reassure her.
Also what are you using to heat the box? I find heat lamps too much and use a heat pad, heating just a quarter of the box (for a 30"x30" box). Pups go to the warmth if they feel the need and mum can move away from it if its too much for her liking.

Have to say that I actually use cages to ensure that the mother doesn't leave the pups.  I use padding used around babies cots in the cage so that small toy breeds cannot fall out. 

It only takes a few seconds for a bitch to sit on a puppy

Exactly, and I feel really bad that it happened to my puppies. It could also happen when you are "cat napping". I do blame myself and don't really need everyone else to blame me to. It has happened and that is something I will have to live with.

Thank you pugnut, will cover the box and see if that makes a difference. Just a small heat pad in the box and the heating is on low 24/7. Did try sleeping on the futon but ended up with mum asleep on my head lol

Have to say that I actually use cages to ensure that the mother doesn't leave the pups.

A bit scared of using a cage as mum does like to "wander" round the room, come to see me etc. A frustrated mum and newborn pups are not a good combination, could be wrong but I would prefer to allow her freedom at this point.

I can only agree, mum needs to be able to get away, if only to stretch her legs, I find they often sleep on the bed with me, but return to their pups periodically to feed/check on them... I certainly wouldn't block her in

I have just covered the whelping box with a large blanket. Mum is happy to go in and out so watch this space.... Thanks everyone.

> (they all look the same)

It's a good idea to identify each puppy from birth.

with my litters I tie a different coloured strand of wool round each neck (see here: http://barbelka.awardspace.co.uk/_wp_generated/wp859124f5.jpg just change them every week.

Make sure that the blanket is well secured so that she can't pull it down and use it to bury the pups when you're not there.....

> I have just covered the whelping box with a large blanket.

I always do this since having issues with an open box in my second litter, and now make my whelping pen out of Croft (close mesh) puppy pen panels, and use one over the top to give rigidity, and Lino off-cut underneath) and a blanket over. 

The sides I Line with cardboard to about 18 inches, and the front has a gated panel.

Having the blanket over allows the heat to stay in as well as humidity, and keeps light levels comfortable for when their eyes begin to open, as well as making a safe den for Mum to feel comfortable.

Make sure that the blanket is well secured so that she can't pull it down and use it to bury the pups when you're not there.....


I have used bulldog clips to fasten it to the sides of the box, 2 down each side and 2 at the front. She does seem more settled. I should have realised this before as I had another girl a couple of years ago who had to be "in a den" with her puppies. How stupid am I ???? (no need to answer) lol

I lost a puppy that was squashed just once and it was at the age of 2 weeks and I was cat napping. I knew my girl was a bit clumsier than her predecessor simply by watching the way she stepped in and out of the box so we were watching all the time but after 2 weeks, we are all human.
I've never had one do as you describe but have obviously lost pups and always discretely remove them as I am sure the bitch is unsettled if she is aware of one being lost. She does sound very unsettled so perhaps she is uncomfortable herself and a check up could be worthwhile.

Mum is so much better since I covered the whelping box. Thank you so much for your positive comments, we are all happy bunnies once again. Thank you so much.

My initial thoughts were that your bitch sounded distressed.  Seems giving her a den, it's settled things.  I live alone, but stay with my bitches a week before due date, as it's a toy breed that often has a gestation period of 56 days.  I stay with them for the first 3 - 4 weeks as tiny breeds chill so easily.  Which means larger breeds are far more likely to do fine as far as body temperature goes.

I also let the bitch decide if and when she is ready to leave pups for a while.  A closed cage that she can't escape from can be psychologically damaging to the bitch.

Thanks, she seems so much more chilled now, sat on my lap as I type. My other girls have always gone at least 2 days over so a big surprise at 5 days early. I will keep you all informed. Thanks again.

Rather concerned that you only have the heating on low, puppies need to be kept very warm for the first few weeks as they can't control their temp and a chilled pup even for a short time can allow the Canine Herpes Virus to take hold and their digestion slows down too.

I have the whelping pen next to a radiator turned up high, a heat pad in one corner and a thermometer measuring the minimum/maximum temp at puppy level, I am usually in shorts and T shirt because it is too hot for me, amuses visitors no end.

I too keep the whelping room at a minimum of70 degrees for the first 10/12 days until the pups are able to regulate their own temperature.  More pups died from cold than from any other reason.

Everything is now fine, mum hasn't moved the puppies since I covered the box. The whelping box is next to the radiator and the heating is on 24/7. They also have a heat pad in the box. The temp at the moment is 75 degrees so no problems there.

Sorry but having had pups myself breeding last 20 years and my mum before me I have much preferred and so have the bitches for the first three weeks to have them in a secure place where they are with their pups and cannot come out unless I open the area.   They have never been stressed in that situation and this is a toy breed and a gundog breed.  Though with us someone has been there 24/7 with the toy breed for a number of weeks and at least a week before the pups are born.  With the gundog breed they are fantastic mothers and you are after a short while able to leave them for short periods, would never do it with my toy breed though.  I think they actually become more stressed if they are allowed the freedom of the room as they want to be with their owners.

Glad to hear mum is happier now.

I am glad all is well now but I too would never confine my bitches to an area they could not get out of. I think they would be very unhappy indeed. Mine seem to want to be normal soon after birth - joining the others  for a walk etc etc and as I do not want any issues to develop between the pack I am pleased about that.
For 6 or 7 days they do by choice spend most of the time in with the puppies and then start with longer periods away. I keep an eye to make sure they are being fed well enough and if I don't think they are I ask her to go in and she will co-operate. YThe whelping box has a cut out which is blocked when the pups are more mobile so she can step out as and when she needs or wants to.

Never had issues with the other dogs either.  Each have their own way and has never caused my dogs any problems. 

UPDATE

All is well since I covered the whelping box. Mum has not moved the puppies at all, she is very settled and happy. Puppies all thriving. Thanks for all your comments.

that's great news :-)

Excellent, glad to hear it! :-)