ok question as I cant find an answer anywhere, my girl has had 3 puppies upto now, the first one shocked her and she wont go near, so ive dried it off and have it in the whelping box, bitch has gone on to have another 2 upto now and still isn't takeing any interest, how long are the pups ok without feeding off mum? im wondering if she may show more interest once shes finished whelping, are the 3 pups ok without milk and for how long, thanks

I've never had a bitch want to suckle her pups until the whole litter's born, which can take several hours. Relax - the pups aren't going to starve! Just make sure they're nice and warm.

thank you, thought I was going crazy for a min, this is my mums bitch and ive only ever bred my own twice and she has a very mothering instinct and will try to feed pups the second they are born, this girl wont even look at them so was worried as never known a bitch not want her pups, the first was born at about 11.30 am and its now 2.20pm, will he be ok for longer, shes had 3 upto now and was scanned with 6, ive got them all dry and in the whelping box with the heat mat on so all nice and warm, just hungry ;-) x

I've had two bitches who showed no initial interest in their puppies. On each occasion I felt very anxious but both girls became' super mums' once all the pups were born and had settled in. So disinterested was Fern that she had a puppy on the sofa and left him 'dangling' by the cord over the edge. I was lucky to find him. Zigi had her first litter on the kitchen floor whilst I was Xmas shopping . She had shown no signs of being in labour on day 57, had eaten a hearty breakfast and been out to play with the other dogs. I thought it would be safe to pop out. I returned to a bloodbath kitchen floor with puppies all around still in their sacs. I got her into the whelping box and three more were delivered ( me doing all the cords etc) and the rest were  dealt with by my old girl Megan , an experienced and very maternal bitch. Once all the pups were born Zigi was great with them.
I'm sure all will be well. You're doing fine  !
x

My girl was exactly the same. Tried to run away when the first pup was born and showed no interest in them. She did try to cut the cord on the last pup but didn't really seem to manage.
Once all were born she let them feed but kept leaving them in the box and trying to get through to the living room where the other dogs were.
Every thing I read said to keep her separate from my other dogs but after a day of her being miserable and leaving the pups to try and get through I moved her and the whelping box into the living room and she turned into the best wee mother.
It might just be me projected my human thoughts and emotions but it was almost like she felt shut away and punished not being allowed to be with the others in the middle of our home.

ok quick update, daisy has had 4 pups in total, she still isn't happy but we have got her to lay with them and feed them which she has done twice so far letting all eat until falling asleep, she seems ok with this but wont at all lick or clean the pups, infact she hasn't licked anything at all from pups just been born to the placentas etc, shes just not interested, on our first try at getting her to go near the pups she was infact more interested in mouthing pups, is there anything we can do to encourage her to clean/toilet the pups?

>is there anything we can do to encourage her to clean/toilet the pups?

You could try smearing a little honey on their bums. 

In some ways, the C.Sections I've had more times than I should have, meant bringing mum home, still pretty zonked out and latching the litter onto her which meant they were able to tuck in right away.

I tried to get each one onto a teat as they were born, whipping they away when the contractions for the next arrival kicked in again - bitches could trample or smother a puppy during the process.   Have a box with a warm pad (not hot!!) in it and a soft cover for the top and put the puppies in there.   Puppies can survive for some while without immediately nursing, provided they are warm because as I'm sure you know newborn puppies can't regulate their own heat.   You can also keep puppies going for a little while on a glucose/water solution.

Once she's done however, I'd get her outside (if she seems to need this) to empty, on a lead, and have somebody clean up the whelping box while she's away.  When she comes back in, encourage her to lay down, and restraining her if needed, gently add one and then two puppies to her teats.   Don't put the whole lot on her immediately - if she's a new mum, that could freak her out.   I know it's gross, but if need be, put a little of her smell (from her rear end) onto the puppies so she associates them with her.

You are going to get her checked by your vet for a shot to clean her out, and her puppies to be checked for abnormalities you may have missed, once you feel she's finished whelping?

Reading your update - we had one who would 'pee' her pups, but totally refused to have anything to do with pooh.   Totally beyond her - madam!    I have to do it for her, and it wasn't easy.   I think a lot of the time the little ones were pretty constipated - I tried sitting them in a warm bowl of water....... gravity helped but I was more than happy once they could do this for themselves.

Any news from Daisy ?

Having just had my first litter, I know just how scary this can be so good luck with everything.

The most important thing is to get the pups to suckle as soon as possible for the colostrum, which they need to have a good dose of within 36 hrs.  If you can't, then you need to buy some colostrum formula and hand feed the puppies this.

Let us know how everything goes xx