Hi, our bitch has just had her 1st litter 5 days ago.   She eventually got the hang of licking them and sort of cleaning them and will sit and let them feed if it suits her.  However, she will not clean up after them, and will not lie quietly for them to all feed from her when they need it.  If one is crying out she just sits and looks at it.  The main problem we've got is that she is absolutely devoted to my Husband.  He is sleeping downstairs with us because if he goes upstairs then she gets in a real panic and if push came to shove she would leave the pups to be with him.  He can't leave the room without her fretting and it doesn't matter whether the pups are feeding or not, she jumps up and tries to go after him.  He has taken two weeks off work whilst she has had the pups but is due to go back on Monday and we've got real doubts about how she is going to react.  We are really struggling to get her to lie and let the pups feed.  She just wants to go out and work with him.  Really do not want to let her go for a walk due to the risk of infection and she is going stir crazy.  Never had this happen before.  All the placentas came out and the birth went well with no problems.  Any suggestions or help would be really useful.  Thank you.

First of all, fact is some bitches find it difficult to make the adjustment from being a pet, to being a mum.  Sounds like she may be one of those (in which case get her through doing this litter and get her spayed!).   I had one who refused to pooh her litter - pee, fine but not the other with the result that the poor little mites were pretty uncomfortable early days - despite my best efforts!   She was one who hadn't totally settled to her job either - she'd tolerate going in to feed them when they shouted, but wanted out pretty much as soon as they started falling off the teats and going back to sleep.   Once outside the box, she'd stand there and mimble at them - waking them all up.   It was HARD WORK.   And yes, that was her first and last litter, even if her puppies were good enough for me to keep two.

Provided she tops the puppies up before leaving, and they have independent heating, she can go for a walk - provided you use a diluted disinfectant wipe for feet and teats before letting her back in with them.   It might do her good actually.

I'd suggest that provided she does attend to them, every 2 hours or prior shouting to be fed, you don't have to make her stay in with them - and also re the extra heating when she's not in there as newborn puppies can't regulate their own temperature.

I'd get your husband to 'withdraw' now before he has to go back to work.

The great grandmother of my youngster now was a good Mum but in the early few weeks did all she had to do but when we left the room you could see she would start to get out and follow us.
We just made sure that we were around while she was feeding and that the pups were falling off to give ourselves a break. She was not the same with her 2nd litter and the 2 descendants I have that have
now had puppies  have been brilliant Mums for those first few weeks but interest waned after that. I suppose they are all different.
I personally never considered it a problem as I had got her into that position! I also find all my Mums stay close for first couple of days  while recovering but beyond that want and do go out for a walk as when they hear the
leads come out for the others they go crazy to go with them. I do what I can do to disinfect when I return.

I take all my mums out for walks after first few days and when they show they want to go. Mine would be totally stress out if they didn't go out for a walk.
If she isn't the maternal type I would let her leave the box but make sure I took her to box every hour and ensure pups fed then let her leave again. Better that than stress get out completely by making her stay in if she simply to stressed to do so. If necessary would top up pups with bottle after they have fed off mum and make sure they have been stimulated to pee & poo.

My girls do spend quite a bit off time out if the box after first week but nip back off own accord as they need a feed but a friends bitch just wasn't cut out to be a mum and would only feed if super used and made to do so :(   Good luck

Thanks for your advise.  My husband went out tonight just for half an hour and although she winged she didn't get into an absolute panic like previous days.  We have taken your advice on board about letting her have her freedom out of the box in between feeds and that does seem to have settled her a bit.  We will let her go for a walk in the morning and see how she gets on.  The good thing about her today is that whilst she was out of the box and the pups made any sort of noise she was straight over to see if they were ok.  This is her only litter as based on how she has been there is no way we would put her through it again.  Thankfully the pups are good and strong and gaining weight very well.

I expect my bitches to stay in the box for the first three days (almost constant nursing brings the milk in)and then they often will lie outside the box and go in regularly to feed, and some like to lie with them, others not so much, often it depends if they are too warm.

If they are gaining well then there is no issue just encourage her not to be away from the box 9doesn't nee to be in it).

I have had one bitch very slow on the uptake re cleaning but by the end of the first week with me using wet wipes for what she missed she got the hang of it.