I am new to breeding and even after huge amounts of research I still find that I am wanting for advice. Sadly I have lost one and whilst there may be other factors at play I blame myself totally.

My current issue is based around Room Temperature / Heat Pad. If I have the room anywhere near 30 Degrees Mum finds it very uncomfortable and struggles with the Heat and therefore moves away more than what she perhaps should. The Pups appear comfortable and do not use the Heat Pad at all. So could I therefore Lower the room Temperature to make it more comfortable for Mum yet be reliant on the Pups moving on to the Heat Pad if mum moves away.

I have never used a heat pad, lots of breeders do but even my whippet babies were fine in a room heated to around 21 and in a covered whelping box on newpaper covered by vetbed, as long as the puppies have a draughtfree bed and mum to snuggle with they should be perfectly ok. If your bitch is too hot then is may result in her staying away from her puppies more than is ideal, cold puppies will stay in a heap and may be noisy so you can usually tell if they are having everything they need, I would reduce the room temperature and use a heat pad if you really think they need it, just make sure the bitch has room to lie with them but off the heat pad.

I'd suggest it does depend on the breed (coat) but with mine, I tended to want to see an ambient temperature of no less than 75F (we kept a thermometer on the pig rail).   We used a brood lamp, not a heat pad but on occasion have had to drape a sheet across the back half of the box so mum wasn't lying directly under the lamp.   The brood lamp did have the advantage of keeping the whole 4 X 4 section of the box dry.   A good indication of a content litter would be if they are able to lie around independent of a need to snuggle up with mum.   If they are chilly, they will tend to snuggle with her, or together and be noisy.  Mine would lie around, often on their backs!

I'd suggest if you feel you can lower the temperature in the bottom of the box, you do.   But see how the litter react - mum can always move out if she feels the need, much as if the puppies are just born, she should be with them more than not!!

The Pups appear to be content and do lie separately, so I would assume they are far from cold. The Heat Pad is totally unused but I was a little concerned about where the happy medium is. Is it better for them to be as now or better for them if they are a little chilly and therefore seek out the Heat Pad. Mum would definitely prefer a cooler environment.

To Add: The room is a constant 25 Degrees

It all depends on breeds. The recommended temp - I have found - is 23 degrees but my pups scream blue murder if I have it that high. They prefer it to be 21 degrees. I use a heat pad and only heat the room if it drops below 21 keeping both mum and pups happy. Their worst enemy is the DRAFT so try to keep the area draft free and possibly cover half the box to keep it warm.

Fairly easy to tell.
Close together, near their mum...fine.
Heaped up and squirming/crying...cold.
Spread out ..often very far apart when very warm...too hot.
I seldom need heat even for Toy pups as they are in a warm room BUT I have a lidded whelping box. It's cool air currents which chill them.

> It all depends on breeds. The recommended temp - I have found - is 23 degrees but my pups scream blue murder if I have it that high. They prefer it to be 21 degrees. I use a heat pad and only heat the room if it drops below 21 keeping both mum and pups happy. Their worst enemy is the DRAFT so try to keep the area draft free and possibly cover half the box to keep it warm.

Totally agree, and the humans in this house don't cope well that warm either.

I have a heat pad and a den like covered, draft free, whelping box with large room thermometer attached to the side.  I use an oil filled electric radiator next to the box with thermostat for heat at night.

Heatpad only size of an A4 sheet so it can be in centre or one corner and Mum can get away from it.

I have the same set up Brainless with the only differences being a heat pad that covers half of the box and the fact that the room used is part of an extension and only has a gas fire to heat it. So the heat in the room has no effect on the rest of the house. I tend not to use it though and prefer to use a small electric heater instead. I also keep a thermometer on the whelping box.