Hi All, this is my first time posting please be gentle but I want the hard truth and advice as necessary obviously
I rescued a female 3 year old Rottweiler beginning of  January. She had never been walked prior to me owning her and the reason I ended up with her was the previous owner passed away. She is an amazing dog, fantastic with people and other dogs. The previous owner fed her on bakers and when I picked her up her ears were scabby and skin dull. I now have her on taste of the wild High Prairie and she has been putting on decent weight and her skin has improved too. A trip to the vets sorted out her ears but while I was there they asked me if she could be pregnant. I said I didn't think so but as I had only just got her I wasn't 100% sure. Since then I have had her scanned and she is definitely carrying a minimum of 7 pups. I have bought a whelping box and got together a whelping kit the lady that scanned her said she was about 30 - 35 days pregnant mid January so I am assuming she is due any day now. Her teats are full and she's a lot more tired than she was, her 1 hour x 2 daily walks are now 3 x 30 mins. Her feed is unlimited TOTW and she is eating a lot more. I take her temperature daily morning and night its stayed constant at 37.5. I'm sleeping downstairs with her now to keep an eye on her and she's sleeping in her box. I'm also worming her on panacur as have been advised to do so until pups are two days old. I've bought the book, the book of the bitch and I am reading it religiously. Is there anything else I should be doing now and is there any tips to help me through her labour, I am petrified of what could happen? I have wish there was the dog equivalent of a midwife I could pay to be there but I don't think there is such a thing? Can anyone talk me through what I need to know about her giving birth? What I will need to do and what I should leave her to do?  Also I have read to start feeding her puppy milk is this something you recommend

Sorry about all the questions, I just want to do the best I can

Thank you all

DanniC83;  umu/pup help please

Goodness, you certainly have had a lot happen with your new companion in a short space of time!  First off - you need to calm down.  Your girl will sense any stress from you.
Prepare her 'whelping' box approx 48" x 60". Line with clean towels and show let her beome familiar with it asap

Hang a domed heatlamp (500W red bulb ) above the whelping box.  Have a whelping kit of sterile scissors,sterile  swabs & umbilcal ties and clean extra towels ready. Before or in early stages of Labour she will go off her food, start to scratch around (nest) in her whelping box, will release liquid at some point probably  start to pant heavily over time and you will see her straining with her contractions.

When the first puppy emerges it will be inside a sack.  Mum's instinct should be to chew it from the puppy including the umbilical cord and lick the puppy quite harshly to encourage it's first breaths.  If Mum doesn't do this instinctively you will have to burst the sack, rub the puppy vigorously with the spare towels removing any mucus from nose & mouth. Keep doing this until the puppy takes it's first breath (possibly having to hold the puppy upside down). Use an umbilical clamp roughly 1 cm from the naval and cut through cord with scissors at the opposite end of the clamp, assure Mum, place puppy on her teat and encourage suckling making sure the puppy's mouth is able to latch on.

Further Puppies will arrive between 20 mins & 60 mins later so repeat each time if Mum doesn't do things natuarally.  (keep offering Mum fresh water)
All puppies need Mum's collostrum within 24 hrs to gain  antibodies that protect so make sure every puppy in the litter has received a feed quickly.  You should also weigh each puppy at the first opportunuty and then daily for the first 7 days to confirm all are weight gaining

Ring your Vet if you have any concerns!!!
It is not comprehensive - just basic details given - hope this helps.
.

You have now been given the 'basics'.   One thing I'd not have done was to worm her.   She should have been wormed before being mated but obviously that probably wasn't done.  Bitches should usually be wormed 2 weeks after the birth at the time the puppies have their first worming.

Secondly, when she goes into labour I'd give your vet a heads up, in case you need them (C.Section).   Don't let her struggle with a delivery, any delivery, for over 1 hour.   There's no need for her to become exhausted if at the end of the day, she's going to need a C.Section.   Don't take too much re temperature taking.   I never did because it fluctuates.  It's only once it's gone low and stays low, that labour should begin within 24 - 48 hours.   But you'll already know that by then!!  It's good that you have her sleeping in her whelping box, and are with her now.   It doesn't always happen, but in general whelping starts during the early morning.

eave her teats alone - newborn puppies don't need lashings of milk and milking her will only cause her to overly lactate.   Newborn puppies can't regulate their own temperature, so having a heat lamp (which we did) or other external heating for when mum isn't immediately with the litter, is essential.  We kept a thermometer on the pig rail ledge, to monitor the temperature in the bottom of the box.   If it's too hot, the puppies will 'scatter' and mum may well be uncomfortable (we often draped a sheet over the back of the box so mum could get some shade).   Too cold and they will huddle together.

Again, we never fed our bitches 'puppy milk'.   That's for puppies!!    Provided she's having a good diet now, she should be able to provide all that's needed for an average sized litter.    If she has a lot of puppies to cater for, you may have to consider supplementing the puppies - not her!   Early days, she's almost bound to have enough for the litter - it's once they get into the 3rd week that there will be the max. strain on her resources.   But again, provided she's having lots of good quality food, all should be fine.

A quiet litter, other than when feeding when some may get frustrated as the teats empty, is a content litter.

Is there anybody you know who has at least experienced one whelping - reading books is fine except I found it scared me to death!!  I think you would benefit from having somebody to hold your hand through all this!

Good luck.

Where are you based? I know we cant have strange people in our homes but if you have someone nearby should you need help then I would go for it. Or at least have someone willing to be on the end of the phone who has previous experience in whelping and ideally in the breed too.

Hard truth.

Rearing and homing a litter is a huge responsibility, time consuming and costly.

You could have had the Alizin injection, I believe up to around 42 days of gestation.

If it's now too late then
there is the possibility to perform a Gravid spay.

Yes not ideal, but no more risky than a C section and spay at full term.

I get rather cross about some vets just encouraging continuing an unplanned pregnancy.

We had a sad case posted here of a Boxer bitch in this situation, vet said have the pups. Result the bitch died, and the inexperienced owners were left hand rearing 7 pups, with 2 hourly feeds round the clock.

Also having your bitch for such a short time you could have issues of the bitch being aggressively over protective, as she hasn't developed enough  trust in you.

> You could have had the Alizin injection, I believe up to around 42 days if gestation.

I don't think I personally could bring myself to do this that far along unless there was an obvious health risk.

There is a health risk having a litter, especially with an inexperienced owner.

This is a large powerful breed, susceotible to orthopaedic issues.

Temperament would be paramount when breeding from such a bitch, and we have no idea what the sire is and his health and importantly his temperament.

The responsibility of homing such potential time bombs could be a nighmare, not something I'd consider as a very experienced breeder.

Such a cross could also attract the wrong sort of owner looking for a 'hard' status dog

Yes I agree Brainless you are of course right. What a difficult decision to make...

Sadly people get sentimental and can't see past cute puppies.

The bigger picture and practicalities need to be looked at.

At the moment during lock down the only help available is veterinary, and mist vets have little to no practical experience to offer a novice breeder.

> At the moment during lock down the only help available is veterinary, and mist vets have little to no practical experience to offer a novice breeder.

Definitely not the ideal situation is it!

The other consideration is handing the litter once they reach 8 weeks to a rescue to home, full checks and rbu as the sire is unknown and the history of this bitch is unknown too

But not having the pups would solve all future issues.

Passing pups onto rescue seems wrong when there are dogs already born needing help.

I know pups are easily homed, but how many of these unknown quantities bounce back?

There is a dog of my breed in Dogs Trust where he has been for most of his life (8 years).

Constantly bouncing back, yet they won't work with breed rescue, and have made it impossible for those knowledgeable in the breed to assess him, or home him unless they live local!!!

The dog apparently  originated from a puppy farm and was bought from commercial kennels.

The dog is basically unhomeable now, with one eye to boot.

Hi All
Thank you all for your individual comments and advice. I believe when scanned in mid January she was 30 plus days. The vet never mentioned an injection at the time and after reading gestation in 62 days I presumed it was to late for anything at that point. I wish I would have know as the last thing she or I need is pups. I am perplexed that the vet wouldn't have advised it if it was possible? Nonetheless she's now 60 days ish and due any day so to late to go back I just have to deal with this as best as possible. I am assuming the dad was a rottweiler too as they owned a younger boy but he being younger was more attractive to the family and the son took him. I have tried to contact him but no joy. I've purchased a heat lamp, I had a heat pad but my girl gets naturally hot so hoping a heat lamp is better. I've set the heating to 25 degrees and will keep it at this constant for the first 7 days then drop to 22 is this OK? I've put the milk idea out my head and I'm going to call a different vet tomorrow to see if they do call outs to be here at whelping. I thought the panacur granuals every day from 40 days was recommended I wish I'd known it wasn't the best thing to do. I can't put them on the rescue they are my responsibility time and financially I might ask them if they will assist in helping find new owners while retaining responsibility lifelong for them? I could donate to the rescue if they'd help me. I live in Essex/East London border and I genuinely want to do the right thing. I know nobody can come out to help but I wish I had someone experienced I could speak to when she goes into labour their lives are in my hands it's so overwhelming. I've booked the next month to work from home so at least I'll be here 24/7. I'm sure the real questions will start when they arrive

>I'm going to call a different vet tomorrow to see if they do call outs to be here at whelping.

Even if vets are able to do callouts at the moment, none will do come out to attend a whelping; it takes a long time - you're looking at a minimum of 4 hours if everything goes smoothly. And remember that most vets, unless breeders themselves, will never have seen a natural whelping in real life! But you do need someone on the phone to be able to recognise from your description if there's a problem that will mean taking the bitch to the emergency vets. But remember that most whelpings go well and smoothly.

Gosh, sometimes I get a little miffed at the knee-jerk response to accidental breedings being Alizin! Of course if you can catch an unwanted breeding very early on, then it would be best. But who is honestly going to recommend a bitch essentially give birth to well-developed pups and go through all that now?? There is a massive market for puppies, whatever their breed or crossbreed at the moment, so there will be no problems finding homes. And this poor owner has clearly already prepared all she can to raise a litter and bought a whelping box and got herself psychologically in place to do this... It's zero help whatsoever to go talking about Alizin now, give the poor person the help and support they really need!!

>s there anything else I should be doing now and is there any tips to help me through her labour, I am petrified of what could happen?

Regardless of the horror stories you've been told or even read, the vast majority of whelpings go smoothly and without any intervention needed. BUT, if you need expert help and yes, actually a midwife (virtually), I highly recommend you join Avidog.com - specifically their 'breeder' monthly membership package. It costs about $50 to join for a month and with that you get unlimited access to all their courses, which cover in detail how to raise a litter - including whelping - and which include access to a Facebook group with help 24/7 from the Avidog team of experienced breeders. Personally I wouldn't breed a litter without Avidog membership, I would consider it to be a risk I just don't want to take. If you're feeling lonely or confused by conflicting advice, join!! You can cancel the membership any time, so if you join now until pups go, you'll be paying $50/month for 2-3 months and get incredible help and advice.

>I have wish there was the dog equivalent of a midwife I could pay to be there but I don't think there is such a thing?

There is. They will be there in a Facebook group whilst you whelp and they will even Facetime or Skype you, if you need that.

>Can anyone talk me through what I need to know about her giving birth? What I will need to do and what I should leave her to do? 

All that is covered in detail in the Avidog A-Z flagship course - there's a whole chapter on whelping.... otherwise it's a bit of a vague and general question.

>Also I have read to start feeding her puppy milk is this something you recommend

No, absolutely not- You should not be giving her any additional calcium before whelping because it can predispose her to eclampsia. (After the first pup is out, give all the calcium you like and then some - but not before.)

As for worming, given her history - which is unknown - you are totally doing the right thing. Roundworms can be very dangerous and if you are unsure of a bitch's worming history before breeding, she could have quite some worm burden to pass onto the puppies. An unknown worming history is just one time when worming as you have been is indicated. Besides which, there are many forum members here who routinely worm with Panacur during pregnancy and have no problems at all with it.

> I'm going to call a different vet tomorrow to see if they do call outs to be here at whelping

Please know that what your bitch needs to whelp safely and quickly, is to feel secure and PRIVATE during whelping. Asking a stranger to come into your house at this time, is only likely to leave her feeling worried and unsafe. Please don't ask strangers to come into your house unless there is a clear emergency and reason to do so (in which case you'd be going to the vet, not asking them to come out in most likelihood). You will only create problems if you stress the bitch, and cause whelping complications or hold-ups. Keep her calm and feeling safe with familiar people around her if possible. And even the most well-mannered bitch can be very protective of newborn puppies - if you want to avoid a scenario of her growling at the vet in your kitchen and not letting him come anywhere near....

> But who is honestly going to recommend a bitch essentially give birth to well-developed pups and go through all that now??

Alizin given at the upper end of the treatment window (up to 45 days post mating) is before the bones calcify and is still at the stage when bitches can resorb puppies.

Some discharge and clots might be passed, but certainly not puppies.

At the time of scanning there was still 10 - 15 days leeway.
https://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-459936&template=template_printview
Sadly it's too late now.

I would contact the secretary of one of the Rottie breed clubs and find out of there is any breeder local to you who may be willing to help you through this.

These days with video calling, someone on the end of a call could be helpful and re-assuring.

I would also contact breed specific rescue.

They often have people waiting for a rescue, usually experienced within the breed.

Regarding heat lamp or pad, bitches that dislike heat are better with the pad.

Re worming in pregnancy I have wormed 8 consecutive generations of bitches during the last 3 weeks of pregnancy.

Because of the reduction of larval transfer and it acting on larval worm stages I have never seen worms in my pups or adults.

As for the Vets I can only think some Vets are not familiar with how long after mating it can still be given, as the previous mismate medications had to be given within 2 days of mating, as they worked in a different way, disrupting the hormonal cycle, as opposed shedding the uterine contents.

onetwothreefour:  > Gosh, sometimes I get a little miffed at the knee-jerk response to accidental breedings being Alizin! <img class="fsm fsm_eek" src="/images/epx.png" title="eek" alt="" />

Not sure if you still have me on ignore so possibly can't see my response but you have just expressed every thought I have about this thread and I mean - everything!

From aborting such advanced lives to overwhelming the OP .... what's now is now and is the most important thing to advise on.....hopefully once the whelping is over, advice can be given further down the line.

The detail regarding 'doggie midwife' help is fantastic and something many new breeders would benefit from knowing about - class!

Alizin is given up to 45 days after mating, so not advanced beyond the point many potential puppies are absorbed.

Yes gravid spay would be more distasteful if done beyond this time, but still a lesser evil.

The best thing that can happen now is for a breed expert to be willing to video hand hold for the whelping and rearing, and for breed rescue to help vet potential homes.

Brainless: > Yes gravid spay would be more distasteful if done beyond this time, but still a lesser evil

I hear you Brainless and I so follow your posts & advice intently.  Probably just me but the very thought of ending any life feels uncomfortable - sorry! I'm sure there will be difficulties placing this Litter safely - just feel all should be given a chance

This person sounds very prepared to me and like they need some confidence and support. We have first-time whelpers on here all the time and we're not recommending they all get video consults during whelping for goodness' sake.

In fact it's usually the people who are excessively relaxed about everything that are actually not prepared at all and have done no research. I'm not at all worried by someone being nervous about doing this for the first time, I'd be worried if someone wasn't nervous about it.

Whelping is a natural process and the vast majority of bitches won't need any help at all. OP, your job is to quietly support her needs as far as possible and only to intervene when necessary. You are already giving her far more than she would have had with her (now deceased) previous owner in terms of whelping this litter, so take heart from that and give her the privacy she needs at this time. You can do lots of research about 'what to do if...' but in all likelihood you won't face those scenarios.

Just want to say good luck with the birth and rearing. On positive side- she is not a bad age for litter & she is a breed that usually self welps without issue and you know who the sire is .  I think she is very lucky to be having her litter with a loving owner and not in a rescue kennel and her puppies will get a good start with your care.

You may need to keep books as to the expenses for tax purposes if any money changes hands for the puppies -and you must not give them away free as those type of homes are not good homes. Keep receipts of everything spent on the litter- ie the heat lamp, bed, vet bills , feed etc.

Thank you for the continued advice. I have emailed several rescues and contacted 2 Rottie specific rescues. I will not be selling the pups or giving them away. I am hopefully going to cover the costs fir a rescue to rehome under contract. I have contacted the vet I used to check they have a 24hr call-out worst case and they do in emergencies so I have that as worst case. I also spoke to the lady that scanned her she is a breeder herself and said she's available on the phone anytime. My girl come from a crap home and I really just wanted her to enjoy life this really isn't what I wanted but I'll do the best I can. As long as you all don't mind ill continue to update here. I don't think there's long left now she's huge, has a whitey discharge dripping and is leaking milk today.
There's so many unwanted dogs in the world I will promise her pups won't end up part of the problem.
Another quick question does anyone know any insurance companies that cover mum and pups I have her with pet plan would they extend to the pups? Does anyone recommend an insurer please

Thank you all and I totally share the views that aborting them would have been better especially for mum but I was ignorant at the time to my options. I've tried my best and I'm currently reading the book of the bitch in my sleep

It certainly sounds as if she'll give birth in the next couple of days, from how you describe her. When she goes out to the garden to toilet, go with her, because it's not unusual for the bitch to mistake the arrival of the first puppy as being a poo, and to pass it and leave it!

I'm afraid insurance won't cover whelping at all; there are a couple of insurance providers that cover breeding but the policy has to be taken out before mating, so too late for you, sadly.

Keep the updates coming; we're here to help.

Hi Dani. I'm not a regular poster, but would like to second 1234's recommendation re signing up to Avidog for a month or two in the position you find yourself. I found this resource incredibly useful when whelping/raising a medium breed litter of 8 last autumn, not just whelping, but with management of Mum and neonates up until the time they leave you. No problem stopping the subscription either. Would do it again if we ever have another litter. Will keep fingers crossed for you

Both Agria and Pet Plan do free puppy cover notes for breeders.

>Both Agria and Pet Plan do free puppy cover notes for breeders.

Those are only for when the puppies have left to go to their new homes. They don't cover for the time the pups are still with the breeder, neither do they cover the bitch.

I’ve everything crossed for you both. Please keep us updated I’ll be checking in for news daily

goldenbars, glad you found it helpful. I also recommended it to a friend of mine who was in similar circumstances to the OP - he adopted a rescue dog from abroad only to find out she was pregnant and she gave birth about 2 days later. He joined Avidog the whole time he raised the pups and found it invaluable.

I got the impression the poster was looking at Insurance for the pups when they go.

Hi Danni, It's just a thought and I am not sure how I feel about these things but there are so called canine fertility clinics popping up all over the place and some of them do offer whelping assistance. I noticed one on Facebook called Herts and Essex canine fertility clinic. I am sure there will be others if you do some searches. Naturally they are charging for their services and you would have to double check everything with your vet rather than take their   word for everything, but if it offered you some comfort you might want to consider it.

>I got the impression the poster was looking at Insurance for the pups when they go.

You could be right; I understood it to be for covering medical costs of whelping or treating puppies.

Hi, no the insurance is for the pups when they arrive to have the same cover as my girl does and to transfer into new owners names once they collect. I have money for mum, just joined avidog and going to navigate around that tomorrow. Just bought glucose, a hot water bottle, puppy life drops, calcium tablets and ky jelly lord knows what the person picking that order will think I'm doing.! I gave her a bath today in prep and did a scissor job on her tummy hair and vulva. My poor dog must hate me picking up this book I don't stop faffing with her. I've just read to feed her vanilla ice cream during labour is this a thing? She's currently digging and restless in her box I'm so hoping it happens in next 48hrs my nerves are everywhere

Danni83:  Please please stop fussing with her! Hot water bottle, puppy life drops, calcium tablets, ky jelly, shaving and bathing her. I doubt this advice comes from an experienced Breeder! Good God!   Not having a go. just thinking what a lot of stress for you both!

Get a copy of Book of the Bitch.

It will give you something to read while you watch and wait.

It's arguably the best book when you first breed.

My copy has been well used since I bought the first edition in 1990.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M0JD466/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_QGMFJNVVB86BVYFTYZWJ

You are probably right. The hot water bottle from what I've read is needed to keep each pup separate while still whelping. The calcium I've been advised to give her afterwards. Most things I have bought I hope to never need like the milk replacement and life drops but my god I'd feel awful if I needed them and I didn't have them. As I said I really don't know what to do I'm just reading, learning, prepping and winging this. I'll feel better once they are all here. PS she loves baths she has her own n wet room with heater and she was not at all  distressed. I'm sorry if I seem over the top and panicky ill stop now.

I have the book of the bitch, got it a week ago and that's what I keep reading and adding to my whelping kit from. It's a great book

Again people do things differently, but none of my bitches would ever tolerate having a pup removed while they whelp the next.

Actually licking the pups and them suckling helps stimulate further births, and keeps Mum occupied.

I simply shepherd the pups away so they don't get wet again.

I use shredded paper in the box as this soaks up the waters and is easily removed and replenished.

You can buy teabag bedding.

I shred all junk mail etc.and store in preperation for a litter.

The birthing fluids can be quite caustic and if it soaks into the coat in can cause skin irritation/inflamation. (like nappy rash) Rubbing off as much as you can.

I have found using vaseline helps protect the skin and helps it heal.

>no the insurance is for the pups when they arrive to have the same cover as my girl does and to transfer into new owners names once they collect.

No, that sort of insurance doesn't exist, I'm afraid, unless the policy has been taken out before the mating has taken place. basically insurance companies are businesses that need to make a profit, and whelping would incur more payouts than they'd take in premiums.

>did a scissor job on her tummy hair and vulva.

Why? She's a Rottie, isn't she? She's not long-haired - there's absolutely no need to trim the hair on a short-coated breed. The hair actually protects the bitch's skin from the birth fluids; it'd be a good idea to put some vaseline on now to protect her skin. And giving vanilla ice-cream is pointless unless it's a very high-end ice cream which is actually made with milk, and not the 'non-dairy fat' of the popular ones. People say it's to supply calcium, but it's just not good enough. Calcium tablets from the pet shop are far better, but most bitches don't need anything like that.

Now is the time to just be an observer; stop 'faffing' and let her instincts tell her what to do.

Makes sense about the insurance, didn't want it in place for whelping more so when they are here but I'm assuming there's a minimum age they have to be.

Yes, she's a Rottie I've not shaved her or removed all the hair I've just trim some extra long strands round her teats and vulva she still has all her tummy hair lol.

Yes no more faffing and no ice cream I didn't really get the logic with that anyway tbh. All seems as normal today so don't think they are coming tonight.

>Makes sense about the insurance, didn't want it in place for whelping more so when they are here but I'm assuming there's a minimum age they have to be.

Yes, breeders have only ever been able to insure puppies from 6 weeks old (as the law has changed to pups having to stay with the breeder till 8 weeks the minimum insurance age might have changed to that too, but I'm not certain) and even then they could only issue cover notes for the pups that were going to new homes, not any pups they were keeping.

>All seems as normal today so don't think they are coming tonight.

You need to get all the rest you can because you've both got a very busy time ahead! Now is the time to give her space to follow her instincts, and just be hovering in the background, keeping an eye but not interfering unless there's absolutely no alternative. The vast majority of bitches whelp all by themselves with no problem, and you'll probably find all you need to do is change soiled paper every so often - she should do the rest. Good luck!

Also extra calcium MUST not be given before whelping as it actually stops the body rallying it's own resources and may actually cause life threatening Eclampsia, one of the main dangers to look for.

Thank you for update on insurance that makes perfect sense. Leaving her to it now as she's getting restless, has discharge leaking and has vomited 3 times. She  can't get comfy and her temp is 36.9 this morning. I'm home from work all week so I can just sit back and keep a watchful eye on her.

Sorry another question is it advisable to let her eat the placenta or just one of them or none? Does anyone know what the pros and cons of eating vs removing them?

Yes, will not supplement her unless she needs it and definitely not before the first pup has arrived.

With those of mine who didn't have a C.Section, I let them eat a couple but that was all.    This used to happen in the wild to sustain mum when she couldn't get out hunting for food.    But it's very rich and pet bitches do not need to be eating this.   So all the placenta - no.

> is it advisable to let her eat the placenta or just one of them or none? Does anyone know what the pros and cons of eating vs removing them?

It's perfectly normal for them to eat the placentas - they're a rich source of nourishment and would sustain the bitch 'in the wild' for several days - but they do cause a bitch to have black squits! I try to take some away if I can, but you need to be very quick to get it before the bitch does, and she might not want your hands anywhere near her to get the pup and tear its cord (I never ever cut them, but crush and tear them with my thumbnails to mimic the crushing of the bitch's teeth so there's no risk of haemorrhage) so that you can get the placenta, so don't worry if you don't get any. As you haven't had her very long to have built up the deep trust to be allowed to interfere it would probably be best to let her deal with them.

You mention work.

You do realise, especially with a maiden bitch of a heavy breed close supervision of the bitch is needed to prevent pups being laid on.

I have usually found with a careful bitch I can relax a little after a week, but really until their eyes are open and they are strong enough to escape, pups can be crushed, and Mum be quite oblivious.

From 2 weeks on your work with the pups will increase, as bedding will need to be changed frequently as pups start to wee unaided ( they will stimulate urinating simply by crawling on their bellies if male).

Just before 3 weeks or sometimes as soon as eyes open if milk not keeping pace, weaning will need to becstarted.
They will need feeding at least 4 times a day, just like Mum.

Their accomodation will needbto be doubled so they have room to move and play.

She will need removing whule they eat, and then be alliwed back in to clean up whule pups top up on he milk which will still initially be their main nourishment.

Your lucky with time of year, as aroundb4 weeks they will become stur crazy, and need to start going outdoirs, both because they want to be clean, and for fresh air and excersise.

They will need a pupoy oriof area in the garden, and some shelter, unless you plan leaving the doir open (brr) as it will be hardbto bring each in as they fall asleep between bouts of play.

Whule they are outside you will be cleaning, sanitizing, airing/drying their indoor area, bring them in, rinse and repeat for outside.

Puppies are little shit and pee machines, and, things can get a bit ripe, especially in the mornings.

I am planning to take this week completely off work, I have 20 days annual leave available and can extend if need be but I can also work from home if needs be for the remaining 6 weeks. My mum is moving in with me as soon as mum and pups are feeding well. Just to provide me some respite. My dog is familiar and comfy with my mum but want to wait until mum and pups relationship is stable. My big fear is her laying on and suffocating one but I can't think that far ahead until I've got them here but I will be sleeping next to her for the first 4 weeks and I'll be with her 24/7 during this time.
The whelping box is in the front room I have a cage going round the box that then doubles the area they have access too.

As for the garden I will need to deal with that and clear off a safe penned area for them. I wasn't sure if they were allowed in the garden pre injections I've not actually read that far in my book yet.

Thank you for the continued feedback and advice
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Going outdoors is essential for fresh air and excersise, it also starts their housetraining utilising their increasing desire to keep their sleeping area clean as they get older.

I have found by 8 weeks, given the opportunity they will endeavour to defecate outside.

Unfortunately they seem to act like Sprinkler systems for wee.

Yes lets get whelping over with first, and drip feed the next steps.

I am glad Mum will be on hand, as rearing a litter, especially a large breed is a full time job, if it's not caring for pups it's Mum.