hey all i was just wondering when you breed a bitch for the first time is it instinct what to do to the puppies when they are born i mean do the dogs know they have to rip off the bag and let them suckle or do the first time dogs have to be shown?
i was just wondering as im curious
and before any one asks i have no intention of breeding my dog first of all im only 17 and i havent got a clue bout breeding dogs and i dont want to put my dogs life in danger ove rmy stupidity i was just wondering?
can any one help

hi kerrie well my dog had her first litter last year and i was really surprised at her instincts. as soon as they came out she bit them out ther little bag and then the cord, eat the sack and then licked them clean.  the only time i had to intervene was when she was taken ages to gobble down the sack and i was panicking a wee bit because you have to stimulate the pup to make sure it starts breathing ok. so i would give them a rub and then give the pup to her.  It was weird to see she had never done this before and yet knew exactly what she was doing, shes a natural mother!

In over 20 years I've only had one bitch who whelped without assistance.  I try to let them give birth with minimum interference but all the others would have left the puppies in the sac to suffocate! :(

I have had the whole range from a bitch being terrified of the first pup, and at a loss to what to do, to the bitch looking at me as if to say, excuse me I am the one giving birth here and it is my business :D

I always stay with the bitch throughout labour, amd then sleep close by for the next week , and monitor with baby monitor until they come downstairs at two weeks.

Sadly I have had a pup crushed to death by one very tired Mum when tired breeder was asleep.  Pig rails would not have saved him as she lay on him in the middle of the box.  Was very surprised as had a large litter 3 years earlier and was extremely dilignet and careful.