Hi

I was wondering, whilst my bitch is about to give birth, is it sensible to remove the other dog out of the house?????

Thanks for any help which is needed!

Just out of the room should be fine.

My other dog is the other half should I say to my bitch!  But at any point can he be introduced to the pups?

You're very lucky to have the most suitable dog for your bitch at home! :)  Did your bitch's breeder help you chose him?

Hi Val!  No they are both mine, and after 2 gruelling days and nights I managed to keep the two or should I say the male away from my bitch but one of the children left the gate open on our way out to which I heard a scream and had to rearrange my appointment because I had to wait for the two to become unstuck!!!!  So this is all new to me and they are very loving to each other but I am just worried as to do what with him during and after??

Oh dear!  Get him castrated now might be a good idea? :)

I have already spoken to my vet regarding this! (I think we were discussing it whilst waiting for the two of them to become free should I say!!!)

Hi Emmalou,

You should keep your male in a seperate room /area whilst your female is in whelp, afterwards she will probably growl at him herself if he should come near her and the pups.

My male would ofen sit outside my females den and watch from a distance knowing he was not allowed by her to come any closer, as the weeks went on my stud would become an important playmate and guardian to the pups. Infact towards the end the pups would spend more time with him than with their mum, he was a wonderful dad! But when the time comes she will want seclusion and comfort from you only. Some bitches take to motherhood naturally, others don't have a clue what to do, so you may need to not only help with the birth but also cut the umbilical cord and open the sacks. And most improtantly make sure that your bitch does not suffocate her newborn.

Hopefully you are prepared for the happy event, read, ask questions and if you need any help after your vet come back to the site.

Hope all goes well.

Hi Lyssa,

Thanks ever so much for that!  I think I have read so much information I could open up my own practice, website etc!!!!  But then there is so much advise, quite a lot contradictive of the other it is hard which one to follow.  I have everything ready & hope I am doing everything right.  My bitch is the most important one in all of this & I just hope all goes well for her. 

So at what age would you recommend be a suitable time for the dad to be introduced?

Mum will be the best judge of that, but I'd say not until at least a week.

Ditto with Jeangenie!  You don't need to seperate them after birth, the mum quite simply will growl at him to stay away, which he should adhere to. No matter how close they are now she will see him as a threat to her pups, and may even snap at him, if he is so bold as to stick his head into her whelping box/or den.

As with JG I have always found my bitches would allow my stud to sniff the pups at about 3 weeks, (very watchfully) just make a big fuss of your male as he has lost his playmate for a few weeks, especially if you just have the two dogs.

If you are going out though I would pop your male in a different room for the first couple of weeks just incase! It is always best to be safe rather than sorry.

Thank you both very much for your help! 

My last breeding bitch wouldn't allow any of the other dogs within sight of the whelping box for about 2 weeks - she'd fly at them in fury. After that time they were gradually allowed closer until they were allowed to sniff them at about 3 weeks.

Hi EmmaLou,
Have you prepared yourself and bought the book of the bitch?
This book was a godsend to me before during and after whelping.
If you haven't already got a copy you can buy one on Amazon.
Goodluck to you and your girl :)

or try "play.com" - no postage charge