Hi everyone, Daisys pups are 2 weeks old today and are in the whelping box in my bedroom. Their eyes are all open now and they are getting increasing stronger and pushing up on all fours.  I was just wondering when would be the right time to bring them downstairs to the kitchen, i was thinking next week, but then would the hustle and bustle of christmas be too much for 4 week old pups?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks  Clair

I would bring them down into the kitchen because they will need more of a play area than their welping box and cancel the hustle and bustle of Christmas for this year you are going to be way too busy :)

The hustle and bustle will be good socialisation for them, getting them used to the smell, sounds and sights of a 'normal' home :)

I agree - get them used to household noises as soon as possible :-)

Hustle and bustle is going to have no socialisation value to puppies so young, half of that time they can't even hear.  Up till then the smell and feel of the breeders hands are quite enough to be accustomising them to humans.  The non stressing of the bitch is far more important at this stage she should be able to enjoy her young brood without the stress of worrying about defending them from strangers.  Socialisation can begin in earnest when the puppies are much more mobile which is generally when bitches are  more relaxed about it and even enjoy the attention for their litter.

>Hustle and bustle is going to have no socialisation value to puppies so young, half of that time they can't even hear.  Up till then the smell and feel of the breeders hands are quite enough to be accustomising them to humans.  The non stressing of the bitch is far more important at this stage she should be able to enjoy her young brood without the stress of worrying about defending them from strangers.  Socialisation can begin in earnest when the puppies are much more mobile which is generally when bitches are  more relaxed about it and even enjoy the attention for their litter.<

Ditto Isabel.  

My pups were down stairs in the dining room from day 1 (which is why I am still suffering with my back from so many nights on the floor.:))
I think you should bring them down asap,as the others have said,the whole commotion (sp??) of  a busy household will be good for them.
Good luck for when they start to venture out of the whelping box!  :D

Mine have a big play area outside the whelping box in the whelping room, but I start bringing them into the kitchen as soon as they can toddle along on all fours at about 3 weeks.

Mine are now 4 1/2 wks old and have been in the lounge the whelping box and "play pen",  since they were born.   They are used to noises and visitors and have ventured out into the kitchen and dining room the last couple of nights for 15 mins (even bumping into the household cat).  

My puppies are four weeks old, and are very active now.  They were born in the boot room, in a solid wooden whelping box, and I now bring them out of the box onto the floor for their three meals a day.  I give them whizzed up puppy food mixed with Whelpi to a porridge consistency and they love it.  Will gradually reduce the Whelpi in the puppy food, and then reduce the amount of water to the puppy food.  Am going to start taking them out of the boot room next week, but as I have other dogs will start by putting them in a large cage until they get used to it, and only bring them out when I can watch them.  I have posted pictures if anyone is interested.

i personal agree with isabel i had to have a child at my house lat week and y pups where 3 weeks old my bitch bit the child fare enough she wasnt well ( i didnt know that at the time she had eclampsia and wasnt showing signs of it yet) anyway she got agitated and bit but alot of bitches dont need to be unwell even if you bitch isnt normally protective or a biter it doesnt matter in that situation she will be especially if there are children there who want to be picking the pups up every five second its just to much for a new mum to handle i wouldnt have them down there during you celebrations but if you wanted to bring them down while there is just you there im sure mum wont mind

It could all depend on what size of whelping box they are in. I know when I have a (well not me personally !) the whelping box is huge and I find for the first 3.5 weeks there is more than enough room for them to do all they have to eg sleep, eat, play etc. And how much hustle and bustle are you going to have ? How would their mother be with all the hustle and bustle going on around her pups ? Would she get a bit stressed about it ? I would probably leave them till it's a bit quieter before bringing them into the real world !! 

Margaret

Hello, thanks for the replies. Obviously lots of different opinions on this one. I have 3 children so cancelling the hustle and bustle of christmas is not an option!  I have decided to keep the pups in my bedroom until just after christmas, their whelping box is 6ft x 6ft and we only have 3 pups so they have plenty of space to play in.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Clair

that sounds like a good idea and mum probably wont get to upset