I just wanted to thank you all for your help and advice last week when Mabel had her puppies. Having got over the shock of her having them in the early hours of the morning I can only apologise for my 'panic' posts!! The puppies are 10 days old now and growing well...the little tiny one is still half the size of all the others but is putting a healthy amount of weight on daily. Eyes not open yet but am so looking forward to it happening! Mabel is being a very good mum although enjoys a little time away from them now and again! Thank you all again for your kindness and patience!

Emma

Ahhh................ :-)

Once their little eyes open, for me that is when pups really start to look like pups. Glad everything is going well, especially with the little one. :-)

awwwe bless them all, my babies are 6 wks old now they are like lil gremlins they are into everything eating brilliantly its been such hard work but very nice they all have brill homes when its time for them to go the lil one that weighd 4 oz is now 2 ans a half pound and cheeekkkky the mother is fine too she as put on weight now and she as stopped feeding them now she will go to them to clean them once a day but that is it il be glad to go to bed though when they have all gone

Just another little question....Pupps are now 12 days old and Mabel seems to becoming less keen on spending time with them and feeding them. When she does get in the box its a scramble as they are hungry. What is the 'norm' at this stage? Her behaviour is also a little different, she seems hell bent on getting out of the garden and stole some fake coal pieces from the fire yesterday to eat. She is getting lots of good food which she eats and we are walking her as I thought that may have been the problem. Puppies are looking healthy and I will weigh them today to make sure they are puuting on weight. Mabel is a cocker spaniel if that helps to answer my query??!! Thank you for any help you can give me....

Emma

Hi Emma make sure that the puppies nails are kept well trimmed as they could be scratching mum while feeding.

Their nails are starting to catch on the vetbed!! Is it ok for me to gently trim them myself or should I get my dog groomer to do it?

Easiest to trim them yourself. Just take off the curved hooky ends which can become very savage weapons if left uncut.

So glad everything is fine with mum and pups! Seeing the little twinkle in their eyes, just before they're opened, is one of the true miracles of breeding!
Cutting the hooks off of the pups' nails, is necesarry otherwise it'll be very uncomfortable for mum. If you find it difficult, try a nail clipper for cats, they are smaller and easier to use on little puppy feet.
Karen

Thank you I will do it today. Is there anything else I should be doing at this stage?

i know when they get that little twinkle woww its brill my pups are neally 7 wks old and im still stayimg up most of the night watching them and they change every day mum is telling them off alot now as they play ruff especially on mums tail they are little hooligans ,and why is it when it gets closer and closer to them leaving you dont want them to go