Hi All

I just read on a thraed on behaviour board that you shouldn't handle the pups at all until they are three weeks old- Is that correct?
I have to admit as I move fatty (still no name) to change the bed I have been taking a bit longer than necessary and snuggling her up to my ncek slightly more than I need to. Is it ok for the odd sneaky cuddle?

> on behaviour board that you shouldn't handle the pups at all until they are three weeks old-

:-O Why ?

I always handle my puppies from birth onwards & never had a problem with any of them. I can never understand some people, it's very important IMHO that puppies get used to being touched & handled by people from the earliest age possible.

Hi Ann

the posts re not handling them was strangers/visitors etc, I'd guess part due to increasing risk of infections being brought in, upsetting the dam and also risking a puppy being dropped :) 

I handled mine daily as did my daughter - as you say every time we change the beddings it's a cuddle opportunity LOL.  If we held onto one too long, mum would gently come over and take it back.  She didn't mind any of the family making regular trips and dips into the whelping box but everyone else was discouraged until the pups were older and lifting of them strictly a no-no in case any were accidentally dropped - even when kneeling at floor height.

HTH, Teri :)

Hello Ann

Good to hear "fatty" is doing well, go ahead and enjoy the cuddles it's never done any of mine any harm.

Joan

She is huge- Up to 7oz already and a proper feeder- poor mum
Mischa comes and licks my hands whilst I sneak a cuddle so i think she approves.
What a beautiful puppy - of course I am completely biased.

Was funny last night - Roxy (11 months) sneaked up to whelping box sniffing and Mischa was quite happy to see her.
As they were so content together I lifted the front of the box to let Roxy see- I could have grabbed her if it went wrong- Roxy leant in, ate the meat in the dish, saw the pup and ran for her life- It was very funny.

George was like that - he was very unwilling to go anywhere near the puppies when Ellie had them. Henry otoh adored them, we had to keep him out until they were big enough that we didn't think he'd stand on them by mistake, not being too bright! Ellie didn't mind at all - even when a client's dog tried to go in and see, she let him have a quick look, then just physically walked into him so he had to back away out of the room again. :-)

Hi,
Have always cuddled my pups from birth, I would not allow outsiders to, because of infection.
I have found they are better for it and very loving.
It also helps you know your puppies.

Denese

same here i love to have cuddles with them :) mum didnt like it when i weighed them she would cry for them back bless her .

Thanks all

Will keep the cuddles going x

> Was funny last night - Roxy (11 months) sneaked up to whelping box sniffing and Mischa was quite happy to see her.
> As they were so content together I lifted the front of the box to let Roxy see- I could have grabbed her if it went wrong- Roxy leant in, ate the meat in the dish, saw the pup and ran for her life- It was very funny.

Kizzy was like this to, she allowed Tio (8months) and Bindi (7.5 months-my sisters) to come and have a a good look at the puppies she had, she was also very happy to have us all look after them for her and let my aunty and cousins (kizzies breeders) into the pups to, but then she is increadibly chilled.

eta: when they were older tio spent all day playing with them and taught them all to dig

I am looking forward to Mischa and Roxy teaching the puppy naughty things.
Both my girls are sock thieves

don't! mum and dads garden was unpaved at the time with very sandy soil. Tio would start digging next to a pup so they would watch, he's dig, then look at then then nudge them into the hole and start digging either side till they started to!! the garden looked like it had been shelled- ever seen the beach at normandy? just like that but on a smaller scale lol

Lol- These are the things you will never forget though- Hopefully a few more weeks and it will be bedlam here

I have always cuddled and handled our puppies from the very beginning but very careful with hygiene if someone from outside comes to visit them.  On my 2nd litter i really restricted this until they were 3 weeks old.

I have been told by an APDT dog behavourist that the little puppies should not be smoothed on their heads though, until they are a little older (i think she said 4 wks+) because it creates a shadow over them and can make them 'flinch' when they get smoothed.  I was quite shocked/surprised when she told me this and at the time didn't think to ask further questions. 

I always handle mine alot from birth, after the fourth week visitors are encouraged to see and handle them (after washing hands of course). I'd be very suprised if breeders didnt handle their babies (and lets face it who could resist a pup?! ;-) :-D )

how can you NOT handle them??? Mine are picked up and weighed daily from birth.....they are handled daily and checked and cuddled......

> mum didnt like it when i weighed them she would cry for them back bless her

Mine always get agitated if I have a pup out too long for weighing.  Yes, I cuddle mine to bits, and kiss them.  I won't let people in to handle them that are on my waiting list though.  Not until 5 weeks.