Hi all

Just to let you know my friends bitch had 1 dog pup in the early hours, sadly not keen to suckle though. she took both (mum and baby) to vets who has a 'leave it to nature' attitude which is understandable but hard to stomach when it's your puppy.

Just occasionally nature needs a little help at first ;)

If he still isn't keen to suckle today, try expressing some milk from a nipple so that there are drops there, open his mouth wide enough to take the nipple and the surrounding area in and then tickle him under the chin.   This usually gets them going ;) but it may need to be done for a few feeds ;)

I'm assuming he's been checked for cleft palate?

Yes he has been checked over by the vet. bitch isn't interested in him either poor little chap; my friend and vet both tried to latch him on how you described but he's having none of it

He's feeding now with a bit of help so fingers crossed for him