Hi there, just some advise if any one can give me some, my dog had 1 pup yesturday and she keeps licking him and to feed him we have to lay her down and put him on the nipple as she wont let him suck on certain nipples, she has been vet checked and they said she is fine and if she is licking him she is looking after him, but i am worried as she wont lay with him all the time she leaves him and sleeps some where else is this normal. Also my dog is not eating herself but she is drinking plenty of water so is this normal. thanks tasha

You need to stay with her and keep her in the whelping box with the puppy for the first three days when he should be suckling virtually non stop between naps to bring the milk in.

Some new Mum's are a bit slow getting the hang of things and you need to encourage the maternal bond.

She needs to stay with him except for toilet breaks for warmth and nourishment.

You should feed her in the whelping box, sloppy food in case her mouth is sore from cleaning.

You need to weight the puppy the same time each day and if it is gaining weight, or at least staying the same then he is OK, but should start to gain within a day or so of birth.