Hi Everyone

My large breed pups turned 2 weeks old on friday, i was just wondering when do you consider it safe to start sleeping upstairs again?

Many of us will vary, it really comes down to how you feel and how you judge things. It only takes a few minutes to lose a pup for the bitch to sit on one and accidently kill it, which is why many breeders will stay with the pups and bitch for longer.

Myself at 2 weeks I put a baby monitor next to the whelping area and go upstairs, but I'm pretty secure with my bitch she's been a mum before I know how she works, she's a very careful mum, many aren't, she will mostly move her litter into the middle and then sit down allowing the pups then to move towards her, 2 weeks post whelp she really isn't digging anymore and I feel secure that all pups are healthy and thriving and my bitch is happy.

I'm an extremely light sleeper, if I wasn't then personally I would stay next to the litter because any squeak could mean a pup is in danger.

If you are not secure with any of the above then stay with the litter until approx 4 weeks, it's not worth losing a pup for a more comfortable nights sleep, you need to go by how your bitch is behaving, whether clumsy and whether you are going to hear a problem.

If this was my first litter I would stay that little bit longer. :-)

The day mine turn 5 weeks is my first night upstairs whether it's the girls 1st litter or not. But I have a large, clumsy breed and don't feel safe leaving mum and pups together when I'm not around.

5 weeks, but then even when ive moved out they are on cctv 24/7....even in our bedroom thru the night!

I think we have the same breed, to be honest they are known for being very clumsy and I have known people to loose their litters to clumsy mums, you cannot sleep upstairs until the pups are up and about and are able to get away from mum. So not for a good few weeks yet im afraid

5 wks for me, but then Im just a big softy and love watching them sleep...hubby makes me go to bed then!!

the past 4 nights ive not had a peep out of them and set my alarm every 3 hours whilst sleeping on the sofa nxt to them and whenever i have checked shes rounded them up into the middle they are up and about already but think im gonna give it a few more weeks just in case thanks for all your replies x

I agree with the others dolly4, you've come this far and it only takes a second for something to happen. Another 2 weeks and I would feel happier if it were me, then a baby alarm so you can be alerted to any problem.

Not much longer :)