When Daisy whelped her pups last monday, she was a perfectly normal mom.  She didn't want to leave them and tended to them non-stop.  As the days went by, she got better and began putting up less fuss about going outside to pee and such.  Over this weekend, she "rejoined the land of the living" and began leaving the pups for more than a 5 minute stretch to come socialise with us people.  But my question is this:  How much time should she be spending away from them at this early point?  I ask because she wants to be with us more and more now.  She's not exactly abandoning her pups for us, but she's far more interested in us than them suddenly.  I have been up most of the night because she kept insisitng on sleeping with me, and not the pups.  Her whelping box is clean and comfortable, so I know it's not an aversion to being there.  And when the pups cry out, she will go to them.  She's very protective and runs to the pups if anyone comes in the door or anything.  So is this normal behavior?  Is this the normal way of things for a dog?  I have read and researched so much before this breeding, but I can find no info on "normal" behavior in this early stage, just when she begins weaning.  I admit I am feeling guilty, as this must be my fault!  I have always been so close with Daisy that she's a constant shadow to me, and I wonder if her intense attatchment to ME is making it tough on her to stay with her pups!  Even yesterday I tried staying in the room with her so she could be with her pups, but she opted instead to join me on my bed.  The pups were sleeping, and almost always are when she's following me around, but I feel like maybe it's just not right....  :(

hi congrats on the pups!my bitch (also daisy) has now got 4.5 week old pups, and has behaved in exactly the same way.As long as she isn't avoiding feeding them, and is still cleaning up after them there wont be a problem.my daisy comes out of the box to chill out with us when the pups are asleep, which isn't as often now.If she is avoiding feeding them though, they might need their nails cutting as it is very painful for th bitchto be constantly scratched with those little talons.Good luck!!

Count yourself lucky to have such a sensible bitch!! It's far easier than having one who is totally obsessed with her puppies. I've had both!! As long as she's feeding & cleaning her puppies and they aren't distressed in any way, I'm sure Mum knows best, so don't feel you have to change your routine.

poppy used to come out and sit with us relaxed when the pups where about that age too----but as soon as they began to wake up and demand a feed, shed look at us as if to say [NOT AGAIN] then plod off to feed them  :D

Well, this is all good to hear.  I was worried that she was losing interest in the pups already!  Although, I have to admit...mom and pups are both getting alot more sleep since she started leaving them alone!  I guess I never should have doubted my girl's mothering, huh?  :)