My dog just had puppies today and i was wondering if it is safe to touch the puppies . will u take their scent away and the mother will think they are not hers? Do i have to wait some time befor i could touch them and carry them?
2006-07-19 07:20:27 · 23 answers · asked by beast 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes! most definetly! You may and should touch them.You need to inspect them. Make sure they are ok. There is no way they are going to lose their scent. The mother dog should get used to you being in there with her and them.
Puppies, from birth, need socialization.
Type in 'Puppy Socialization' in your 'search' engine to find all the
affirmative reasons to handle puppies.
I have been a breeder of show dogs since 1965.
My children have sat in the whelping box and handled puppies
since they are 1 day old. As long as they wash their hands first
(and take their shoes off if they are getting in the box)
It's a great way to acclimate puppies to being handled as well as interacting positively with people. They should be handled daily by you and your family. (Those that live in the same house) Wait a while before you let company handle them. It's okay for them to look, but I'd wait before letting a stranger pick one up. You never know where they have been before visiting your pups.
2006-07-19 08:08:04 · answer #1 · answered by Blossom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations.... As to your question, no you do not have to wait and you will not take their scent away if you touch and carry them. I would not let just anyone who comes over to your house touch them or to pick them up, but you and any one which lives in the house say over 7 years of age would be ok to pick up the puppies. I have help a few of my dogs and cats deliver their babies and had held and walked around with their babies through out my life, and dogs and cats are not like birds and many other animals in that respect.
2006-07-19 14:50:16 · answer #2 · answered by Fantasy Kel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is fine for you to touch the puppies, if the mother will let you. The mother will not abandon them because they have your scent on them. Has she abandoned you? *heh*
Just be very careful, and *do not* let them get chilled. They can't yet regulate their body temps and need to be kept warm at all times. You *should* pick them up and change their bedding often. Keep them clean and dry. Just put them on something soft and warm while you change the bedding, and put them right back when you are done.
Good luck!
2006-07-19 14:43:10 · answer #3 · answered by doldaggabuzzbuzz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the mother will growl or bite because if they were in the wild other animals might try to steal them so you need to be careful also if you touch a puppy the mother wont remember that smell so it will kick that pup out of the litter and you will have to raise that pup without the mom dogs help. like bottle feeding it milk and stuff like that.
2006-07-19 14:30:27 · answer #4 · answered by Lexi:Puppy Lover of the USA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the mother lets you you should tough the puppies, the sooner they get use to human contact the better. Always keep the puppies close to the mother and if she want it back give it to her. You want to make sure all the puppies are also ok, if their umbilical cords are all tied off (bit, licked in this case) the way they should be. She should know that the puppies are hers but just be careful.
2006-07-19 14:45:38 · answer #5 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's ok to touch the puppies, just make sure that you wash your hands first and use some sort of liquid anti-bacterial gel before handling them. That action shouldn't make the mother think they're not hers, after all, she knows you as her "mom" so she should be ok with you touching them. Just be careful, as she might be over protective of them at this young age.
2006-07-19 14:25:24 · answer #6 · answered by little_beth85 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't touch them for a couple of days or so on. Your dog is very protective right now and and could get you if you go near the puppies, just wait for them to open their eyes or something. Ask the vet.......gl
2006-07-19 14:27:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's okay to touch them. After all, if the mother has trouble delivering or if the puppy isn't breathing when it is born, you usually have to help. Just make sure your hands are clean so that the puppy won't get any diseases.
2006-07-19 14:42:13 · answer #8 · answered by Gynipher 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mother dogs can be very protective of their newborns. It is ok to touch them with CLEAN HANDS..and wash your hands after too. I wouldn't let teenagers or children or anyone with a cold to hold them. I know that when my friend's rott had pups only my friend and I could come near them not even my friends husband was allowed to go near them until they were 4 weeks old.
2006-07-19 14:35:22 · answer #9 · answered by yooper49854 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's going to vary from dog to dog -- just how protective of the puppies is the mother? And how friendly is she toward you?
2006-07-19 14:24:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋