What are some rules for handling new born puppies?

Question

Our pomeranian just had three puppies and we were wondering if we arent supposed to touch the pupppies before a certain amount of time. Any tips on keeping the kids away from the puppies. I cannot touch the mom or the puppies either because she is really pertective. Help please. Ideas please.

Answer 1

It honestly does not matter when you touch the puppies. Dogs socialize very easily, and just seeing you around will usually be enough. In a couple weeks they will be crawling all over the place and the mom will be sick of them- and very glad you can entertain them.
Maybe you can tell your kids (you didn't say how old they were) that she just needs some mommy time...or you can tell them they can sit so far away and watch (lay some kind of tape that is a marking point). Kids are going to be curious. That line should be well away from the mother- if she is highly protective, probably a couple feet or maybe the next room.
You do not want to completely isolate her from the family however- that will not help her get over the protectiveness. Depending on her relationship with you (protectiveness stems from the fact that she is either not bonded enough with family or dominant above you). Hopefully by the next time you breed her, you will have a dominant and comfortable relationship with her- then you will be able to touch the pups and mother as much as you would like (provided you give the pups enough time to eat and stay warm!) I was sleeping on the floor by one of our females about to give birth when I was younger (I wanted to watch it) and she woke me up right before her water broke- seeing a birth and helping with raising pups can be fun, as long as you have a good relationship with the mother.
Just sit somewhere outside of that safe area (where you put the barrier for the kids) when you have time and she will eventually get used to you watching her- no matter how protective she is. As the pups get older, she will become less protective and you can start socializing them then. Waiting a month or two is not going to do any damage with a dog's social nature.

Answer 2

If the mom will let you, you should start handling the puppies, gently of course, as soon as possible. You need to do this so that you can make sure the puppies don't have any serious problems that are best addressed early in life; it also wil help them get used to human contact, which will make training easier later. Before handling the puppies, you should put on clean clothes and wash your hands really well, so you don't accidentally get them sick; this goes for ANYONE handling the puppies before they get their first shots. Children should be kept from handling the puppies for at least the first 4-5 weeks, and children under 8 shouldn't handle the puppies until they are at least 8 weeks. ALWAYS supervise children with puppies, for the safety of both puppies and the kids. If mom is really protective (snapping and growling when anyone approaches), leave her and puppies alone, unless you notice something really wrong. In an emergency, you can try luring her away with food, or keeping her from returning to the puppies when she leaves them to eat or use the bathroom. Mom's protectiveness will fade as the puppies become more independent; usually even the most protective moms ease up once the puppies' ears and eyes are open (3-4 weeks). Hang in there, and congrats on a safe birth!

Answer 3

I've heard of a mother dog not allowing kids or strangers near her or her pups, but not adults in the home she is raised in.

Sounds like a dog that shouldn't have been bred. Puppies should be handled daily otherwise you're going to have some nasty hard to place pups with socialization issues.

I wouldn't allow the children to handle them, but there is no reason why you can't hold them and let the kids pet them.

We handle all pups from the time they are whelped. The momma dog gets a little anxious, but they are by no means aggressive or over protective.

Now if company were to stop by and want to see them, that's a little different. We do not allow outside visitors until the pups are about 4-5 wks, and then still make them use Germ-X before handling any of the pups.

Answer 4

I'd sit by her and comfort her. Put her in a low traffic room so she isn't desturbed much and tell the kids to keep out of that room, only go in there with you. and a wait like a week b4 picking up the puppies. But if you just really really want to hold them, get them out when she is outside going to the bathroom or streching her legs. O and keep water and food provided at all times.

Answer 5

give her her space in the beginning, then just slowly come nearer to her day after day until she is used to your presence and knows you aren't going to hurt her or her puppies.. eventually she should open up and let you hold them, which is very much needed when they are still young so that they can get used to humans
explain to your children (however many times is needed) exactly how close the mother dog allows you to come near. they can watch from a distance..

Answer 6

respect the mother. If she doesn't want you to touch the pups don't try ( unless it looks like something is seriously wrong ).
Telling the kids they are going to get bitten if they mess should work - but knowing kids they probably won't believe you till it happens.
try to give the mother dog as much peace as possible - let her deal with things till she needs help.
Try to make life as normal as possible - give her the opportunity to go outside when she needs but don't let anyone near the pups while she is gone or she won't trust you.

Answer 7

Dont touch them or she might reject. Your the parent tell the kids not to go near the pups. She being protective and if she bites them that is not her fault, the kids should not be near them.

Answer 8

OMG!!!! Don't touch!!!! The mother will eat you alive!!!!(Not really!) But she will abandon the pups and starve them.
DON'T TOUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!