After the birthing process, clean up the mother as much as possible without upsetting her using a warm water and washcloth. Do not use any soaps or disinfectants unless instructed to by your veterinarian. Remove any soiled newspaper or bedding from her whelping box.
Puppies should not be taken away from their mother and sent to their new homes too quickly, as they learn important social rules and behavior from their mother and siblings. Puppies should not be separated from their mother if they are younger than 8 weeks old, and it may be illegal before this in many states.
Once your dog has given birth to all her puppies, she is likely to be very hungry and tired. She will need to eat, rest with her pups, bond with them and feed them – make sure they are in a quiet, comfortable space where they won't be disturbed.
By about three weeks of age, you can—and should! —begin gently handling the puppies1 for short periods for reasons other than basic health care. Once the puppies have their eyes open, you can try carefully picking them up, holding them for a bit, and placing them back in the box.
Keep the mother dog and her puppies in a clean, quiet, low-traffic area of the house. If there is too much commotion around her, she may become stressed and neglect her puppies. Also, provide a safe space where she can rest away from her puppies but with easy access to them.
Most responsible breeders do not leave newborn puppies alone with the dam. There are many reasons why it's best to supervise the dam and her litter at all times. Inexperienced dams can quickly become overwhelmed by the new litter and not being present might cause you to miss signs of rejection.
It is recommended, particularly with a first-time mother, to check the puppies every few hours to make sure they are all suckling and are warm and content.
The first is oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone.” It's what drives a mother dog to nuzzle her puppies or wrap around them to keep them warm while nursing. (Interestingly, oxytocin is also linked to the bond that humans have with their dogs.)
Most puppies do not need to be bathed until they are at least 4 weeks old. Even after 4 weeks of age, unless your puppy is filthy, he could probably wait until he's several months old for a bath. If you must clean your week-old puppy, consider just spot cleaning the areas that are dirty.
Some veterinarians will tell owners of young puppies to wait until they've had all their vaccines before they meet other dogs. This can take up to four months! Remember, months are years for dogs.
After birth, puppies should go right to mom and start nursing. During the first three hours following birth, puppies should nurse several times. If a puppy is having trouble latching, rub its muzzle sideways over the nipple, not up and down.
Sleeping with your puppy in close proximity helps him bond with you and feel less lonely for his mother and littermates. After your puppy gets used to the crate by your bed, you can gradually move him out of your bedroom if you don't plan to have him sleep near you every night.
But dogs have plenty of bacteria in their mouths that you don't want in your mouth or on your face. Certain bacteria, such as campylobacter and salmonella, and parasites like ringworm, can be easily transmitted from your animal to you or your child.
Caring for Newborn Puppies and Dams. Once puppies are whelped, it is important to monitor their weight at birth, after 12 hours, and after 24 hours to ensure they are growing.
Newborn pups need to be with their mother and the maternal instinct usually means a mother dog will want to stay with her litter most of the time. If your dog is lying or sitting away from the litter for long periods, it's likely she may have rejected them.
Ideally, newborn puppies should sleep with their mom until they're 3 months old. Puppies might survive separation at 4 weeks, but that comes with a set of short-term and long-term problems.
Having a good idea of what's normal in the whelping process will allow you to spot signs of trouble quickly. Be prepared to supervise newborn puppies 24/7.
Her newborn pups can also trigger strong maternal instincts in your dog. Your once calm and well-socialized dog can become possessive (or aggressive) to whoever goes near her litter. She may also become overprotective and will try to hide her pups from people or other pets at home she may see as a threat.
Hanging a household thermometer on the inside of the whelping box will help you know the temperature in the box. Puppies typically lay side by side or on top of each other to share warmth. If the puppies are scattered throughout the whelping box and away from the heat lamp, the temperature is too warm.
It's generally advised to keep the male away from the mother and litter entirely, from the last weeks of pregnancy and until the pups are at least four weeks old when the mother is starting to wean them, and ideally for five to six weeks. By then the father can be a part of the socialization process.
Cut the Umbilical Cord
If the momma pup doesn't chew through each umbilical cord on her own, you will have to cut the cord. If you do, be sure to use sterilized scissors, cut about an inch from the pup's belly, and tie the cord off with the thread or dental floss 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the puppy's body.