Instructions
Sleeping Quarters
Prepare a whelping box for the puppies and mother dog to sleep in. Choose a large training crate or a large cardboard box. Make sure the bottom of the door is high enough so a puppy will not be able to crawl over but the mother can still leave.
Place several layers of newspaper over the bottom of the crate. Place a small heating pad over two-thirds of the newspapers. This way, a puppy can move away from the heat if it gets too warm. Spread a blanket over the heating pad. Tuck the ends of the blanket under the newspaper. This way, any wandering pups will not be able to travel under the blanket or heating pad.
Keep the heating pad on when the mother dog is away. The mother dog will be able to provide heat while she is with her puppies. Without the mother dog, the puppies may not be able to stay warm. If the puppies are orphans, you should always keep the heating pad on. The temperature should not exceed 75 to 80 degrees F.
Feeding
Leave water out for the mother dog at all times. Place the water right next to or in the whelping box because the mother dog will not want to leave her newborn puppies. Feed her high quality dog food made specifically for nursing mothers. Place both food and water on a stand so that a puppy will not be able to crawl into the food or water.
Feed the puppies liquids before four weeks. Before four weeks of age, the puppies only need their mother's milk. If your puppies are orphans you will need to provide them with milk replacement specifically made for puppies. Do not give them cow milk, which may result in diarrhea. Puppies need to eat every few hours when they are first born.
Start feeding the puppies solids after four weeks. Mix 2 cups of dry puppy food with 12 oz. of milk replacement. This should feed six to eight medium breed puppies. Feed the puppies every three to four times a day. Every week, slowly increase the amount of dry food and reduce the amount of milk replacement. By eight weeks, the puppies should be eating completely dry food.
Housebreaking
Allow the mother dog to assist the puppies in defecating and urinating for the first few weeks of their lives. The mother dog will lick the puppy to stimulate their bladders. During this time, you will only need to change the box once a day because the mother will be cleaning up after the puppies.
Use a warm, damp washcloth to simulate the mother's tongue if there is no mother dog. Gently rub the puppy's anal and urinary areas to stimulate their bladders. Wash them clean using the washcloth.
Change the whelping box two to three times a day once the puppies begin to urinate and defecate on their own.
Socialization
Pick up the puppies only when necessary during the first two weeks of their lives. Do not pick up newborn puppies or separate them from the mother. After two weeks, puppies should start to get used to human handling. Use a gentle touch when handling puppies.
Allow the puppies to grow accustomed to normal household noises. Do not attempt to shelter the puppies too much when it comes to noise. It is important, however, to shield them from too much sunlight.
Allow the puppies to play with their litter mates. Playtime is important for puppies. Interacting with humans is also important. If a puppy starts to nip or play too hard, correct the behavior immediately. Do not allow the puppies to play with puppies from other litters to protect them from disease.
How to Care for Weak Newborn Puppies
When it comes to newborn puppies, breeders normally do not have to help the mother dog. If you provide the right care for the mother dog, the mother dog will be able to handle caring for her puppies by herself. Most of the time, you will only observe the puppies and assist the mother dog only when necessary. If the puppies are orphans, you will have to step in and fill the role of the mother dog. Newborn puppies are weak and are completely dependent on their mother for the first four weeks of their lives.