Should we see a difference yet?

OP-I have a heat reflecting mat, would you like me to post it to you? Even if Amber likes being outside, the puppies will not-this might help them? I'm happy to lend it to you? Xx
 
My sister in law lives the Taunton side of Bridgwater and having spoken to her at lunch time she informed me that they had a heavy rainstorm there and it was freezing.That must be only 5 or 6 miles from you so how are you stopping the driving rain getting into Ambers crate.
 
lows of 3 degrees celsius....thats a far cry from the 21 degrees minimum draft free that the pups should be in isnt it!
 
at 4am this morning the temp dropped low...I know this because Flora was crying to come and get in my bed! The puppies had all congregated on the heat mat and left no heat for her.....this is IN A HOUSE!
 
That crate is designed for indoor use. It is NOT made to be used outside. Throwing a old horse rug on it does not mean its ok to use it outside for new pups. Im considering contacting wellington school about this to see how they feel about animals being kept in such poor conditions on their property.
 
well im sorry for sticking up for a friend! :mad: :(

If I had a friend keeping mum and pups in this mannar I wouldnt be sticking up for them....I'd like to think I can choose my friends better than that in the first place though. The OP appears to me to be completely unhinged.
 
Lizzie, you should only stick up for a friend if what they are doing is right. This is not right, not one bit. You need to be helping your friend listen to advice and get the puppies inside. X
 
Awful thhought, I know, but what will it take before OP sees sense? The death of one or more pups due to hypothermia, perhaps? :(

It dosen't bear thinking about.

Get those puppies indoor now, before something dreadful happens. :mad::mad:
 
God this is awful... Lizzie, I respect you defending your friend, but if she didn't have suitable facilities she should never have bred them.
I cannot fathom how on earth you or your friend think this is acceptable.
I agree some of the earlier posts were out of order, but your friend has proved these negative posters right by her lack of action, and what is now a very clear lack of homework when it comes to breeding a litter.
Cedar has made a very generous offer, and your friend must understand that emotions are running high because she is putting the welfare of these lovely puppies at very obvious risk, by what appears to now be stubborn ignorance.
I hope she will eventually concede that maybe the conditions are not ideal, think of the welfare of he pups and take steps to get them inside.
 
I've known plenty of pups born outside. In solid buildings with heat lamps and plenty of room for mum to move about. I really believe that if anyone personally knows where mum and pups are they have a moral duty to report the conditions they are kept in to a relevant authority. If I had a friend keeping mum and pups in these conditions and she ignored any advice, I'd report her. If anyone knows the school where these pups are, pm me and I'll do it.
 
I've known plenty of pups born outside. In solid buildings with heat lamps and plenty of room for mum to move about. I really believe that if anyone personally knows where mum and pups are they have a moral duty to report the conditions they are kept in to a relevant authority. If I had a friend keeping mum and pups in these conditions and she ignored any advice, I'd report her. If anyone knows the school where these pups are, pm me and I'll do it.

I agree, I dont personally know the op or her address but from other posts have seen she lives at wellington school. Im very close to trying to contact the school about this as its a welfare issue.
 
OP, I know you are hurt and upset at the comments but can you please take the advice from experienced people who have bred litters and just take the crate inside. I am really concerned that the pups will be cold, mum will cope with the extra heat, she is a house dog anyway so I am sure she won't mind it too much. The pups do need to be kept warm, there is no way they can be warm being kept outside in a wire crate, regardless of how many rugs you have over it. Also please don't have people coming to see her, it is not worth the risk of infection. They are really fragile at that age. Please put aside your feelings here and bring the pups in.
 
OP, I know you are hurt and upset at the comments but can you please take the advice from experienced people who have bred litters and just take the crate inside. I am really concerned that the pups will be cold, mum will cope with the extra heat, she is a house dog anyway so I am sure she won't mind it too much. The pups do need to be kept warm, there is no way they can be warm being kept outside in a wire crate, regardless of how many rugs you have over it. Also please don't have people coming to see her, it is not worth the risk of infection. They are really fragile at that age. Please put aside your feelings here and bring the pups in.

Again, I am grateful for the comments and the advice. If I was worried they were cold at night then they would be in. I've spoken to OH and he said tomorrow night is supposed to be a bit colder - they are coming in for the night then. They can have the dog bed in the sitting room if it does get colder tomorrow night.
 
Right, before i say anything I will start with, this is not how I would keep puppies if I ever bred any.
I do not know the OP and in fact am not on either 'side' here.

What I do think though is that maybe some people are being a little OTT here when they haven't actually seen the living conditions or the puppies.

Also, what happened before the days of heating or indeed before dogs were in house or kept as pets? Where did they have puppies then? If the bitch has freedom (and presumably she does) would she not move the puppies if she felt they needed moving?

Other baby animals (lambs, calves, rabbits, foxes etc) survive being born in cold temparatures don't they? I know puppies are very vulnerable when born but isn't being born outside as nature intended anyway?

As I said, personally I would probablt have them inside unless the bitch was very unhappy with this - I guess then maybe I'd put her in a shed or garage but it'll still be chilly, you'd just cut out the wind/driving rain.

My car is parked between mine and the next house, it can get cold at night but I do not get ice on my car so it is possible to be outside but yet stay relatively warm (above freezing).

I am not condoning the way of keeping these puppies but I am just thinking out loud I guess and how animals breed and survive in the 'wild'.
 
I am not condoning the way of keeping these puppies but I am just thinking out loud I guess and how animals breed and survive in the 'wild'.

I think anyone with domestic animals would seek to improve on the survival rates found in the wild... As domestic dogs are so different from their wild counterparts surely they are less well adapted to survival in cold temperatures anyway?

And better they 'thrive' than 'survive' :(
 
Well you could also argue that women used to squat and give birth outside, but dont think you would see any pregnant woment opting for that nowadays.
I was waiting for someone to bring this up to be honest ladyt25 and you are of course right. Years ago we were involved in the rescue of a gsd bitch who had whelped a litter of pups in a fox earth, all pups were fine. However this was summer months, and an earth underground was I would imagine far more "insulated" than a cage with a rug thrown over it.
In my opinion if someone chooses to breed from their dog they should then do everything in their power to provide the best possible environment to raise the ensuing pups.
 
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