Should we see a difference yet?

How are you keeping an ear out for the puppies? When Bracken was born his breeder slept by the crate for the first 3 weeks :(
 
in the wild a bitch makes a nest. So has an option to leave when neccessary, makes a nest big enough for her and pups. And makes it somewhere that doesn't have an open front! How come yuor inside dog slept inside until she has pups? I can only think that you don't want the mess inside in which case why did you breed?
 
Can I ask why so many people are saying they are 'about' the contact the school or welfare authorities but not actually bothering to do so? There is pictorial evidence, the op is evident as to who they are...
 
MurphysMinder said:
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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Of course the survival rate could be compromised yes so, as said if you wanted to ensure the survival of the puppies then you would try do all you can. What would happen though if the bitch herself moved her puppies from inside the warm house to an area she chose outside? Could that happen?

I am just thinking I guess, my rescue (I think I must have chosen a dog like myself), she loves the heat - sleeps for ages far too close to the fire for my liking. Our GSD x though prefers to be cold and loves when it rains or snows so she can lie/roll in it. i guess they are all different and maybe the OP is struggling to keep the bitch happy and comfortable and she is the priority and it has been assumed the bitch can provide all to the pups. If thiis were me and the mother really did not want to be inside then i guess I'd probably fix up my electric blanket so it half covered the bottom of the crate, move the crate to a covered yard area or shed / garage ad thus be keeping the pups at a constant temperature but yet allowing mum to keep cool.

OP - how have the pups done so far? They were born almost 2 weeks ago now weren't they?
 
The standard way of setting up a whelping area ladyt is to have heat on no more than half the whelping box so that the bitch can sit at a temperature comfortable to her whilst the puppies are still warm enough. You can use a heat mat or a heat lamp to achieve this. If you had a bitch that as you suggest preferred the cold, I would put her in a garage or shed with a heat lamp warming half of the box for the pups whilst mum could sit out of it if she chose to.
 
Don't think an electric blanket is a great option, if they wee'd on it she would have crispy fried cross breeds would she not. :D
I don't think this is going to go any further though, the op has made up her mind to do what she sees as the correct thing and nothing is going to budge her.

I really hope the pups and mum are ok.
 
Whilst this thread is rather disturbing, I just want to say that this sort of offer is surely the best side of HHO - while the OP deserves the negative comments, an offer of something constructive strikes me as being startlingly helpful.

Cedars said:
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
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Just a thought.
 
chestnuttymare said:
Don't think an electric blanket is a great option, if they wee'd on it she would have crispy fried cross breeds would she not. :D
I don't think this is going to go any further though, the op has made up her mind to do what she sees as the correct thing and nothing is going to budge her.

I really hope the pups and mum are ok.
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Ha ha - actually, a modern electric blanket would not do this and actually, in my mind would be quite good as (if anything like the one I have) you can set at a constant temperature. You could actually put a plastic cover and a blanket on if needs be but a bit of puppy wee would not affect an electric blanket to the degree it would electrocute anything!
 
The heat pads that vizslak mentioned are the same principle as an electric blanket but they are vinyl, and then have a soft cover and the cable is insulated. They are only around £30 to buy, but in the OPs situation I imagine an extension cable would have to be run out to the crate, which would maybe not be the best idea if it rains.
OP I am delighted to hear you are considering bringing Amber and the pups inside, please do so, and keep them in until the pups are fully active. Apart from anything else you will miss so much if the pups are shut outside, if they are in the house with you I guarantee they will keep you constantly amused.
 
ladyt25 said:
Ha ha - actually, a modern electric blanket would not do this and actually, in my mind would be quite good as (if anything like the one I have) you can set at a constant temperature. You could actually put a plastic cover and a blanket on if needs be but a bit of puppy wee would not affect an electric blanket to the degree it would electrocute anything!
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lol I did wonder. I haven't used one for years. I thought that in these modern times it would be sorted out.:D
 
This makes me pretty mad. I'm not a breeder but I would never think of having any of my "house dogs" stay outside like this, especially if pups were involved. If dog is too warm, we simply make the house a little cooler for them and do anything to make them more comfortable. Id never throw them outside in a cage like that to fight the elements AND try to keep pups warm!
 
I just cant see why you would want to keep them outside! You knew they were on the way so why didnt you make proper plans for them?
If you didnt want them in the house you could have sorted a garage or shed with some sort of heating avalible.

trying to keep them in a indoor crate outside is cruel.
What are you going to do when they start moving around more and their eyes open?

Im so angry about this.
 
Pups are inside for now - they'll be in tonight as forecast to be colder. Amber is spending lots of time downstairs on the tiles as it's cooler but the pups are happily sleeping and feeding.

a853b37c.jpg
 
Could you fit a dog door so that Amber could come and go as she pleases? That way the pups and mum would have their needs catered to :) The pups look really big now, I can't imagine them all squashed in the crate together - it's so much nicer to see them inside and cosy.
 
Eriskayowner said:
Pups are inside for now - they'll be in tonight as forecast to be colder. Amber is spending lots of time downstairs on the tiles as it's cooler but the pups are happily sleeping and feeding.

a853b37c.jpg
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I'm not going to praise you for bringing them in. (you've done it reluctantly and under pressure) You've gone to no effort creating a comfortable whelping box. Dumped a couple of blankets down and is that a numnah peering out from below? Your idea of padding I suppose. You don't deserve to have a sweet dog like her who whelped with no problems. You don't realise how grateful you should be. Your whole attitude stinks and I don't believe the dog overheats, in fact I don't believe a word you say. Your husband doesn't want them in the house fullstop. Grow some balls. I know who would be sleeping outside and it wouldn't be a first time mum and her pups.

ETA If that's where the pups are sleeping tonight, unplug and get the electrical cords out of the way.
 
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Thank goodness you have seen sense and its lovely to see your bitch able to move around rather than stuck in a cage. Why dont you make up a whelping box and then if your bitch gets too hot she can get up and move.

Please rethink your plans on moving her outside again because then it becomes a welfare issue.

Im also worried I can only see 6 pups, perhaps the op will enlighten us.
 
I've just sat and read through this entire thread and am truly horrified that anyone thinks that is an acceptable way to keep pups! Also, if they aren't inside permanently, then are they ALL going back out into that crate? As the size they are now surely they would have to sit on top of each other to fit!! And those cables scare the bejeezus out of me. On another forum I read a story about lady who left her, admittedly older, 15 week old pup in the kitchen (only for 30 mins so didn't bother with the crate) while she walked the other dogs and came back to find her puppy had hung itself on a curtain drawstring!! It only takes a tiny amount of time for puppies to get into something dangerous.

Makes me all the more grateful that Freya had such a wonderful start to life with a responsible breeder!
 
Lizzie :) said:
there are definitely 7 puppies:
Puppies.jpg
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If you are a friend, Lizzie, then seriously, talk some sense into Eriskayowner, buy her a book on breeding/caring for newborn pups and anaesthetise her husband for the next six weeks. This situation is beyond a joke. I am, perhaps, naively assuming, as teachers, they have a degree of intelligence but there is no accounting for a reluctance to learn.
 
Cedars said:
How have we all decided its the husband who's against them being inside? Did I miss something?
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Husband, Obama, God, I couldn't give a monkeys. If they all objected to a mum and pups being kept in warm and comfortable conditions, they would all be chucked outside without breakfast, lunch and tea.
 
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