Hi not used the forum before but am hoping that some could just give reassurance.We have just had our second litter of puppies the first being three yrs ago and everything apart from mum turning protective went fine, we kept a bitch and now she has had a litter. This time however due to sheer size and unbearable discomfort she had to have a section 3 days early all went well and we have 7 healthy pups. For the first five days she has only left the pen to go to the toilet and has gone straight back in last night and today she has wanted to be out more and more and only really gone in to feed and clean them! she will settle to sleep near my feet and will go heading back if her mum goes to close. Should i worry about the amount of time she wants away from them or is it a case if the pups are well fed and warm things should be ok.
Rowena

hi, congrats on your puppies . The mum leaving her puppies and going back to them to feed, clean and protect sounds all perfectly normal . As long as puppies are happy and safe, she will want to stretch her legs a bit more and as long as she has free access to come and go to her puppies there is nothing at all to worry about x

Have you cut their nails yet?  If so then it won't be discomfort.  It has been warm so it could be she is to hot. 

As long as she is in feeding and cleaning them at least every two hours and they are gaining well then lying outside the whelping box is normal.

To discourage mien from being away from their pups due to attachment to me I spend a lot of time in the area where the whelping box is so that she can be with them and me.

Thanks for your replies the have reassured me that all is normal, she is being a brilliant mum