The Sire of my litter runs away from the pups and growls at them. I need to get him to be more friendly, How? Also the Mother has lost a lot of weight is this normal?

bobbybaker53@hotmail.com

Hi Dawn,
You don't say how old the pups are, but I suspect that their Dad is scared stiff of them! My stud dog hates puppies and will not tolerate them until about 4 months of age.
has Mum been wormed regularly since she had the pups, and how many did she rear? It all helps to assess the problem of her losing weight. She may just need a good dose of wormer, or maybe a little extra food to make up for the body she lost feeding her babies. Hope we can we of some help to you,
Kez

Thanks Kez.
The pups are 5 weeks old, and yes I am worming the mother every 2 weeks, you're right it may be the pups draining her. I would have liked to show both parents with the puppies perhaps I will show the father seperately.

Dawn.

Hi Dawn
Which wormer are you using for both the bitch and the puppies, and what are they all eating?
As to showing your puppies to prospective purchasers, I would recommend after you have interviewed them, show Dad first and away from the puppies. This way they can see his nature without him being distracted by the puppies. Then pop him away-in a different room- and take the visitors to see Mum and the puppies. Be very very careful if they actually pick up a puppy, as strangers to handling puppies can drop them. In fact, I actively discourage people from picking them up off the ground, they sit on a very low chair and handle them from there.
How many are booked now? If none, then you really do need to get advertising now, as they should all be sold by 8 weeks and ready for their new homes. If no one is in the pipeline you don't want to be under preasure to sell, take your time and find the 'right' homes.

Hi. I would continue to feed the mother really well, giving her extra treats that she likes in her food too. I add one or two of the following in her regular food:sardines in oil, but drain a little of the oil off, scrambled eggs, 1 or 2 depending on her size/breed, grated cheese, baked liver chopped up very small and added to the food. Small amount of beef suet, dessert spoon for medium size dog. Introduce just very small amounts of these to begin with to check she likes/can tolerate them. I also give mine evaporated milk, either a little "neat" on the food or diluted as directed as a drink. Take it easy with this to begin with, its very rich.
I have been known to give mine un flavoured Complan, when they are just not eating anywhere near enough.
I also find mine are sometimes a bit on the thin side, but actually dont want to eat as much as I want them too. I give them their meat and " extra bits" with plain boiled rice sometimes. Even though there isn't much in rice, they tend to gobble it down especially when mixed up with fresh, cooked, carefully boned chicken. If I give mine this for a couple of days it seems to increase their appeteite and then revert gradually back to their complete biscuit and meat and "bits", and their appetite seems to pick up.
If she is on a high protein/fats complete diet , say over 26% protein 10% fats/oils plus meat and "extras" it can still take several weeks to regain their former condition, with the added delight that often when they pups are 10-12 weeks old, her coat may go very thin and may even have almost bare patches! This is quite normal, I think due to hormone changes. If you dont feed a complete diet then she may need a vitamin/mineral supplement, like SA37. If her appetite is very small it may be worth buying some B-Sorb, an excellent appetite inducer. Brewers Yeast or Vetzyme tablets are a great source of the B vitamins, and she may need a booster of Vit B, rearing puppies can be stressful, especially if its a first litter and Brewers Yeast is an excellent tonic. Hope this gives you a few more ideas to try.

Can't see why you actually "need" to have the sire [$ pups together, all my stud dogs would be (and are!) terrified by a litter of pups. Especailly if Mum is there giving hime the "get any nearer to my babies & I'll have you" look. I personally wouldn't risk it] pups can squeak or cry out & make a noise which could tempt the dog to go for them, especially if its a working terrier or something. Anyway, these are just my personal thoughts based on several years experience & I hope they help.