All Inclusive Guide to Raising A Litter of Quality Puppies

Step-By-Step Puppy To Do List:

This Guide is intended to be used along with supervision and advice from your Veterinarian. Please follow the advice of your Veterinarian over any advice on this Guide. Please adjust this Guide to fit your needs as each situation is different from the next.

Before Puppies are Born:

• Purchase a Sheffield SS Shop Whelping Kit to be prepared for the birth and raising puppies!
• Confirm pregnancy at 4-6 weeks via ultrasound.
• Count how many pups via X Ray on day 58 or later.
• Go shopping for any supplies using the Supplies List included in your Whelping Kit.
• Research the dog breed, birth, raising puppies, etc. This is your time to learn! Enjoy the educational materials included in your Whelping Kit.
• Learn all about dog pregnancy here to understand what your fur baby is experiencing.
• Learn what warning signs to watch out for during labor. Here’s a jump start to your research!
• Learn about puppy development here!
• Call your vet to establish an emergency plan and record the plan on the chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• 2 weeks before due date (pregnancy is around 63 days):
  • Provide healthy extra calories for mom daily.  Her diet can increase by 2-4x her usual calories beginning 2 weeks before birth and continuing until weaning puppies- then you can expect her diet to slowly return to normal. Include Milk Production Treats (recipe found in your Whelping Kit).
• • Set up a whelping area and sanitize any supplies. Learn how to set up a safe whelping area here! Helping mom relax in this  area now will help her feel comfortable here when labor begins. The whelping area should be around 85 degrees F (it’s OK to have a warmer area and a cooler area in the whelping box to allow mom/ pups to choose their preferred temp- using a heat lamp in one corner can accomplish this). Puppies need traction to nurse, so be sure to use a mat underneath them (don’t let the mat get bunched up- a puppy can get stuck under the folds).
  • Keep mom calm. She can continue to exercise/play (only if she chooses to do so).
• 1 week before due date:
  • Trim hair on mom’s bottom for cleanliness during birth/on her nipples to help pups nurse.
  • Take mom dog’s temperature daily (see Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).

During Birth:

• Be sure each pup is moving, breathing, making noise, nursing, and keep them warm.
• Weigh puppies and label with collars (use Birth Chart found in your Whelping Kit).
• When birth is over, switch dirty whelping pads for clean and dry whelping pads.
• Ensure pups have a constant secondary source of heat- such as a heat lamp and a heat pad-  in case one fails. Keep the whelping area around 85 degrees F.
  • Puppies who cuddle tightly together may be cold. Puppies who spread out far from each other may be hot. A comfortable puppy sleeps next to siblings but not tightly, is quiet/calm, and has a body temp of 95 to 99 degrees F.
• It is recommended to supervise mom’s time with pups for the first 3 weeks to avoid deaths (mom may accidentally lay on a pup). Mom needs to nurse every 2-3 hours for 2 weeks then slowly space out feedings.
• It is recommended that the owner sleep near pups at night for the first 2-3 weeks to ensure puppy safety.
• Consider taking Newborn pics to see how much they change! Learn more here!

Week 1- Day 1 to Day 7:

• Call vet- schedule checkups/first vaccinations for when puppies are about 6 weeks old. Track these on the Vaccinations/Deworming Chart in your Whelping Kit.
• Pre-register or register your litter if possible.
• Weigh the puppies in grams every day. See Daily Weight Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions.
  • Some puppies may lose a bit of weight as they transition from the womb to nursing (day 1-3). After day 3, they should gain weight every day. Call a vet if a puppy is not gaining weight.
  • If a pup needs supplemental feeding, use the Bottle Set and Feeding Schedule included in your Whelping Kit to supplement needy puppies.
• Bathe mom if she is willing to go to the tub (just rinse- no soap on her rear to avoid infection in her vulva). If she does not want to leave the pups, you can wipe her with a warm washcloth. Don’t stress mom.
• Expect mom to have discharge after birth for several weeks. Keep fresh and clean whelping pads in the whelping box. Clean puppy area every day.
• Begin Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction on Day 3 and continue every day. Instructions are included in your Whelping Kit. Learn about the benefits of ENS here!
  • See instructions on ENS Charts/ ESI Chart.
  • Mom may feel stressed if you pick up a puppy. Consider doing exercises when mom is outside for a potty break to reduce stress.
• Trim puppies’ nails (this keeps mom from getting scratches). Use toenail clippers, cut small amounts at a time, and avoid cutting the quick.
• Only allow pups to eat when they are nice and warm – cold temperatures interrupt the digestive system.
• The Newborn Phase is the most likely phase for a puppy to die. Learn how to protect your puppies here!

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Week 2- Day 8 to Day 14:

• Complete ENS/ESI exercises every day. (See instructions in your Whelping Kit)
• Clean the puppy area every day.
• Day 8- Gently wipe the pups with baby wipes for their first “bath” (1-2 minutes or so per puppy).
  • Do not get puppies very wet or keep them away from mom for a long time- they need to stay warm. Take pictures while the puppies are clean as long as it does not stress mom or the puppy. Warm the puppy completely before beginning pictures.
• Early socialization– Gently stroke the puppies’ backs daily, but do not hold them unless it is necessary (this helps to avoid the risk of dropping or stressing the puppy/ stressing mom). It is not recommended for children to hold or interact with the puppies yet. It is normal for a mom to be protective of her puppies and she may bite. If petting the puppies stresses the mother, it is best to wait until puppies are older to handle the puppies. Avoid visitors/strangers as this could be stressful for mom.
• Day 14- Deworm mother and puppies following your vet’s recommendations. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• Weigh puppies in grams every day. Day 14 is the last day to weigh puppies daily (time to switch to weekly weigh-ins). If a puppy is not gaining weight, contact a vet. Record weighs in your Daily Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.

Week 3- Day 15 to Day 21:

• Complete ENS/ESI exercises every day until Day 16.
• Desensitization Exercises begin on Day 17 and continue every day (See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
  • Desensitization Ideas: Vacuum, Garbage Disposal Sound, Knock on door, Doorbell, Hood vent
• Clean the puppy area every day.
• Gently wipe the pups with baby wipes to clean them.
  • Do not get puppies very wet- they need to warm up quickly. Take pictures while they are clean (after they are warm again).
• You may notice mom spending a bit of time away from the puppies this week. This is normal- she will slowly give the pups more and more independence. She should still nurse every 3-4 hours or so.
• The temperature in the puppy area can be safely decreased to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Weigh puppies once a week in lbs/oz (See Weekly Weight Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
• Trim puppy nails once this week.
• Consider taking Puppy pictures with the babies’ eyes open!

Week 4- Day 22 to 28:

• Complete Desensitization exercises every day. (See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
  • Ideas: Crinkle plastic, Ceiling Fan, Umbrella, smoke alarm, Fireworks, Bell, Ride in Car (Windshield wipers on/off, radio, AC/Heater on/off), Radio Static
• Gently wipe the pups with a warm, damp washcloth. This is one step closer to a bath, but puppies still need to warm up quickly and should not be soaked. Take pictures when the puppies are clean (and warm).
• Add puppy toys to the puppy area!
• Add a water bowl to the puppy area. Keep clean water available every day.
• Weigh puppies in lbs/oz once a week. Record on your Weekly Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• Clean the puppy area every day. This is the perfect age to introduce a potty area to the whelping box. Research “The Misty Method” if you choose to do so.
• Day 28: Deworm mother and puppies according to your vet’s recommendations. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• First step toward weaning: Begin offering “puppy mash” daily- Crush puppy food (use a blender or something similar), then soak in puppy formula for 10-15 minutes before feeding. Puppies can choose if they want the food or not, do not force them to eat. Feed 2-3 times per day. Start with a small amount and gradually increase the amount as the pups grow. Learn all about the weaning process here!
  • You can still expect mom dog to nurse several times a day. Let mom choose how much to nurse and when to stop nursing.
• Early Socialization- Puppies can be held- start slowly, then gradually increase daily handling. Introduce children to the puppies slowly. Children should always be supervised when they are around the puppies.
• The temperature in the puppy area can be safely decreased to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Overfeeding can cause diarrhea.

Week 5- Day 29 to Day 35:

• Complete Desensitization exercises every day. (See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
  • Desensitization Ideas: Bathtub Filling and Draining, Hair Dryer, Open/Close curtains, Garden hose,  TV, Washer/Dryer, Pet puppy while he eats food to decrease food aggression, Lawn Mower, Various Textures of flooring- wood, carpet, tile
• First real bath! Wash with gentle shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Warm the puppy as quickly as possible- use heat pads and heat lamps to create an extra warm area. You may consider blow drying the pup but be careful not to scare the puppy. Take pictures while they are clean!
• Clean puppy area every day. At this age, it may take more cleaning to keep the puppy area sanitary. Consider cleaning once in the morning and once at night.
• Weigh puppies in lbs/oz once a week. Record the puppies’ weights in the Weekly Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• Next step towards weaning: Instead of crushed puppy food, begin soaking full kibble in formula for 10 minutes.
• For more info about Puppy Socialization, click here! Puppies are ready for more play with children/adults. Consider spending time (10-15 minutes at first, then gradually increase the amount of time) each day playing together, exploring outdoors, and exploring the home outside the whelping box. Supervise puppies when they are out of the whelping area.
• Trim puppy nails once this week.
• Consider taking Puppy Pictures at this adorable stage! Learn more here.

Week 6- Day 36 to Day 42:

• Clean puppy area every day- morning and night. 
• Complete Desensitization exercises every day. (See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
  • Desensitization Ideas: Open a Garbage Bag, Dropped Item, Hair Clippers, Dishwasher, Bikes, Balloons, Handle sensitive parts of the body (tail, ears, snout, feet)
• Baths for puppies once a week, take pictures while they are clean!
• Weigh puppies in lbs/oz once a week. Record the puppies’ weights in the Weekly Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• Next step towards weaning: Soak full kibbles in water instead of formula for 5-10 minutes. Slowly decrease the amount of time soaking so that puppies eat harder food over time.
• Puppies may need more space to run and play!
• Day 42- Deworm mother and puppies according to your vet’s recommendations. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• First vaccinations and vet wellness checks usually happen around 6 weeks old. Follow your vet’s recommendations.

Week 7- Day 43 to Day 49:

• Clean puppy area every day- morning and night.
• Complete Desensitization exercises every day. (See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions).
  • Desensitization Ideas: Timer beeping, Storm sounds, Clap hands, Animal Sounds, Power tools, Whistle, Alarm Clock, Broom, Piano playing
• Baths for puppies once a week. Take pictures while they are clean!
• Weigh puppies in lbs/oz once a week. Record the puppies’ weights in the Weekly Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• Next step towards weaning: Puppies eat dry kibble. Mom may choose if she continues to nurse or not.
• Vital Socialization Period is in full swing! It’s time for lots and lots of interaction and play with your puppies every day! If you invite visitors to see the puppies, be careful that they do not spread germs that could make the puppies sick. Other animals can also get puppies sick- absolutely keep puppies away from any unvaccinated animals.
  • Part of the Vital Socialization Period is puppies learning from mother and littermates. Do not allow puppies to leave the litter early as they would miss this learning period.
• Trim puppy nails once this week.

Week 8- Day 50 to Day 56:

• Clean puppy area every day- morning and night.
• Fear Period begins- Continue familiar experiences but be gentle introducing new things. Puppies are more likely to develop long term fears when new things are introduced too quickly.
  • Desensitization: See Desensitization Chart in your Whelping Kit for instructions.
• Baths for puppies once a week. Take pictures while they are clean!
• Weigh puppies in lbs/oz once a week. Record the puppies’ weights in the Weekly Weight Chart included in your Whelping Kit.
• Socialize with puppies every day.
• Day 56- Deworm mother and puppies according to your vet’s recommendations. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• Put together Puppy Go Home Packets with some of these items (not all are required):
  • Puppy pads, toy, ball, chew sticks, Stuffed animal/blanket that smells like mom, Bag of puppy food and instructions to feed, Puppy schedule for new owners
  • Records of the pup’s ENS, ESI, Desensitization, vaccinations, deworming, weight gain, etc. Copy the charts from your Whelping Kit to send with your puppies’ families!

Ready to go home Week 8 to 12:

• Deworm pups at 2, 4, 6, 8,10,12 weeks or follow your vet’s recommendations. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• Vaccinations at 6, 9, 12 weeks or follow your vet’s plan. Record on your Vaccinations/Deworming Chart included in the Whelping Kit.
• Every puppy needs a bath, trimmed nails, and brushed the day before going home.
• Continue daily/ weekly routine