HOW TO CARE FOR THE THE LITTLE  RASCALS

Week One (Days 1-7)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from momma
Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
Weight should double by end of week
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Chart weight daily (2 x daily first 2 days)
Examine puppies daily
Trim nails weekly
Keep whelping box around 85 degrees Farenheit (this means if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box)
When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them. The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating!
If your breed requires tail or dew claw docking, schedule this with your vet.
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
Feed three full meals a day after that
Supplement with 250 mg Vitamin C twice daily
If puppies are fussy, supplement momma with Vitamin B complex
Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection)
Make sure momma eats, drinks, and relieves herself -- once her mothering instincts kick in, you may have to force her to leave the puppies to do these things.
TO DO LIST:
Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
Keep charting momma's temperature
Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
Week Two (Days 8-14)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Keep whelping box around 80-83F
Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
Trim nails weekly
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Momma should get three times her normal amount of food
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Three (Days 15-21)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Teeth begin to erupt
Puppies stand up and start walking
Begin to lap liquids
Defecate/urinate without stimulation
Start becoming aware of environment
Start playing with littermates
Develop sense of smell
Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life
Start giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently).
Start giving pups milk replacer to lap for one meal a day -- after two days, add some very mushy food
Weigh puppies every 2 days
Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
Start weekly grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.)
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Continue as above
Week Four (Days 22-28)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Begin to eat food
Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase
Use legs well
Tire easily
Depth perception starts
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Keep mom with them a lot! Things can get overwhelming at this age and Mom will add stability for them
Each pup needs individual attention
Offer small amounts of food that is the consistency of cooked oatmeal (puppy food mixed with water and mashed up in a blender)
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Continue as above
TO DO LIST:
Start limiting momma's access to pups before offering them food
Week Five (Days 29-35)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Group activities and sexual play will begin
Dominance order starts
Rapid growth/development
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Reduce fluids in puppies' food
Make sure other people start coming to see pups
Begin weaning
Play radio at normal volume near pups for 5 minutes at a time
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST:
Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
Week Six (Days 26-42)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Growth and development continue
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Offer soft, damp food
Chart weekly weight
Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with you away from litter
CARE OF THE MOMMY: 
Keep momma on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
Keep careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Seven (Days 43-49)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Total hearing/visual capacity
Will investigate anything
Can't respond yet to name
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up
TO DO LIST:
Week Eight (Days 50-56)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
First fear period
Starts learning name
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Don't ship puppies
Can start training puppies in small steps
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Continue as above
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Nine (Days 57-63)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Develops strong dominant and subordinate behavior among littermates
Begins to learn right behavior
Motor skills improve
Short attention span
Starts focusing attention on owner rather than other puppies
Separate littermates
Start house training
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Continue lots of individual attention

 Pregnancy and nursing puppies constitute a severe strain on the mother’s health.  Though most mothers handle the task admirably, the wise owner can take certain precautions to protect the health of both mother and puppies.
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Physical examination:  Within 48 hours after the birth, the mother and puppies should be examined by a veterinarian.

Diet:  Usually no special diet is required, but the mother will require approximately twice as much food as normal.

Fluids:  Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

Activity:  Ordinarily the mother will spend most of the first 3 weeks with her puppies.  Allow her as much exercise as she desires.

Bowel movements:  Due to increased food consumption and the enlarged uterus, your pet may have to relieve herself more frequently.  The stools may be soft for the first few days.  If diarrhea or straining develop, call the veterinarian.

Mammary gland care:  Check the nipples daily and clean with warm water if dried milk begins to accumulate.  Inform the veterinarian of any discoloration of the skin, swelling, tenderness, or sores.  Trim the puppies’ nails if they are scratching the mammary glands.

Vaginal discharge:  A reddish vaginal discharge, with clotted blood, is normal for the first few days.  This may occur intermittently for several weeks.

Behavior:  Call the veterinarian if the nursing mother appears nervous, restless or uncomfortable, or refuses to nurse the puppies.

General effects:  Normally the mother experiences heavy coat shedding during the nursing period.  Brush her regularly, and call the veterinarian if any bald spots develop.  A slight weight loss is normal, but consult the veterinarian if the mother appears overly thin.

Estrus (heat period):  Pregnancy should have no effect on the next heat period.  This period should occur within 6 months after birth of the puppies.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy):  If you desire surgical sterilization for your pet, an appointment should be scheduled after the puppies are weaned and milk production has ceased, but before the next heat period.

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