What has gone on in your puppy's life while still here with me?
I bring the momma dog in the house a week to ten days before her puppies are due. She gets used to her whelping crate and in the routine of going out in my yard to use the bathroom. I am with her during the delivery of her puppies, sometimes just to keep her calm. I hold the puppies soon after they are born and like any new mother I count toes and I also clear out their noses so they can breathe better. Sometimes the mommas don't want to have their babies with them while still giving birth to more puppies. So I always keep a box handy with a heat pad and towels and can put them in there until she is finished and ready to lick on them and feed them.
I start the puppy stimulation the day after they are born while momma is outside getting some exercise. I spend an increasing amount of time with them as they as get older. The mommas start weaning their puppies at about 4 weeks. She will spend time feeding and cleaning them, then move to other side of the pen until time for them to eat again.
At six weeks momma goes back to her outside pen and the babies are all mine. I make sure they are eating and drinking well and that's when they get to start spending more time outside the pen exploring my house.
When my grandchildren come to visit during this time the puppies are all taken out and played with. They love having new puppies!!
Below is a slide show of how I do puppy stimulation. I do this at least twice a day. The puppies are held with their head down for about 5 seconds then held upright for the same time. This is when I hear my mother's voice in my head, saying "get that puppy out of your face." Because I can't resist snuggling with them. There are few things I enjoy more than the feel of a puppy on my cheek, they start responding with little puppy licks very soon. I give a little squeeze to each foot so that trimming toenails as they get older will be easier. Then there is a little tug to each ear and their tail. I do this so if they go to child's home the treatment they may receive will not be alarming to them. They are used to hearing a vacuum sweeper, refrigerator and dishwasher running. They hear telephones ring and the sound of people talking.