In two weeks, my next litter of Bull Terrier puppies will be making their big debut, and I am starting to get excited. Miki, my pregnant dog, is doing great. She’s being a bit of a diva about eating, so I’m feeding her by hand, but whatever it takes. She is still happy to go for walks at the farm, and her weight is looking like she is gaining just the right amount.
I’ve started preparing for her to give birth. A lot of care and devotion to the puppies and the mom is coming my way. I like to have everything I might possibly need here in the house, just in case. I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
In a quiet room, I set up a whelping box, which is where the puppies will live for about two to three weeks before their eyes open. It is a big, sturdy box with a removable entry/exit. That way, the puppies’ mom can get in and out easily, but the entrance can still be blocked to prevent the puppies from climbing out once they start to move around. To keep everything clean, I put down a waterproof carpet and lined the inside of the box with washable hospital pads. Since puppies are not able to regulate their body temperatures at birth, I placed a heating pad in one corner of the box. If the puppies want heat, they can crawl to it, but it prevents their mom from getting overheated.
I also used this time before my dog’s due date to plan for worst-case scenarios. A veterinarian discussed with me the possibility of the puppies getting stuck during the birthing process due to Miki’s particular anatomy. Since I live nearly an hour away from the nearest animal emergency room, I decided to take the veterinarian’s advice to have Miki deliver her babies in a planned cesarean section. As a result, I won’t be needing any of the usual supplies for delivering puppies at home. While I would have loved for Miki to give birth naturally, the thought of rushing to an ER about an hour away at 3 a.m. with stuck puppies scares me. I am still stocking up on milk replacement supplies, just in case the puppies need to be bottlefed. Other supplies I’m checking off my checklist include a scale and notebook for tracking the puppies’ weight as they grow. Things are starting to get real!
Meanwhile, I’m keeping Miki well-fed and relaxed. She’ll be getting plenty of belly pets over the next two weeks. It is always exciting when the puppies start to wiggle around and kick.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
