submitted with permission by Marj Brooks

with thanks to Kevin & Donna Frizzell of DeSaix St. Bernards for generously allowing us to use many of their superb array of articles

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE

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 bitch
• Rectal temperatures 94-97°
• Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
• Weight should double by end of week

CARE OF THE PUPPIES

• Examine puppies daily
• Trim nails weekly
• Keep whelping box around 85° if it's hotter than that, 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, ear, or dew claw docking, schedule this with your vet.

CARE OF THE BITCH

• 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 bitch 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 bitch eats, drinks, and relieves herself

TO DO LIST

• Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
• Keep charting bitch'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 97-99°

CARE OF THE PUPPIES

• Keep whelping box around 80°
• Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
• Trim nails weekly

CARE OF THE BITCH

• Bitch 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 giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently) 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 BITCH

• Continue as above

TO DO LIST

• Purchase milk replacer to feed puppies

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
• Uses legs well
• Tires 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 food that is the consistency of cooked oatmeal

CARE OF THE BITCH

• Continue as above

TO DO LIST

• Start limiting bitch'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 BITCH

• 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 is crucial give each puppy time with you away from litter

CARE OF THE BITCH

• To prepare bitch for weaning: Day 1 -- no food
• Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
• Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
• Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
• Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
• Keep bitch on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
• keep a 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
• Pups can go to new homes at the end of this week

CARE OF THE BITCH

• Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up

TO DO LIST

• Continue as above

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