My Current Routine

Since the puppies arrived, I've felt like a mom with a new baby; not getting enough sleep! Ah, but it’s worth it.

Since Piper had such a large litter, I’ve been pouring the groceries into her and the babies. The first few days I was supplementing most of the pups, just to make sure they’re getting enough to eat. Now, I’m down to just the littlest one. I’ve been feeding her quite a bit extra, not knowing how much she was actually nursing. Whenever I’d look in the crate and check, she would just be sleeping. So my routine the past few days has been feeding her every few hours.  My last one of the night would be about 12 or 1am.  So I’d just doze on the couch to make sure I didn’t miss it, then I’d feed  her, then go to bed. And start all over the next day between 5:30 and 6.

So Piper usually wants out first thing in the morning to potty. That would be my first feeding for the little one and I would weigh her also. Piper would come back in and I’d be done for a while.

Usually later in the morning, Piper would go back out and I would quickly do my next part. First, I put all the babies in the little dog bed I have just for them.

Then I’d pull her towel out and put a fresh one in.

Before the pups are put back in their crate, I quickly weigh each one and put them away. (I weigh the pups every day for at least the first week. That way I know if they are gaining or losing weight and I can plan accordingly.) 

Then I clean out Piper’s dishes and give her fresh water, and fill up her dry food. My mama dogs have dry puppy food and water in front of them all the time. Since Piper had such a large litter and she wasn’t eating that well at first, I’ve been giving her canned food twice a day too. It’s a great place to hide her vitamins and calcium pill, and she loves it!

After trying to quickly get all that done, Piper is more than ready to come back in. She doesn’t like to be away from them for long.

And now, I must be off; it’s time to feed the little one again.