The whelping crate has a grate in the bottom so I am able to tuck a towel around it and lay it back down in the crate so mom doesn't mess up the bed with her digging and scratching. So while the babies are out I change the towel and check that her food and water are full.
Then it's time to weigh each puppy and record it's weight for the day. Babies' weights, color and markings are recorded at birth so we can keep track of each one and know they are gaining and getting enough to eat. This litter started out with weights anywhere between 5.7 ounces on up to 8.1 ounces. Here we are on day three and they are already between 7.6 ounces and 10.4 ounces. (If we had one or two that were teeny tiny at birth or were not gaining we would supplement them as long as needed.) Belle has done wonderful with this large litter. They all seemed to latch on and nurse well from the start and are putting on the weight!
After the puppies are all weighed and they each get loved on and looked over, it's back into the crate.
By now mom is ready to come back in. And in she goes to make sure they're all there! The babies wake up when mom comes in the crate and immediately start looking for breakfast!
Hope you enjoyed a look at our little morning routine!
