Thank you! It does sound as though my breeder has gone to great lengths to keep both mom and puppies safe, and that's really all I can ask for. I feel so bad that they've had to deal with all this, and also I'm sure it's extra costs they didn't anticipate! But that's what makes a good breeder, they care for their dogs and we are so appreciative! Thank you for your input!

Wow that would be incredible if one of the other dogs took over. And if not, I know the breeders are doing a fabulous job of caring for them too.

I am also concerned about their immune systems since they will not have their mothers milk for as long as would be ideal. I called an RVT friend of mine, and she said most of the immunities come in the first couple of days through the colostrum. I hope she is right..

That's really incredible! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience...it made me feel a lot better! I actually prefer a cuddly and affectionate dog so maybe it'll work out for the better! Actually, our breeder did tell me that the mom's great grandmother had the same issue, and they had to bottle and tube feed those puppies as well, and unless she's not telling me something, she didn't say that it had any negative impact on the puppies. And I assume it didn't since they went on to breed a female from this litter, who is my puppy's grandmother=)

When my breeder wrote me the email, she said that babies were "eating like champs"....guess the name we picked out really does fit!

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When most people bring home their puppies, they have had a lot of socialization with other puppies, and not as much with a variety of people, your new puppy will be just the opposite. Since you know, that he was separated from mom early, you can make the effort to find appropriate opportunities for him to socialize with other dogs/puppies when you get him home. Hopefully, as the puppies get older, the breeder can have them interact with some of her rock solid older dogs.

The first litter I fostered, the mom would allow the puppies to nurse but took no other interest in them. The 6 puppies all went on to be service dogs, and are very people oriented.

Thank you so much for your post! I didn't even think about that...I know the breeder has several other dogs there and I am sure she will socialize the pups with her other dogs. Actually, one of her male dogs was playing with a 6 month old and the 6 month old got too mouthy and accidentally bit the other dog on the eye! Now he has an abscess on his eye! But the point is that it sounds as though he did great with a younger dog, so hopefully the breeder will put the puppies with other dogs.

We will be bringing in a dog sitter one day a week, and I just met her 1 yr old dog who is a mix. He is the most mild mannered and well behaved dog, and I am hoping that my dog will be able to look up to him to teach him some things.

Also, it's good to know about your experience as well, it does make me feel better. Thank you for sharing!

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My Basil got mastitis with her litter last summer. She was able to continue nursing as she was on "ok" antibiotics and had no surgery. The expert vet I spoke to, weans her pups at three weeks... Yikes!! I think the most important part is the pups staying together....

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

Oh okay good, thank you for the information! I know the pups are definitely staying together! Sorry to hear about your Basil!

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The pups received their immunities from their mother in the first few days following birth from her colostrum and at least from this you can be happy. With my little toy breed (with my few litters) I started them on a thin watery gruel as soon as the puppy teeth started coming through which was about 3 wks, but allowed them to nurse for short periods as the Mother dried up. At almost 3 wks the puppies should be fine, they have each other and yes many breeders will allow a "motherly" female (not the litter Mom) care and groom the litter just as the Momma would have done. She would, as all the other adults, teach the pups what is social and what is not. It is amazing how far most breeders will go to socialize orphaned litters and most pups do fantastically.

Put your trust in your breeder, and lay your concerns to rest. Bet your Breeder is pulling all her cards out to ensure the babes are being fed, loved and cared for the best she can humanly do and the litter will turn out to be healthy and very socialized to people caring for them.

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Thank you for the information! And you're right, I'm sure the breeder will be doing everything they can to ensure the puppies are well socialized given the unusual circumstances. I really glad I found such a wonderful and knowledgeable breeder!


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The important thing is the puppies are together, but you will see increasing trouble with training, as the mother is the athority figure, they learn to respond to so much as a glare from the mother, if she snaps at them, they know they have done something wrong, you will have to make up for alot of the lost opportunities

Tuco, I reserve the right to disagree. Yes in a normal litter the mother dog will socialize them but they also learn from all outside stimuli which will include more human and other dogs. Believe all adults will have an imput on the socialization of an orphaned litter and most breeders bend over backwards to insure a loving dog presence in their lives (usually a different female). Yes the early experiences for an orphaned litter is different, but just don't believe it will effect early training and the general personality of the pups at all. Nature has a way of helping and if your breeder loves and cares deeply for her babes (which most do) the pups should have no reason not to grow to be loving and well rounded pets. An experienced breeder will have the knowledge to handle socialization because usually she has faced this before in a Mother dog who might not be a good mother. She learns the steps to ensure the pups are well socialized and hopefully the bitch is not rebred.

Sure the pups are going to have a different next 5 wks, but no reason to not put your trust into your breeder that she will make up for the loss of the Mother. This is not normal, but not uncommon.

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Fair enough, I don't think it will effect them that much, just alittle in the earlier stages of training


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