Handle with Care

Newborn puppies are palm-size! While they may be small, they sure can get around. They wiggle and squirm, making their way to their mama. How cute!

In their first couple of weeks of life, the puppies’ sense of smell is great. They know the smell of their mama and the milk she delivers. They also know the smell of their litter mates, and can hear them too. What the puppies can’t do is see. They are born with their eyes closed, and they remain that way until the puppies are around two weeks old. During this time, the breeder acts as the navigator, making sure the puppies get from point A (their box) to point B (their mama). Not only do the puppies expect to arrive in time for their feeding, the mama expects you to use your “G.P.S.” – Gloves, Proximity and Security – to get the job done.

Wearing gloves to handle the puppies is self-explanatory, yet finding them is tough in the midst of the pandemic. When the puppies are adorable, proximity – keeping other people and animals away from the puppies – can be hard, but very necessary. Finally, security is paramount. The mama deserves to feel that she and her babies are safe at all times.

What tips can you pass along to help make breeder life better?