Registered: Dec 2003
Location: napoleon, ohio
Posts: 744

I have probably raised 6 or 7 litters over the last 15 years and always in search of more info and techniques on raising pups. This said I just had a litter born this morning and the mother layed on and smashed 2 pups and ate two others with all that was left is their heads, now this gyp has whelped two prior litters at my buddies house always raising 5-6 pups and never eating one!!! I gave her some oxytocin 2 hours ago and she is running around her kennel barking like nothing ever happened. Im so baffled by this it has left me searching for answers.

What I have is a 4'x3' whelping box with bumpers, heat pad and heat lamp.

- could my whelping box be too small?

- did moving her to my house to whelp cause this?

- did mother nature take care of pups that werent healthy?

- keep in mind she is running around happy and healthy as could be right now like she didnt just kill a litter of pups and is not stressed or acting like a pup is stuck.

Could I see what you breeders use for whelping boxes??

Many years ago my neighbors mutt got bred by a stray dog and whelped a litter of 5 in a 3 sided dog house with no straw in the dead of northern Ohio winter and raised every dang one of them!!!! I just dont get it😕

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Nick sorry to hear this. I had a litter about 6 weeks ago and I went with the blue plastic pools everyone has been using. Best thing I ever did in my opinion. Now I know we have different weather conditions so that may make a difference.
My female had 7 and one was dead the first morning and I felt that had to be something with the pup.

I would say that mother nature had a hand is removing perhaps a couple of those pups. Not sure about the ones you said she laid on. Only her history with pups can tell you that.
I know some moms are great and some can be a handful.

Sorry to hear about this and maybe someone can give you more insight. I know one thing most of my pups are born in the summer and it is hot but I have worried more about the cold with these pups more than I ever did any heat and I don't see how you guys do it up North as my cold is only in the 40's

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: napoleon, ohio
Posts: 744

Bruce it was 40 last night and I was hunting in a long sleeved t-shirt lol

Thanks for your input, the pool thing has caught my eye as well! Look forward to working with you on some stuff for B&T days again this year

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