Need Advice For First Time Breeder

[shmoop143]

My 1 1/2 year old female Yorkie, Roxy, is due to have her first litter. I want to know how often I should be taking her outside to get fresh air. She is pad trained and can stay indoors. But should she be free to go in and out of the whelping box or should I keep her confined there? Also I have a second dog who is a male and is her best buddy. How will he react to not having access to his best friend? Any suggestions?:

[Sugar's Mom]

i always take my pregnant gals out when I take the rest of them out. They get so big they can't run and play but they enjoy the fresh air sitting by my feet. I have a whelping box in the corner of my x-pen. I usually put her in the x-pen about four days or so before whelping time because I have six yorkies and i don't want them to play too rough. She doesn't come out after that except to potty. I use pish pads in my whelping box so about three days before due date, I place a neatly folded towel in there just so I can tell when the digging starts. Once the digging starts, she jumps in and out of the whelping box, then when she is about a day from whelping, she stays mostly in the whelping box. They just know. Now since it is your first litter, you will have to place her in the whelping box a few times but she will know that is where she is supposed to have her babies. you will be amazed at how smart they are. Good luck!!

[Yorkiekids]

I think she'd enjoy some fresh air.

[sunset yorkies]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

i always take my pregnant gals out when I take the rest of them out. They get so big they can't run and play but they enjoy the fresh air sitting by my feet. I have a whelping box in the corner of my x-pen. I usually put her in the x-pen about four days or so before whelping time because I have six yorkies and i don't want them to play too rough. She doesn't come out after that except to potty. I use pish pads in my whelping box so about three days before due date, I place a neatly folded towel in there just so I can tell when the digging starts. Once the digging starts, she jumps in and out of the whelping box, then when she is about a day from whelping, she stays mostly in the whelping box. They just know. Now since it is your first litter, you will have to place her in the whelping box a few times but she will know that is where she is supposed to have her babies. you will be amazed at how smart they are. Good luck!!

Good advise.And your right they are so smart.I couldn't get over the first litter that I had..how she knew what the box was for nad pretty much knew what to do during the birthing.