Whelping

(Whelping = Delivery of the Puppies)

OK, so now you know your girl is pregnant. Pretty exciting, but scary if you're not an experienced breeder. If you've never had a litter of Pugs you're probably thinking, "Scary!"
Pugs are pretty easy to get pregnant, and some are terrific moms, but that's the exception, NOT the rule!!!

You must be prepared to do it all, including opening the sacks when they're born, cutting the cords, and even holding your mom still long enough so her pups can nurse. You MUST be prepared and ready to step in and assist, or be willing to allow the babies to die.

This is the stuff no one has told you about when you thought having puppies was just putting two dogs together and letting nature take its course.. 

It's not easy being a breeder. If you're not emotionally prepared to live with the consequences of losing mom and/or her babies, DO NOT BREED your girl!!!

Hopefully, if you've read this far, you're dedicated to doing all you can to ensure the health of mom and pups. So, how do you prepare for an upcoming Pug litter? DO NOT, under any circumstances, breed your girl, unless you're prepared to spend 24 x 7 with her from one week before her due date, until her babies are three weeks old!  

If you leave her unattended, and she whelps alone, you can return to find dead pups. Newborns will still be in their sacks.

Puppies without a good mom, either get chilled, dehydrated, or mom will lay on and suffocate them.  Not on purpose, but because she doesn't quite know what to make of these strange alien creatures. I've only had one puppy in almost 20 years, that mom delivered and got going (opened the sack and got it breathing) without my help.

Find a breeder/mentor to teach you all the things you may need to know.  I can try to describe it all, but there's no way I can teach you on paper (or a web site) what you might have to do, unless you're at least familiar with the birth process. I can provide pictures and/or video, but there's nothing like hands-on experience to give you the best instruction.

Find a mentor! Ask to assist at an upcoming whelping. It could mean the difference in saving the life of a future puppy of your own, if you can watch and learn!

Make sure you know what you're doing, or you have someone available to help, BEFORE you breed your girl.

Whelping & Newborn Care Services 

You can sometimes find an experienced person to hire for the whelpng and/or to care for newborn pups.

Ask you veterinarian for a referral if you think you'd rather use this kind of service than try on your own.