Inside the Puppy Pen • Day 2

These first couple of days are very much eyes on, hands off.

We are with them around the clock, watching closely, making sure each puppy is nursing well and that mom is doing her job comfortably. But during this stage, we keep handling to a minimum. No holding or passing puppies around just yet, just light, intentional touch when needed.

Right now, mom does the majority of the work. She is regulating their temperature, stimulating them, feeding them, and keeping them clean. Our role is simply to support her and quietly monitor that everything is progressing as it should.

You may notice mom panting quite a bit, and that is completely normal after birth. Her body is still working hard as her uterus contracts back down, her hormones shift, and her milk continues to come in. Panting is a very common part of that recovery process, especially in these first few days.

It is a slower, quieter phase, but such an important one as these little lives get their start.

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