Well, Whelp!!

I was asked by a good friend to assist with whelping tasks.  Me.  I’ve never seen puppies being born nor do I have any idea what to do.   I had no idea what I was getting into.

The actual birth is amazing.   So much instinct from the mama dog to know what they have to do.  While the humans rush to take the placenta, the mama wants to do it; the humans rush to tie off and cut the cord, use the bulb syringe to suck mucus out of the mouth and nose, and rub, rub, rub to get that first precious yelp mama is still there waiting.   Weight recorded often had mama’s nose trying to get in the way, wanting what she knew was her baby.

Oh and the scream of the little one!  Great lungs as they take their real first breaths and enter this new world.  I was surprised at the volume of the first screams.  I didn’t expect it to be so loud!

Then the first latching on.  The humans help the pup to find the right milk dispenser and nature takes over again.  Pup is nourished, mama licking and nuzzling.

Truly incredible.

What is also incredible and inspiring is to watch the efficiency and timing of the humans.  My friend and daughter were like a surgical team, one assisting to get the pup, one clearing away the placenta while the other holds and begins the mucus clearing, one holds while one ties off the cord and cuts, one weighs.   That was my job – I noted the time, color, sex and weight.  Yup.  I watched and learned but truly knew I was way out of my league.

To all the breeders and those helping litters whelp my hat is off to you. 

To mama dogs everywhere, I am in awe of your natural instincts and trust.