Before addressing the topic of “nurturing,” I would like to briefly summarize the “key” concepts reviewed in previous articles designed to facilitate the puppy’s integration into its new adoptive family, such as:
Education
Socialization in the puppy
We have seen that by law, puppies under 60 days old cannot be sold.
How to teach puppy recall and attachment bonding
Our chihuahua has finally arrived home! Joy, amazement, but also anxiety and uncertainty alternate in our minds as a thousand doubts grip us, because let’s face it, adopting a dog is a big responsibility and it is not absolved simply by a little food and a few walks.
What to do when your puppy arrives home
Starting on the 60th day of life, the puppy is “ready” to face the change and begin its new life with the adoptive family.
Birth of puppies: what to do?
Fortunately, all went well and now the mother rests in the whelping crate with the entire litter, eager for the good lukewarm mother’s milk; while the owner watches enraptured at the miracle of life.
How to prepare for the arrival of puppies
WHEREAS. the purpose of this article is not to “discourage” the owner who wishes to breed their dog, but to give correct information and make him aware, that although birth is a natural event, it can give rise to risks and remains, in any case, a big commitment and a huge responsibility towards new lives. That said, if you really feel you are ready for the happy event, it is good to know that if you want to give birth to healthy and balanced puppies, you will need to think about their well-being even before they are born. Today, therefore, we will not address issues related to selection, inbreeding and bloodlines, nor will we talk about prevention of inherited genetic disorders; since it is assumed that you have already examined them before conception itself. Pregnancy Pregnancy can be ascertained by ultrasound investigation only from day 21/25 after conception, but it will be possible to have only a rough idea of the number of pups. Gestation, which has an average duration of 61/63 days, will show no sign of itself until around week 5/6, the belly begins to round out. Around day 45 of gestation, the fetuses will begin to interact with each other and with the mother through hormonal secretions circulating in the bloodstream that vary according to the bitch’s emotional state. Any kind of stress, will result in violent uterine contractions that will affect the pups’ responsiveness, causing rotational and bottom-up movements of varying duration, depending on the intensity of the mother’s reaction. Studies conducted on this subject have found that Pups of mothers subjected to severe stress or continuous noise, will present at birth a behavior tending to the chronic stress. Therefore, it is suggested that during pregnancy, the bitch should live in a protected and stress-free environment. Of course, if the mother suffers from anxiety disorders a priori, she will have in any case, the genetic and not congenital tendency to influence the behavior of her offspring. Starting twenty days before birth, the fetus is able to sense caresses through the womb. By the way, gently stroking the mother’s tummy is very important because it allows the puppies to be stimulated, making them more tolerant to future manipulation by the owner. At the same time, the fetus begins to make sucking movements of the paw or umbilical cord; this is a behavior that it will enact, even in adulthood, to soothe emotional tensions. To be remembered. In Chihuahua, childbirth is often problematic, therefore Around and not before, 56/58th day of gestation, it would be appropriate Make an X-ray of the abdomen, to consider cesarean delivery in order to prevent any risks that might occur during delivery and result in an increased risk of mortality. I look forward to seeing you next week with the article, “Puppy Birth and the First Weeks of Life,” don’t miss it! Carla Beard Sing To The Moon Dog Center
Chihuahua pregnancy: homemade litter tips
Throughout previous articles, we have highlighted the importance of choosing where the puppy comes from, carefully weighing the pros and cons of various solutions.
When the pedigree is fake
At the request of some website users, today I would like to talk to you about a topical subject: pedigree forgery!
Where not to buy a chihuahua: lager breeders, pet stores and puppy fairs
And here we come to the last part of the article “A Chihuahua in the Family,” in which we covered such topics as:
The pros and cons of amateur breeding
Last week we explored the difference between professional and amateur breeding and highlighted the characteristics that an “ideal” breeding farm should have.