We set up the whelping box in a corner of the living room.
But three days after they were born, she started crying, especially at night. I tried sleeping on the sofa, but it didn't make any difference. The next day, I went back to sleep in my bedroom, but in the middle of the night, she started whimpering again, and then she actually brought the puppies into the bedroom to us...
I decided to move the whelping box into the bedroom to reassure her, thinking that perhaps the living room was too busy.
The problem is that the puppies are getting noisier and noisier, and my partner doesn't want them in the bedroom anymore. I've had to move them to another quiet room that doesn't get much foot traffic. But she's started crying all night again...
I really can't have her back in the bedroom, but if she keeps crying like this, my partner is going to end up putting them in a shed in the garden.
How can I calm her down and reassure her so that she accepts not being in the bedroom?
Translated from French
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It sounds like she’s used to sleeping indoors, so I wouldn't go upending everything now she’s got newborns... maybe wait and see once they're a bit bigger.
Was she used to sleeping in your bedroom before? And then she had a litter?
If that’s the case, she’s having a bit of an internal struggle. In all those stories about how to train your dog in X days, people often forget how much a sleeping spot means to an animal. If she’s always slept in the bedroom, she knows that’s where she’s supposed to be. She’s settled into that environment; it’s where she feels safe.
It’s wonderful that she’s bringing her puppies to you; it really shows the conflict. She’s thinking: ‘This isn't the place to sleep, it’s over there’ (meaning your bedroom), and since she’s definitely not going to leave her pups to fend for themselves, she’s taking them with her! (Dogs are just brilliant).
The best thing, if you can stick it out, would be to keep repeating the routine of lying in the living room until she’s asleep before heading off to your own bed.
Getting used to a new sleeping area can take a few days. And her hormones will be through the roof right now, so she’s feeling a bit more anxious than usual.
Yeah... it's not exactly the best time to be changing this dog's routine overnight. There’s no point adding more stress to an already stressful situation, especially since it could be quite harmful to the litter. You’ve just got to adapt and prioritise the well-being of the mum and her pups.
But this is a specific situation; the dog has just had puppies, she’s stressed, and she might not be used to sleeping outdoors (indoor huskies are definitely a thing too). This isn’t about who’s "top dog" or showing her who’s in charge. Even if the owners decide to force her to sleep in the shed at the bottom of the garden (because, after all, they’ve got to show her who’s boss, right?!), she’s going to be incredibly stressed. That’ll stress out the pups, and she might even end up hurting them while trying to get out, or stop nursing them altogether... Since you know Huskies well, you must realise what could happen if she’s left out there in such a state. Sure, the owners probably didn’t expect this—which is typical when you’re not a breeder and you aren't prepared for two months of sleepless nights and everything else that comes with it—but now they’ve got to step up and prioritise the dog's well-being.
Yes, Nordic, I agree with you in principle!
I originally planned on having my dog sleep outside – well, we changed our minds as soon as he arrived and he sleeps in the utility room, but with a strict ban on bedrooms and the sofa. Everyone has their own space. But I think if I suddenly put him outside or in the garage overnight, he’d howl the house down... (mind you, he stays outside when we go out in the evening).
If this dog had been used to sleeping outside from the start, I don't think it would have seemed crazy to try the garden shed.
But in this case, I'm assuming she's a husky who seems used to sleeping indoors (though the owner might come back to clarify), and with access to the bedroom to boot...!
So, what seems a bit much is creating a rift during what is already a difficult time by chucking her outside when she’s more of a couch potato than a wild husky from the plains... :-)
Wouldn't she then be more concerned about getting back into the house and her owners' bedroom than looking after her puppies...?
I reckon in a fortnight, it won't just be the man of the house who’s going to crack, but all the furniture too. I don’t know how many there are exactly, but with five or six husky pups in a back garden, you’re basically re-enacting that stampede scene from Jumanji. These dogs have no business being in a house.
So what are you suggesting then? That they go and get lost in the middle of the tundra? The mum’s still going to want to sleep with them anyway.
I’m with the others on this. When your dog expressed her desire to get pregnant and become a mum, did you think to explain that it was her choice and she had to take full responsibility? If that’s the case, she knows she has to deal with it, so just lock her in the garage with her pups or at the bottom of the garden—no negotiations. If that isn’t the case, and she essentially had this litter without having much of a say in the matter, it only seems fair that those who made the decision take responsibility. So, you and your husband sleep with the pups, and the dog can do as she pleases.
Logical.
Having a litter from your dog inevitably involves a huge amount of time, effort, and commitment for 8 to 10 weeks... (That’s why it’s a bit of a profession in itself, between you and me... :-) )
Your dog is whining because she’s anxious, overwhelmed, or needs to feel more secure.
A 'high-traffic area' is definitely not suitable.
Does she stop whining when she sleeps in your bedroom? Is it just the noise of the puppies when they move or wake up?
If she usually sleeps in your room, it seems a bit harsh to kick her out just when she probably needs the most reassurance...
I’d definitely avoid the garden shed if I could...
