Canine Partners

Welcome back to our blog series on a canine partner mum’s journey, where we are sharing updates on canine partner mum Faith and her litter of puppies!

Last time we shared with you the second week of puppyhood, as the pups were weaned onto puppy food and began the early stages of socialisation as their eyes and ears started to open.

In this post, we are sharing what life is like in the third and fourth weeks of puppyhood as the litter start to get to know each other and develop their own individuality.

The third week of puppyhood

This week has brought a dramatic change in strength and mobility. As the puppies hind legs start to catch up with their front legs, they begin to totter about. This is also the point when the puppies will begin teething.

The puppies are starting to develop their individuality and will begin to interact with each other. It is fantastic to watch them begin to play!

At this stage, the front of the whelping bed is opened up and a small pen is attached. A few soft rubber toys are added into the pen along with a small, shallow bowl of pre-boiled water.

The pups will go up to three feeds this week (the food is still soaked so that it is soft, but no longer needs to be mashed up) and they will still be feeding from mum. The litter will have their first wormer this week as well.

Faith’s holder will spend time sitting in the pen with the puppies, encouraging them to climb over their legs, giving the pups lots of cuddles and encouraging the pups to interact. The puppies will also have some more visitors this week, so they get used to different people. There’s no shortage of willing volunteers!

The fourth week of puppyhood

By week four, Faith’s cute puppies are up and about and becoming very inquisitive. This week the whelping bed will come down and a pen will be put up, to allow the puppies more space to play!

A selection of play objects will be placed in the pen and rotated on a daily basis. The puppies will be much more active; they will be awake for longer periods and will understand the importance and fun of playing with one another!

Faith’s holder, along with visitors will spend a lot of time interacting, cuddling and playing with the puppies, to encourage confident interaction with humans of all shapes and sizes (and in different areas of the house). This week the puppies will also start to go outside!

As with inside, a pen is placed in the garden, so that Faith’s holder can keep an eye on them and they can’t get into any mischief! Depending on the weather the pups will start by feeding in the home and then be put into the pen so that they can go to the toilet.

The pups will be eating more this week and will go onto four feeds a day. At four weeks, this is also the point that Faith will start to come away from her puppies overnight. At this point Faith is quite happy to have some time away from her pups, especially as their baby teeth are now fully through!

Interested in fostering a canine partner mum?

We are on the lookout for more volunteers to care for a canine partner mum in their home. You will be responsible for looking after the new-born puppies until they are approximately 7 weeks old.

If this sounds like something you would like to do, or you wish to find out more, click here.​