Responsible dog breeding takes a lot of time and energy–but the rewards can be well worth the effort. <\/span><\/p>\n You don’t need <\/span> to get started–just a breeding female dog and a love of animals. If you can’t get enough of spending time with canines–and you’re looking to start making some money off that passion–breeding puppies could be the perfect job for you. <\/span><\/p>\n But for a first-time breeder, it’s important that you know how to handle your new litter. Breeding and caring for puppies might be rewarding–but it’s time-consuming, labor intensive, and sometimes even heartbreaking. <\/span><\/p>\n It takes a lot of planning and commitment to make sure your new puppies grow up healthy and strong. <\/span><\/p>\n As soon as the puppies start to arrive, it’s time to start caring for the newborn babies–and getting them ready to sell. Check out our guide to help you master the art of raising a puppy to sell.<\/span><\/p>\n Before the puppies are born, it’s crucial that you have a long-term breeding plan. <\/span><\/p>\n How are you going to care for the puppies? What do they need to grow up healthy and well mannered? When are they ready to sell? <\/span><\/p>\n Here is a first time dog owner guide to help you handle every step of the process–from raising the puppies to sending them off to their new home.<\/span><\/p>\n When the puppies first emerge into the world, they’re nearly helpless without their mother. Weak, blind, and barely able to crawl, they’ll need a lot of support in the first few weeks. <\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few tips to help you guide them through this crucial time in their development.<\/span><\/p>\n A newborn puppy can’t <\/span>regulate its own temperature<\/span><\/a>, so it must be kept in a warm environment. If the temperature is too low, the puppy could be exposed to diseases. If it’s too warm, the puppy might die. <\/span><\/p>\n The ideal temperature is between 85 and 90 degrees for the first five days. In the next few days, you can gradually take the temperature down to 80 degrees. By the end of their first month, you can bring it down to 75 degrees. <\/span><\/p>\n Keep the mother and the puppies in a shallow box lined with newspaper or another type of bedding. Use a heating pad or a heat lamp to control the temperature–but make sure the puppies have a cooler place to crawl to if they become too warm.<\/span><\/p>\n Every puppy needs to drink its mother’s milk as soon as possible after birth. Not only does the milk sustain them, but it also contains nutrients that protect newborns from contracting diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n Some litters will have a puppy that’s smaller or weaker than the rest–the runt of the litter. If you notice that a puppy is pushed away from the teat and doesn’t seem to be getting enough milk, it’s safe for you to intervene. <\/span><\/p>\n Try positioning the puppy at a teat to encourage it to drink, and don’t let the other puppies push it away. If necessary, you can hand feed that puppy with formula instead.<\/span><\/p>\n If you find yourself with a litter of puppies–or just one–without a mother, you’ll have to step in yourself. Sometimes a mother might die, get sick, or simply refuse to take care of the puppies.<\/span><\/p>\n Hand-feed the puppies with a bottle. Don’t try to substitute with other types of milk–find a dog milk formula. Start with a small amount and slowly increase as the puppy gets used to hand feeding.<\/span><\/p>\n You’ll also have to massage the dog with a warm, wet towel. This stimulates their body to help them breathe, move, and defecate. Normally, the mother would do this by licking the newborn with her tongue.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you hit the four-week mark with your puppies, it’s time to start weaning them from their mother and getting them socialized.<\/span><\/p>\n One way to get the puppy adjusted to solid food is by offering them a bowl or shallow pan of dog milk formula. As they get used to drinking out of the pan, start mixing in wet dog food or presoaked dry food into the formula.<\/span><\/p>\n Then you can slowly start decreasing the amount of formula until the dogs are eating solid food. If they aren’t drinking the formula out of the pan or eating the dog food, you can try smearing it around their nose and mouth. <\/span><\/p>\n Make sure you do this process very slowly–over the course of several weeks. Puppies have sensitive digestive systems and they need time to adjust to solid food.<\/span><\/p>\n At four weeks, all the dogs should have their eyes open and be able to run, walk, and play. By the time they hit six weeks, they should be fully weaned.<\/span><\/p>\n If you’re preparing your puppies to be sold when they are older, it’s important that you start socialization early. <\/span><\/p>\nA New Breeder’s Guide to Raising a Puppy<\/b><\/h2>\n
Right After Birth<\/b><\/h3>\n
Temperature<\/b><\/h4>\n
Nursing<\/b><\/h4>\n
Orphans<\/b><\/h4>\n
After Four Weeks<\/b><\/h3>\n
Weaning<\/b><\/h4>\n
Socialization<\/b><\/h4>\n