April 6th, 2011
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Get a hot water bottle or a microwaveable hot pack that you can wrap in a towel and put it into the crate with your puppy at night, to soothe him during the first week that he is away from his mother and the rest of the litter.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
I am the director of training for a service dog guide dog program. We raise a number of puppies each year. Normally the advice is good but this is not.
It is true puppies need to be kept warmer than adults but to put a warm rubber hot water bottle or the warm gel pack only invites a problem. Most puppies with sharp little teeth with create a leak in both the gel pack and water bottle creating a mess. Also even if they don’t how long will the warmth last? A better answer is to place the crate on a blanket if it is a plastic one or a blanket or towel under the tray of a wire crate.
Our advice is nothing should go into the crate. The warmth created by the blanket under the crate or tray will retain heat better than a water bottle. Little puppies are crate training and the last thing you want is a wet puppy.
I put a fairly thin folded comforter and a large cuddly stuffed animal in the crate with both of my puppies and they were very comfortable at night never heard a whine. Also it is important to have a crate that is small enough for the puppy. I have one that is divided so that it can be expanded as the dog grows. This works like a charm.
p.s. feed your puppies raw food there are several on the market it will save you on vet bills down the road.
Would like to know more information from one of the comments from Kalohoa Miller feeding your puppies raw food can you recommend some
That’s really a great idea… I never thought about that
Thank you very much.
What’s a great bedding for dogs?