to those of you who have bred.. can you help me out?

well the time is near, daph is in season, and she is being mated this time... ive read everything i possibly can (still reading stuff too ) and I'm thinking about how I'm going to do things, so i thought i would turn to the breeders on here who know what they are doing.

first question:
do any of you give your bitches supplements through their pregnancy? i see things on the internet, but does a bitch actually need them? what do you do?

second question:
rearing puppies onto raw... i dont know whether to do this or not? i want to, because mine are fed raw, and i would like it to carry on that way... but im nervous they wouldnt get everything they needed? should i wean them onto part raw part complete, or rear them on something like natural instinct so i know its complete?

third question:
if you do think i should rear the puppies onto a complete dog food, which food would you recommend?

fourth question:
where do you keep your puppies? i thought about keeping mine in my room (quiet place) while they are small, and then when they open their eyes and start moving about, bring them downstairs where they can get used to household noises etc.

fifth question:
what should i put in my puppy pack? i have an idea of what i want in it. just nice to hear other people's ideas.

there may have been more but i cant remember them right now thanks in advance

I haven't bred but the only thing I wanted to ask was, have you thought about who might adopt your puppies? Have you had anyone ask?

Just because, whoever adopts your pups, they will choose what the pups eat when they go home. Might be easier to feed one or 'tother depending on what they think about RAW?

Thats just my thoughts though! Good luck

all of the puppies have homes (well they do, unless i end up with someone backing out, but i dont think they will)

well i thought about it because ive helped rear 3 litters of flatcoats and they have been weaned on to raw (natural instinct) and the new owners have carried this on. there are a few from the last litter, who have now switched them over to dog food, which i suppose is their choice....

Well, being a RAW feeder myself, I would have loved to get my puppy brought up on RAW

Perhaps you could print out some info on a balenced RAW diet for the new mummies and daddies to have when they first visit or take home the pups? As well as a supplier you use, and suggested books?

Or maybe I am too thorough....

no it sounds a good idea....

i could wean them onto natural instinct as that's complete so they wouldnt have to worry about balance.

i could do a diet plan sheet... its quite simple how i feed mine... 5 bone meal a week, 2 fish, 2 offal, the rest is either a mince or tripe....

And if you write where you get your things (supermarket, butcher etc) and the current prices they can see how easy and cheap it can be

first question:
do any of you give your bitches supplements through their pregnancy? i see things on the internet, but does a bitch actually need them? what do you do?

No, but I feed a good quality complete food, and change to puppy version at 6 weeks (I feed fish4dogs). As you feed raw I see no need to supplement with anything- but im not 'up' on raw feeding.

second question:
rearing puppies onto raw... i dont know whether to do this or not? i want to, because mine are fed raw, and i would like it to carry on that way... but im nervous they wouldnt get everything they needed? should i wean them onto part raw part complete, or rear them on something like natural instinct so i know its complete?
My litter at the moment are fed part raw part complete, mainly because for one I dont feed 100% raw to my adults and also puppy buyers may not want to feed raw, in which case it is good that the pups are used to a mixture then new owners can choose how/what they want to feed.

third question:
if you do think i should rear the puppies onto a complete dog food, which food would you recommend?
I use fish4dogs puppy and cannot rate it highly enough

fourth question:
where do you keep your puppies? i thought about keeping mine in my room (quiet place) while they are small, and then when they open their eyes and start moving about, bring them downstairs where they can get used to household noises etc.
Mine are in the lounge, having them born upstairs was just not practical as it would have meant spending all my time upstairs as I like to keep an eye on things to make sure they dont get squashed etc. They were born in a wooden whelping box and are now almost 5 weeks and still in my lounge but in a puppy pen (I may have a nervous breakdown before they leave )

fifth question:
what should i put in my puppy pack? i have an idea of what i want in it. just nice to hear other people's ideas.
I am sending the usual breeder pack and small amount of food from fish4dogs, sales contract, diet sheet, registration docs, small toy (tuggy) small blanket smelling of littermates

thanks for that... the only reason i thought about having them in my bedroom is because they are small enough to have in there, and i spend a lot of time in my room anyway

what do you do about the other dogs being around the puppies?

Surely daph`s and your studs breeder will be mentoring you on all you need to know? they will be experienced in this, and will be able to help you with al your worries, apart from the raw (I guess) if they don't feed themselves.

Where you keep them will be down to the other dogs in the home, if you cam keep them away from daph and her babies for the first few weeks.

Do you really want them in your room though??

Only thing I wonder is if it would be better for the pups to be in the kitchen or simular.... you dont ALWAYS or MOSTLY want a person around them.... I know its good for them to be socialised, but when they are adopted, they also need to be secure in being alone (ie, without human company) and also, the new puppy owners might not have the puppy to sleep with them in the bedroom.....?