Puppies going to new homes - mum is bereft

[Duvet]

Hi, my lurcher's first litter of 9 puppies are now starting to head off to new homes. The first left on Thursday but Mum is still searching the house for him and is tightly curled up in a ball when not outside for walks (when she seems her normal playful self - she is also still eating!).

Any tips on how to get the rest (except our "keeper") away without having a distraught mum?? I had no problems with her mother - who seemed relieved to wave off the pups.

thanks in advance

Duvet

 

[gypsysmum]

Perhaps start getting her to come away from the remaining pups more and more? If she could cope, perhaps she could sleep somewhere else? Or move the pups to a new place and let her sleep in her old place? Persuade her to be separate from them as much as you can with offers of treats and playtime on her own.

Sounds like she is a good mum. Just needs more confidence that they will be fine if she leaves them for short periods.

 

[Raven oaktree]

heartbreaking . How old are the pups

 

[dogmatize]

We had a whippet bitch like this. We let the puppies go one at a time so she didn't lose them too quickly. Whenever the new owners came for their puppy we made sure that the bitch was well out of ear shot. We would take her out to the garden for a wander on her own and distract her until the puppy had gone. We never let her see them go. Whenever the vet visited she used to frisk her and wouldn't let her get past to leave until she showed her her hands to prove she hadn't stolen any. Keeping one will definitely be a help to her.