I know every mama is different, human and doggy alike! But am having such a different time with Lily.

Shes always been 'daft as a brush' not in any serious way (!) just ditzy and slower than Poppy, but Poppy is very clever.

Lily just doesn't seem to be taking to motherhood as naturally as Poppy did.

She doesn't seem to know how to feed them, when they cry she looks bewildered, she just stands all over them - its like she doesn't see them even when they yelp.
When Pops pups wandered off the heat mat at night she would go and get them, Lily just watctches them crying in the corner and leaves them, she even seems to spread out herself on the mat .... my husband said its like the only reason she WANTS to go in there is to lie on the warm mat herself and its true!

she licks them but does't clean their bottoms, the box gets very dirty very quickly as she makes no effort to clean up after the pups, Poppy still cleans up after her 6 week pups!

Am just wondering if anyone has any advice on how I can help her??

We used to just leave Poppy in with her pups at night but we can't do that with Lil and so the pups cry as soon as she leaves, but we have to take her out when we sleep as she just lies bang on top of them.

Could I possibly put Poppy in with them overnight? Even if its just for warmth./comfort? don't know if she would feed them?

Any advice wold be really appreciated x

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2 pugs Poppy-Mae and Lily-Lou and CKCS Daisy-Boo

Definately dont put Poppy in with them, thats not fair to Lily and Poppy has her own pups to look after which will be taking a lot out of her.

As im sure you will know from your research before breeding, pugs generally are not good mothers. An attentive mum is rather unusual with pugs so you got lucky with Poppy, you really should have been prepared for Lily's behaviour as this is perfectly normal. Some get the hang of it after a few days, some never work it out.

You need to be stimulating them to pee and poo and cleaning them afterwards. You need to be helping them feed (she should be happy enough to let you put them on her to feed) and you should be the one making sure they are getting regular feeds from mum around the clock and you need to change the bedding several times a day. You should also be watching them 24/7 to make sure mum doesnt lie on them or dig them (a friend lost several pups from mum digging through the bedding AND puppies!) and to put them back on the heat mat. With our litters me and my mum do shifts, one watches the pups while the other sleeps so they always have someone watching them, you should be doing this for at least the first couple of weeks.

Pugs are not an easy dog to breed and a lot of people dont appreciate the work that goes into it. I hope you're prepared for an awful lot of sleepless nights!

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Dogs: Riley, Maya, Delilah, DeeDee, Susie & Evie the Chi
Cats: Dylan (who is a GIRL! ), Oliver and Molly
Parrots: Summer, CJ, Ziva, James and Sweet Pea
Horses: Charlie and Una
Reptiles: Stanley the Iguana

You will have to take over and hope that Lily catches on eventually.

I'm not sure if there are any studies on this, but having two bitches in the same house can be really difficult. I've heard a few times that one will usually be the alpha bitch (this tends to be the one that births first), and the other does NOT feel comfortable whelping puppies on the other bitch's terrain. If that makes sense?

I would keep Poppy & her pups away from Lily and her litter. Jess gave very appropriate advice.

agreed with above realy, how long are you taking mum away from pups at night? i wouldnt let poppy in with them as it could make lily regect them even more, maybe lilys just still sore after the c section so might be taking a bit longer for her to settle with them, our girl is a great mum however does sometimes set off digging in the bed and a few times has burried pups under the bedding, so always got to be on watch

Wow, didnt realise pugs could be so difficult!

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We are doing everything, we took over from day one hoping she will start to do the things herself but she hasn't.

we haven't just watched her struggle.
Am in pieces have lost a pup, the c-section boy, he was never 'right' and he never seemed to get properly warm or be active he was sort of 'limp' from coming home, gave him drops etc... extra feeds, just don't think he was emant to be

DH is really, really upset this is the 4th pup now, 2 cleft palets, one died inside her and now theboy we brought home
others are happy and active

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2 pugs Poppy-Mae and Lily-Lou and CKCS Daisy-Boo

How many pups does she have left? Sadly pug pups are very vulnerable for the first few days, its not uncommon to lose one (or more) within the first week. Its sad, but you have to put it out of you mind and concentrate on the remaining pups and Lily.

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Dogs: Riley, Maya, Delilah, DeeDee, Susie & Evie the Chi
Cats: Dylan (who is a GIRL! ), Oliver and Molly
Parrots: Summer, CJ, Ziva, James and Sweet Pea
Horses: Charlie and Una
Reptiles: Stanley the Iguana

sorry to hear you have lost one, its not easy is it. Like jess me and mum do shift work - keeping a eye on mum and pups 24/7 just making sure all is well. Have you had a vet check of the puppies after birth? Just if mum is not interested I would want to make sure its just her lack on instinct and not something up with the puppies themselves.

we had a litter just over six weeks ago and lost 5 out of 6 puppies to FP. The remaining pup has been hand feed, stimulated ect by us from day one..It has been such hard work, - its paying off now though - even experience breeders have problems - sadly breeding isnt text book.

You can only do your best, stay at it and things will improve!

The other pups are very 'normal' very active, squeaking, moving about, the one that passed had been lathargic from the start. they were seen by the vet yes after birth as she had to go in after 4th for section

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2 pugs Poppy-Mae and Lily-Lou and CKCS Daisy-Boo

Are they squeaking and moving a lot? Cos thats usually a sign that they are hungry or unhappy. I've found my pug litters to be very quiet for the first couple of weeks, as long as they are well fed they generally should just sleep. Maybe try them on a few more feeds.

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Dogs: Riley, Maya, Delilah, DeeDee, Susie & Evie the Chi
Cats: Dylan (who is a GIRL! ), Oliver and Molly
Parrots: Summer, CJ, Ziva, James and Sweet Pea
Horses: Charlie and Una
Reptiles: Stanley the Iguana