A.    Environment

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1. Eurasier litters are to be born and raised within the family. You should choose a room of an adequate size within the house that the female is familiar with and where she will find some quiet time in the  first three weeks after the puppies are born.

2. The size of the whelping box should be a minimum 4x4 feet wide and 2 feet high. An entrance provides easy access for the female and a safety bar around the inside of the whelping box wall ensures that the puppies cannot be crushed by the mother by accident. The whelping box should be easy to  clean, should be kept clean, and the padding should be changed whenever it becomes soiled which  may be several times a day. Adjacent to the whelping box there should be a run that will provide a respectable amount of room for the litter. The female needs a place to retreat (like a shelf on the top of the whelping box or a raised surface within the run) from where she can still supervise her pups but stay outside of their reach. Care must be taken to ensure that a raised platform will not fall onto the puppies.

3. The room must be dry, clean, and free of any parasites and hazards. The ideal room temperature lies between 68 to 70 degrees. It must be possible to heat the room if needed. Natural light must be available.

4. In an ideal situation, the room should have direct access to the outside play area. The outside area should have a minimum of 50 square meters for an average litter of 6 puppies. The area should be secure, clean of debris, and free of any hazard to the puppies. It should have different surfaces such as grass, natural ground, trees and rocks and should also include toys and different items to stimulate the puppies' senses and their curiosity.

5. Two weeks prior to the due date, the female needs to be introduced to the whelping box and the location of it. At the first signs of labor the female is to be watched closely and not to be left alone. The veterinarian caring for the female during her pregnancy should be informed when labor starts so that arrangements can be made to see and/or assist the female, should it become necessary. Plans and arrangements should be made with the veterinarian in advance. An action plan should be developed in case the female experiences any trouble during labor. A female should be immediately taken to a veterinarian upon showing any signs of distress.

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B.    Health Care

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1. The puppies should be weighed and identified after birth. Weighing should be continued daily for at least the first three weeks so that a healthy weight gain of the puppies can be monitored. A veterinarian should examine both the litter and mother within 24 hours of birth. If the veterinarian makes house calls, it is preferred to have the vet visit rather than taking newborn pups to a veterinary clinic.

2. The puppies must receive an examination by a veterinarian at the time of their first immunizations, which should be at around 8 weeks of age. They must be de-wormed (a veterinarian should be consulted for specific worming instructions) and permanently identified with a tattoo or microchip. Puppies will stay with  their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old.

3. The breeder will provide the new owner with the sales contract, the certificate of vaccination and any documents on the permanent identification if available. The new owner will be made aware of the vaccination protocol.

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C.    Food and Water

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1. The nutrition of the female and the puppies should be adapted to their needs and age.

2. Clean, fresh water must be available to the mother and puppies at all times, and must be changed frequently.

3. Information concerning the current feeding plan of the puppies needs to be given by the breeder to new owners, and enough food should be provided for the first couple of days to make the transition to the new home easier. Some breeders also provide toys or a towel that carries the scent of the mother, but this is an optional choice.

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D.    Socialization

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1. The female must be allowed to have contact with her litter at all times as this is essential for a healthy development of the puppies. Also of great importance is human contact, affection and stimulation from the first day on.

2. Daily playtime with the puppies after they reached the age of 5 weeks is essential to ensure a healthy mental and physical development. At the age of 4-6 weeks, the puppies should be exposed to children, strangers, and introduced to other animals, noises, scents, and daily situations.

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All breeders should strive to at least meet these minimum requirements and ensure that their puppies are raised under the very best circumstances. Additional resource materials are available from the USEC upon request of an interested member.

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This policy was adopted by the United States Eurasier Club, Inc.'s Board of Directors

on this 29th day of April, 2006.

Amended on February 16, 2016

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