08/29/2026
13 DAYS TO GO | Preparing for Izzy’s Litter 🐾
We are officially less than two weeks away from welcoming Izzy and Maestro’s puppies, which means our whelping preparations are well underway.
Our college son’s bedroom has temporarily been converted into a dedicated whelping and neonatal puppy room. Having a separate, quiet space allows us to better control the environment, limit unnecessary traffic, and give Izzy a comfortable place to settle in before her puppies arrive.
This week we began the deep-cleaning and setup process. The whelping box, pig rails, and surrounding fencing have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and the floors and baseboards have been cleaned so we can start with as clean of an environment as possible.
Inside the whelping area, we are creating two distinct spaces. The puppies will have a designated heated area where they can stay warm while still having room to move away from the heat when needed. The whelping box is also equipped with pig rails, which provide an additional layer of protection for newborn puppies when mom is lying down or repositioning herself.
Izzy will have her own adjoining area as well. This gives her the ability to step away from the whelping box, stretch her legs, drink water, eat, and rest while remaining right beside her puppies. Giving mom a comfortable space is just as important as preparing for the babies.
Because newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature effectively, environmental management will be a major part of our routine. We have a dedicated heater for the room, a warm-mist humidifier, and a heating pad specifically for the puppies so we can carefully manage their environment without requiring Izzy to remain in an excessively warm space.
And once the puppies arrive, this will become my bedroom too.
For approximately the first two weeks, I plan to sleep in the room beside Izzy and her puppies. Those first days are incredibly important, and having someone nearby around the clock allows us to closely monitor nursing, warmth, behavior, and Izzy’s recovery and maternal care.
Responsible breeding involves so much more than the day puppies are born. It’s the planning, health testing, preparation, education, countless loads of laundry, middle-of-the-night checks, and attention to the smallest details that happen long before and after delivery.
We’re getting closer every day, and we can’t wait to meet the next generation of River City Frenchies.
13 days and counting. 💜🐾
