Newborn puppies lack the strength to move away from a heat source and can easily become overheated. If you are using heat lamps, be sure to monitor the temperature with a thermometer. Keep the ambient temperature in the whelping box at around 85-90ºF (29-32ºC) during the first few days.(For more details, see the Client Education Handout Breeding for Pet Owners #6 - Rearing the Puppies and Care of the Mother).nce your pet has finished whelping, try gently moving her and new family to your chosen place. If your pet insists on being near you with her puppies, allow her. A whelping or nesting box in a quiet corner of the living room is preferable to an anxious mother constantly leaving her puppies.