After an awful lot of bad luck and two failed attempts, it looks hopeful that my bitch is expecting the patter of at least one set of paws (I would be over the moon even with one as the average for our breed is only 2-3).

She is eight weeks gone today and is definitely showing all the signs.  She went for her second Herpes vaccination a few days ago and the vet was fairly sure she is in whelp.
Wouldn't do an ultrasound as my girl was getting all nervy being at the vets and didn't want to stress her out.  Her weight has increased from 3.4 to 4.6kg and she is showing all the signs but I don't think I will really believe it until a puppy is born.  The other day I am sure I felt movement a couple of times.  The first time it was like little fluttering movements but the second time it felt like a leg kicked my hand.  She is spending nearly all her time in the whelping box now.  I have everything ready but I wasn't expecting to feel this stressed.  I have the book of the bitch but I'm not sure it's a good idea as I keep reading of all the things that could go wrong.  After getting this close I would be so devastated if things went wrong now. 

She does seem to be changing shape and seems bigger in one place one day and then in another the next.  Is this normal? I have loads of people who I can rely on for advise but unfortunately everyone in my breed lives quite a way from me. 

It would be lovely to hear from others who have been there, done that.  Any advise welcome too - I think I'm ready but there could always be something I haven't thought of. 

Thanks

Hi Sheltpap, with you on this one as you will see in the thread single pup - no heartbeat.  My bitch is on day 62 and I too have had those little flutters, shape changes in different places so know what you mean.  If you read the thread you will see it has been a rollercoaster of a christmas with my girl who may or may not be expecting a single pup!  Fingers crossed for you and hope what both you and I have seen in our bitches is a good sign and you will soon have a pup or two.  Good luck, keep us posted with updates

N

Hi Taggabags, have been following your thread with interest and really hoping you get your puppy.  I really want this puppy(s) for the showring as it's really the only way to get anything really nice as most breeders keep anything good themselves. 

Hi Sheltpap the first thing to do is calm down and destress yourself or your girl will pick that up straight from you, all sounds like its going very well and your girl is in whelp and getting bigger by the day, you sound like you have had a good read up and are getting ready for the impending birth, all you have to do now is sit back and wait for your girl to let you know she is in labour, I take it you have increased her food to accomodate any growing whelps she has, take her for her normal walks but only if she wants to go, nothing nicer than the expectation of some lovely pups to coo over, best of luck you get something lovely to show from the litter :-)

Hello Papillon, I know I have to appear calm but it's easier than it sounds.  As this is the third (and last) attempt on this bitch, everything seems so much more important.  As for taking her for walks, it's hard enough tempting her out of the whelping box for a wee let alone anything else.  As for feeding, all she seems to do is pick at the minute.  She will only eat what she wants but I'm trying all different foods to tempt her.   Although she eats very little at a time, overall in the course of the day I suppose it would add up to a decent amount.

Hi again, I understand why you feel so stressed now :-) sounds like your doing all you can for your girl and more, some girlies want to carry on their normal life food/walks etc until the last days of their pregnancy and some want to stay in do nothing and be hand fed lol, great she is happy to go to the whelping box and stay there, with mine I have to devils job as they seem to want to give birth either on the sofa  or behind it :-D as she is well and happy enough its just carry on as normal until delivery day, if she is 8 weeks gone already it wont be long now, do let me know what she has wont you :-)

> She does seem to be changing shape and seems bigger in one place one day and then in another the next.  Is this normal? I have loads of people who I can rely on for advise but unfortunately everyone in my breed lives quite a way from me.

Please don't get stressed out as she will need you to be calm and supportive around her.  Try to think positively!  If you even have someone experienced on the other end of the phone then this will be an enormous help if needed.  You may be so surprised and everything will go well.

When my girl had her litter, her shape did change quite a lot in the last week or so.  Her abodmen looked quite lopsided (she was carrying 9).  The movements that you describe sounds normal and its quite exciting when it happens.  Try to tempt your's with smaller feeds but more often on a daily basis, as she needs to be well nourished for the coming days & weeks ahead.  I would suggest feeding her some boiled chicken/rice or white fish/rice if she has gone off her normal food.  Usually they do go off their food just before having the pups.

I would not leave her on her own from now on.  Sadly a friend lost a first born pup with a maiden bitch because she had to leave her for an hour and on her return the poor pup was dead in the garden.  Often and especially with 1st time mums they don't always remove the pups amniotic sac away from the pups mouth, and basically they suffocate.  You may need to do this yourself for her.

My girl delivered her puppies yesterday afternoon (2 dogs and 1 bitch).  All doing well although I am starting to feel somewhat tired as was up most of the night.  Don't think my bitch had read the right book though.  Just a bit of half hearted panting and digging and an hour later out popped the first one like a rocket.  Quickly followed by the rest.  All over in just over an hour.  There was I reading that the first stage of labour can take anything up to 24 hours so I thought I had plenty of time but no she had other ideas.  Absolutely delighted with them.  Just can't wait for them to grow up a bit now. 

Hello Maxine

Congratulations to you and your girl, after the previous disappointments you must be fit to burst. LOL

Joan

Thats fantastic, am delighted for you, so glad all went well and you have some gorgeous babies to watch for hours and hours, no better timewaster than new baby Pap pups :-)

Congratulations, so pleased that all went well for you, mum & pups.

One thing i found so useful with such young pups was a baby monitor with screen, which in the day time when i needed to cook etc i could still watch/hear them and at night (although they were in the same bedroom for 1st 3 weeks) it was next to my bed, and i used to catnap with one eye open most the time.

I hope that everything continues to go well for you all. x

congrats iam pleased everything went well for you and you have some pups to coo over

Congratulations!
That is good news. Good for her delivering so easily. That was lucky for her and you.
Enjoy them now.

Karen:)

Congratulations! Now you will have the wonderful part where you watch them grow day by day and notice all the little signs that make you just know they are going to turn out to be healthy, happy future champions!
All the best with them.