I know I haven't been on this board long and I know some of you frown at breeding if inexperienced - which I am - I admit it, this being - fingers crossed my first litter.

What I would like to know is about confirming pregnancies - I have read - so many books and they all have conflicting (sort of) advice - should I go to the vets between 20-30 days and confirm if my cocker bitch - must give u all her name - Ebbie - is pregnant, by the vet having a feel. All the books agree on the time scale - but some say you should and some say you shouldn't. Also in my copy of Book of the Bitch - it mentions a pregnancy test, i'm sure i read on here somewhere that there wasn't one, well not a reliable one.

So - i would like your advice, what do you all do, when and if do you confirm pregnancy.

Ebbie had her first mating on the 4th November but didn't achieve a tie, was mated again on the 6th and did achieve a tie.

The reason I am asking - well there a 2 reasons - one - i just want to know - who wouldn't, and two - apart from the people already interested in her pups (3 including myself) i have had so many queries about it - i don't want to keep these people hanging on if she isn't pregnant.

Thanking all of you in advance

Nikki and Ebbie xxx

I usually go to the vet at 4 weeks for him to feel if the bitch is in whelp. It is just a good indicator so you know if you need to carry on planning etc :-)

Thanx Sara, and yes planning the rest of it is very important, I'm very conscious of not upsetting people though, which is why i mentioned the people interested and not all the rest.

Nikki

I have always felt myself and could tell by 4 weeks. The vet told me the best time to tell is between 4 and 6 week, you can pretty much tell how many too by then. It's harder to tell how many the further along in pregnancy she is because the pups are bigger. Do let us know, and congrat if she is :)

Hi Nikki, Without being the voice of doom, do not promise anyone (even yourself) a puppy, until they are over the first couple of weeks after birth. Hopefully everything will be rosy, but things can and do go wrong. Im sure all will be fine, but dont tempt fate.!!!Some of us on here know from hard experiences that things can go wrong.:(
As for proof of pregnancy there ARE ways to tell for certain, but normally by five weeks she will be showing definate signs anyway. Vets can scan for pups from about 28 days, but if you do decide to have her scanned do not rely on the number your vet can see.Pups often remain hidden during a scan. Wishing you all the best of luck, oh and by the way we have no objection to first time breeders:) everyone has to have a first time, its just the way some people go about it that can be aggravating.

Nikki

Good luck with Ebbie - hope all goes well for you. My advice is on handling potential puppy owners. As you may have gathered here - there are no guarantees when it comes to puppies and bithces in whelp. You hope and pray everything will go OK but you never know.

I would simply to say to all enquirers that you are expecting puppies at the beginning of January. You could take their number and tell them you'll contact them nearer the time. Any that say that's not good enough are not the kind of owner you want. Good owners, like reputable breeders will wait. You'll find some will have found other pup's anyway and those who are genuinely interested in your puppies will wait. You could take a deposit from them when you have the pregancy confirmed and return it if there aren't enough puppies. You could also use this time to check the enquirers out before you have the puppies to worry about and build yourself a shortlist of those you consider to be suitable for having a Cocker pup from you.

When the pup's are born and over those first couple of risky weeks - you can then ring around and see if the people are still wanting one of the babies.

hth

Pam n the boys

I have given up on ringing potential puppy-buyers when a litter arrives - you end up with a huge phone bill & most of them have already got a pup elsewhere (they don't tell you of course!). I ask people to ring or email me after the litter is born & take things from there - those that are genuinely interested will get in touch again. There is a big demand for Cocker pups at the moment but most people want one instantly it seems - they may book a puppy from someone or ask to go on their waiting list but if another puppy becomes available in the meantime, they will go for that puppy but won't inform the first breeder they have done so - you can waste a lot of time & money chasing after people if you do promise to ring them rather than the other way round. Most other Cocker breeders I know now ask enquirers to contact them if they are still interested when the litter is born - it sorts out the wheat from the chaff :-)

Jane

Good point Jane. I believe that if people are genuinely interested they will wait for your puppies and will be happy to get back to you when you ask them to. Sadly too many decide they want something and it has to be now. Puppies often fall into that commodity area now - such a shame. I'm very like that when it comes to gadgets and stuff - but will always wait for the right dog.

Pam n the soggy boys - it's piddling it down with rain here and is very cold:(

I have a friend involved in rescue and she finds the same thing, people are desperate for a dog but when she phones back when one becomes available they have got a dog often of a completely different breed.
Anne

Thanx for all the replies.

I haven't promised any puppies to anyone, and i have some email addies and 2 phone numbers at the mo, I have told them when i think they are due and to contact me then, most of them are willing to wait.

I know about the disasters as well, i have my fingers crossed that they won't happen, and noone will be promised anything till the pups are over 2 weeks and i have vetted and received deposits.

Thanx again, I'm sure i will have other questions.

Nikki + Ebbie xxx

<sorts out the wheat from the chaff> I love that Jane, must remeber to use it sometime !! :D