Hi advice needed! My bitch holly is due any time from yesterday to Friday tonight she has been panting heavily and shaking. She stops for about 20minutes then starts agiain she is also nesting like crazy and wanting to be on my bed or under it then she gies bk to whelping box.  When she isnt panting or shaking she praticaly falls asleep unlike me who's been up all night lol ( now 7am) she started this behaviour around midnight and don't believe waters have broken yet!! I know bitches can shiver pant and nest before whelping bur how long before n how long does it normally last?? She doesn't seem to want to strain yet. Any advice would be great this is my first litter n I'm a worrier and thinking of taking het to the vets to have her checked? Ta!

Welcome to dog breeding, fun isnt it?? I have had girls in the past have long labours, I recall one went on for 48 hours. Just make sure she has not started any contractions, normally once the contractions start, it wont be long before puppies start being born. If all she is doing is panting and nesting then this is all normal behaviour for a bitch ready to whelp. At this stage if she needs to go outside take a torch if its dark and  put her lead on as  if you have any bushes in your garden she will probably try and make a beeline for them if she is close.  If at any time you feel things have not progressed as they should then it wont hurt to call your vet, even if its just for a bit of advice. Did you get the Book of the bitch?  

Hi! Ye first time to the forum! She's gone to sleep now which she has been for the last hour? Is this normal too?yes I got a breed book and various breeding/ whelping books but I would just like to hear from real people with real experiences- I wAs worried about her panting n shivering all nigt now I'm worried about her being asleep for the last hour! When she has been restless panting n shivering all night! Lol

Have you got a mentor, maybe your bitch's breeder, who can help you through this?  Do you also have Book of the Bitch?  Both are essential for a novice breeder although books alone are no substitute for experience .......

hi my bitches normaly go through the panting, shivering, and then sleeping stage for about 12  --  24 hours before they give birth,  what is happening with your girl sound perfectly normal to me and i am sure the pups will be here in just a few hours.
on the other hand if your girl starts contracting and keeps this up for more than 1  --2  hours without any pups being born then i would contact your vet immediately.

just try to stay calm if you panic and get stressed it wont help her at all.

good luck and keep us informed

her sleeping is calm before the strom so to speak :) she sounds fine from what youve said ...but like whats been siad any pushing down like shes wanting a poo for longer then 1h ring vets ...goood luck not be to long now x

I have had them go like this for 24 hours or more, others miss this out and go straight to whelping.

All sounds pretty normal so far...

Would just add that if she has any green discharge before any puppies are born, this is time to head straight to the vets...

Good luck to you both, I look forward to hearing all about it later!

Hi all thanks for the advice! I have had a vet check her out an hour ago all is perfectly well she's stil got a way to go before contractions he believes. She is calm again now after having another shaking and panting episode. I did have a breeding mentor but she isn't responding to any calls or texts in last 24hours?! I have done research myself but always good to have advice and reassurance when your the only one with the bitch in the house! Lol I'm alot calmer now she's been checked too! Lol I will keep u updated thanks!! 

I can remember my first whelping, boy was I scared, I had my mentor on the phone for most of the time, every pant, every shiver and when she went into the deep sleeps I panicked!  Then my girl started being sick, doing lots of little poo's I panicked again, but now realise it's all perfectly normal and part of the process.

Good luck, hopefully it won't be much longer.

I wouldn't have whelped my first litter without having someoen physically present.

Good luck.

My partner is due home and a friend is now here Who has whelped puppies before- not like I chose to start whelping process alone lol she is still settled. Ta for advice I'm sure I wil need more as She progresses!

Any news?

Nope not yet she's sleeping between episodes for quiet a bit now ! Waters stil not broken but all seems fine. Another night up I think! Lol

i think i was lucky , both my girls didnt go though the shaking but 1 of them did dig alot ...our last litter ,the mum just hid under our table for a day but at the time i didnt think nothing about it lol then that night she panted on and off but still nothing to make me think she was going into labour ,9.30 next morning out popped 1st pup ,so was 24h before pups came ,im sure your pups will be here late tonight :)

Ye she started panting and shivering about 2 this morning she seemed to calmed abit but when she has an episode it's horrible to watch! She's been asleep most day now ive tried to get some sleep but would rather keep  an eye on her even if she is just sleeping lol my partners home now and I'm going to try and sleep till midnight then I will take over! Lol that's the plan anyway.....lol

Good luck. Still all sound fine at the moment.

Waters have broken!! Here goes!!

Good Luck!!!!

xx

Ooh great news and good luck :) 

any news yet?

yay... this is exciting for me too lol

no sleep for you then :) ....keep us posted ....very exciting isnt it :) will be me soon "yay" xx

OHHHHH just love puppies
Good Luck
Jean x

Hi all she has had 3so far she's totally settled now though but the don't see to be able to find the nipples?!? She had a bubble coming from her back end after them 3 then she ate it from her back end I asked the vets n they just said keep eye on her but she I'd totally settled - I've tried putting the into the nipple to no avail I know it's essential they get the colostrum but how long can they go without suckling?!? Ta!

she is small breed ? move her coat away you should see them ,they will be tiny till pups get suckling ,you need to keep tryin them ...well done xx keep us posted

mine have away suckled from the start ....and any that havnt i just keep tryin them .

While you're waiting for them to suckle, make sure that they don't get chilled.  It always amazes me how cold they seem when they hit the air after being in th ewarm for so long!

Have you got a heat pad under the vetbed?  Is your bitch cleaning them and being attentive?

Hi all. They a sucking away now mum is doing brilliantly licking clean stimulating them they were all born within the hour and I'm glad she only has a smal litter for her sake as well as mine. My partner has decided to name and keep the first pup that came out as he had to assist in pullining the littlemale pup out and we both worked on bringing it back to life! She is having a tendecy to lay on them which I'm concerned about but Ive been awaake since birth n need sleep but just can't seem to stop worrying about them at every squeak they make! Mum has eaten chicken broth! Ye the have a heat mat under them   Thanks for all the help and reassurance will let u know how they get on! Xx

She is having a tendecy to lay on them which I'm concerned about
You're right to be concerned as this can be a real problem which is why most breeders sleep with their litters and don't leave them unattended at all at least until the pups have their eyes open.  A bitch can sit on a pup and break it's neck in a split second.

Ye I'm not planning on leaving them unattended I've been on the floor all night with them absolublt knackered now a it is the 2nd night but I know there's more to sleepless nights to come lol she's doing well all night

At least you have some else there to give you a break.  Take full advantage! :)

Congratulations..... 3 puppies.....

yay.... well done!!

Congratulations Chelcd to you and your girl & her 3 puppies.
Now the sleepless nights & fun starts.

I'll close this now as the new arrivals are safely here.