Hi my bitch is on day 56 from her first mating & 54 from her 2nd she is acting really strange with jelly like discharge (plug?) and very restless always temp is 98 was just wondering how early peoples pups were born and survived i remember reading a thred on here but cant seem to find it    thanks Lea x

I've had 2 different bitches start on day 58 and give birth on day 59.

My toy breeds often go just 8 weeks to the day.  Any earlier and they haven't been viable.  So day 56 onwards in my experience is fine.

My frenchie had hers a full week early and she only had one mating so I was sure of dates. Pups were fine although I did lose two one had a bad cleft palate and the other was a large bitch we just couldn't bring her round. The other four thrived.

I understand a week early is about the limit for viable pups. My breed often has them several days early - I think Ellie was about 5 days early - most thoughtfully on the first day of the 2 weeks I'd booked off work!

Earliest we had pups was 5 days early, good luck, keep us informed please.

day 54 all survived

> day 54 all survived

wow thats quite early isnt it?

Seven days early and all survived.

57 days, all survived. 

5 days early - nine puppies all healthy - easy birth :-)

The average canine pregnancy lasts 63 days from ovulation.  Canine sperm can live for up to 6 days in the bitch.  Knowing that, unless you progesterone test your bitch, you can't be sure exactly when she is due to whelp, regardless of when she was bred. It is very easy to see that your due date can be out by a few days.  I think some litters are not as premature as thought or vice-versa.
 
Just to make it more difficult to predict, some bitches are floozies and will stand for the stud dog from early to late in their season. LOL

> Just to make it more difficult to predict, some bitches are floozies and will stand for the stud dog from early to late in their season. LOL

Too right!!  I've got one girl that flags from day 3.  A proper little tart.  :-)

54 and 56 days

7 days early, large litter, all healthy if not a bit small with some of them, but they all turned into decent sized adults!

> I've got one girl that flags from day 3.  A proper little tart

My little tart is spayed and still flags!!!lol

The earliest we have had a litter was 10 pups born 6 days early. All survived.