Hi Guys

Just thought i would all let you know i took my girl to vet for 28th day scan and can confirm she is going to be a mummy.

The big day is going to be 5th July.

I have been stressed for the last 4 weeks waiting for this day to confirm if she is or not and am so glad she is, now its time for the stage getting ready for the big day and getting stressed out for that.

Will be looking for loads of advice closer to the day but for now when should introduce the whelping box for her to start sleeping in and getting used to it.

Darren

I'd get her used to sleeping in her whelping box now, so that she knows it's her safe place when the time comes.

Ahh great news :)

Thanks i better get the whelping box ordered this week

Hi Justine

Thank You

You will get different opinions from different breeders.

My girls tend to NEVER go in the whelping box until after they have whelped.  Once pups are born, and I place them in the box, mum happily follows.

It certainly depends how stressed out a bitch gets if she really doesn't want to be there.

There's no stress if that's the bed she's been sleeping in for weeks. :-)

I think it depends if you only have the one dog.  Mine get very upset if I try to get them to sleep in the whelping room, as they are used to sleeping with the other dogs. 

It's only when they actually go into labour that they don't want their mates around.  As I said, it definitely depends how many dogs you have, and we all do what suits our own needs.  (and bitches naturally)

So we all have our own opinions on this one.

Great news! My girl is nearly 6 weeks now. I'm going to get the whelping box out next week I think, though she was perfectly happy about the whole business last time. :)

hey lucydogs

congrats and hope it all goes well, when is she due

darren

hi jeansw

i only have the one dog and she has the freedom  of the whole house do u think nearer the time i should start confining her to one room during the night and when im out through out the day

darren

> should start confining her to one room during the night and when im out through out the day
>

Being out during the day won't really be an option for the last week of pregnancy, as she could always go early, and you need to be there in case she needs help.  You need to be with her, and in the same room, both night and day.

Prior to the last week, I see no reason to change her routine to be perfectly honest.

I don't bother with the whelping box intro until about 10 days before due date (bearing in mind they can go a week early), as I have never had a bitch want to sleep in the box until in labour.

I just let them know where it is encourage them to get in and investigate each day.