Another question...

Do experienced breeders take bitches they want to breed in to their vet, before her heat starts, to let the vet know that you plan to breed her, to maybe have a vet check, and to talk about things like blood tests etc - in advance of it all happening? 

Or is the first time you contact your vet to ask for a blood test at the start of heat?

Perhaps experienced breeders have vets who are familiar with working with them, but if it's a first litter, it would be a good idea to make contact in advance with the vet concerned?

(We would be using a different vet to our usual one, but at the same practice - as this other vet is more experienced in terms of reproductive issues and fertility etc.)

I took my girl in to get her pre-mate tested, but otherwise I rely on her annual check or my common sense to take her in if needed between times to tell me she's healthy from a vet pov, and her show results to tell me she's good enough to breed from, and her health certificates from the cardiologist for the breed health checks.

Unless I was anticipating using any vets services then I would only tell the vet a week before the due date that I have a bitch due to whelp in case I might need them.

If I needed anything else, and if things might need ordering like premate tests or canine herpes virus (don't routinely use either) then I would give them a week or so notice.

Of course they will have had all their specialist health checks done under whichever health screening schemes

I did take a bitch to be checked last year.  First time I've done this.  I have a very small toy breed, well known for difficult whelpings.  I have been working on a self whelping line for what seems like a million years.

I had had a judge round to look some pups over, and he told me that this girl was the one I should keep.  This particular bitch was smaller than the bitches I had bred from previously.  But I had bred her myself, and she was from a line of self whelpers.  I told the vet that I wanted her checked over when she had her booster jab.  He was totally happy with the width of her pelvis and told me that he had no worries.

I was still apprehensive, mostly because she was smaller than I would usually use.  So, a month later when she came into season, I went back to ask if he was sure!!!  Poor girl was re-checked, and he insisted that he saw no reason why I shouldn't mate her.  I realise that he can't foresee inertia, but I would recognise that anyway.

She whelped with no problems.  :-)  So, in answer to your question, experienced breeders may feel the need to see the vet early on.  I guess it depends on circumstances.  My vet is very familiar with my dogs, and we have a good relationship.  I may not have had a bitch checked by a vet I didn't have the same rapport with.  So I reckon you will get differing replies.

Mating and pregnancy are natural processes - and something I have much more experience with than my vet!

You would be much better advised to seek out a good breed mentor who has experience with normal healthy whelpings.

I inform my vet about an impending whelping, just in case, but seldom actually need her.

In the very early days I would ring my Vet and tell him that I had a bitch due to whelp, thinking that I may need his help.  But as Toolz has said, I quickly found that an experienced breeder in my breed was much more help to me.
In 25+ years I've only had one intervention by my Vet and with hindsight, it wasn't necessary but his suggestion. :)

Do you think it would be possible for me to ask a couple of experienced breeders I know to be on standby near their phones, during whelping? 

I would love that, but would hate to ask them to give freely of their time or to be waking them up in the middle of the night...

During my last litter's delivery I swung a pup who wasn't breathing for what seemed an age and really worked on him but it seemed all in vain - not helped by the fact his brother came five minutes behind him whilst all this was going on. It was 3am and I called a lovely friend and breeder I know (I knew she was getting up close to that time to travel to a show). Just having someone else talking to me and the realistaion that I  had to do things with more force (nothing to lose) saved the pup. So I would say ask your friends who breed- I'm sure they will be happy to help

I think most people feel as I do and would be absolutely honoured to be asked.
I love the whole birthing process and will get up in the night and go out in the cold to help a friend at lambing time, just for the pleasure of seeing those tiny miracles. I get no reward financially but no matter how many times I see it, it never loses its wonder for me.

Absolutely!!

We all make networks and share the ups and downs.

A good friend of mine with 40+ years in her breed rang me during her last whelping, just for moral support.

It can be a lonely time, the middle of the night with the little bitch looking to you to sort things out.
We all need someone whos been through it and will give calm, informed support.

I also think it would be a good idea if you asked them if you could go and watch their next whelping if you haven't seen one before. :)

Nope I just ensure that I have done all the necessary health tests and sometimes more before breeding, which isn't usually with my normal vet. They don't have a clue about most health tests and the organisations that do them (although have asked for copies of paperwork about it from me), although as a "pet" veterinary surgery they are great and wouldn't go elsewhere for run of the mill problems.

I think the idea of a good mentor is very good advice, they can offer invaluable advice and often have a good outlook knowing without even thinking how to help fix things, as they would have come across any problems themselves so would know how to go about it. The mentor that helped us through our last litter has turned out to become a good family friend and still regularly see them, sometimes going to shows together or eating a nice lunch at the weekend.

Our vet knows when we have a litter because they have to order in the Herp vacc, also if they worm the bitch when pregnant as we weigh her at the vets so they usually know.