My bitch was mated Sunday 9th January - 50 min tie.
On the Wednesday 12th we went back ( and chose the Wed as pre mates said she was now ready - went on the Sunday due to a hunch ) male was not very interested,possible slip mating,but stud did not stay in at all after thriusting - same again on the Thursday 13th.
We were sure that she would not take,as only mating was on the Sunday - way before ovulation according to pre mate.
She was scanned on 18th Feb and was in whelp !!!

So - if we take Sunday the 9th - day 63 is Sunday 13th . . .do we count the slip matings ? so possibly could be day 63 on 17th ? She has been losing mucas plug since Monday ,is eating less,but thats due to not having much room.
The 'load' has shifted,further back into the loins.
I only worry as the dates being so far apart make knowing when to consider a C section difficult.Our plan is if no litter by Sun / Mon we will take her to the vet to check over any way.

Any thoughts?

Also - still no sign of milk,thought it was usually earlier due to this being a first litter?

piratebear, I can't answer your question and will leave that for someone more experienced

But I wanted to ask - what sort of test did you have, with the Premate - was it the blood test sent off to a lab such as Idexx or was it the in-house vet one?

I just ask because I'm always wondering which we should use...

I had an inhouse pre mate - i would recomend using Idexx as Im still unsure the premate was correct.Our vet also did a vaginoscopy,and the vaginoscopy said ready on the Sunday,yet the premate said the following Wednesday - and we got a good tie on the Sunday going by the vaginoscopy . . guess we will see!

mist 1st and last litter her milk came in the day before she had her pups!
xxxx

Not sure if i should be counting tomorrow as D day or not !

id go by 1st mateing just as a starting point.
xxxx

I have, completely supervised and ready for anything happening, well in theory.  When it happen i bet it'll be panic stations.

I agree - spent all day today thinking 'Phew,i have everything' . . .but then im going to panic !!!! and bet Ive forgotten something.
Would love to have gone shopping at Crufts for all the stuff !

Still nothing today . . .

> Also - still no sign of milk,thought it was usually earlier due to this being a first litter?

I don't think you can take this as rule of thumb.

I had a maiden bitch that didn't lactate until 3 days after whelping.

She is drinking for England ! is this a sign?

> She is drinking for England ! is this a sign

Not one that I have noticed as being a reliable indication.  Sorry!!  Not what you wanted to hear.  :-(

any news?

No nothing ! today is day 63 from first mating,day 59 & 60 from possible slip matings.
Last night she dug a bit,and at first wouldnt eat - then at 9pm demanded her dinner ! grr . . . .

Still not sure about this heavy panting - she has panted since week 4 but is a very heavy coated dog..Grr a watched kettle and all that!

has she got a gazed look in her eyes at the same time ??
xxxx

Any news your end? I managed to get Lucy to stay in my room last night but just the usual really heavy panting all night.
Maybe today ha ha.x They are playing a very big waiting game keeping us up for nights on end,not to worry we have weeks of sleepless nights ahead.x

Exactly !
She has had very baggy tired looking eyes since Friday.Drinking a lot - and just been for a walk and she was trying to eat someone elses Pooh !(gross!) she did 3 pooh's on her walk - and the last one was runny.
She is also mouthing a lot while sitting down.Hard to tell if any of these are signs of being uncomfortable - or impending labour! ha ha ,they like to get us guessing.
Kane - how great if we have pups today on Best in show day?!

Would be nice if they went today,I'm all set up for recording just incase I'm otherwise busy but that won't happen until
3am which would be the norm for mine.x
She has been for a short walk stops every two seconds to pee well kids on think she just wants a rest really.
She is huge now bless her just getting very impatient now (me not her) hubby so laid back! it will happen when she's ready.
That's fantastic input even if it is true.
Keep us updated. x

3 poo's and last 1 runny indicates things are starting to happen :)
xxxx

She is very clingy now,but has been for the last week or so - no more pooh's . Has been sitting looking a little glazed over,but not much more than normal !

I thought mine was going over the weekend, did streching out and glazerd look.  We've had some heavy puppy activity yesterday and a small appitite.  i thought she was having them on Saturday, no such luck lol.  She had me up last night, i think something was happening.  This morning you wouldn't even think she was in whelp, she has so much energy lol.

Forgot she's gone very clingy.

Oh sounds familiar !
We had a rough night - she is a large breed and dosent go upstairs - but did last night ! lots of puffing and not much sleep.
Then about 8am started digging a little - now fast asleep! grrrrr

thought we were a go today - had a walk at 10,kept trying to hide in the bushes - lots of pooh's - came home and started digging - now nothing!
Been to the vet,she has been scanned,he has seen 2 heart beats and says she is fine.Phew . . .more waiting!

I thought about scanning also to check all is ok.

I wouldn't be surprized if your didn't go tonight  Mine has had a pep talk to let them out as she can't keep them up there.  She's not day 63 yet lol, I'm just impatient.  Mines developed an appitite and running round. 

What a stubborn lot,nothing happening here either just the usual up all night sleeps,eats,walks and plays all day very odd.
Now on day 63 from last mating suppose I'm just being very impatient if not a little worried as never had any go as late as this.
Did feel plenty movement but if nothing by tomorrow will seek vets opinion and maybe scan but she does seem very well in herself.
It's us that are stressed and tired and grumpy and if one more family member calls asking ANY NEWS!!! I will scream.
I think you are a definate for tonight.

Good luck keep us posted.x

What day does this make you from 1st mating ?  we are now day 65 from 1st,62 & 61 from last matings.
Very restless night and this morning we have a 'leak' from the back end which i am guessing is her water breaking.Ive swiped it to check its not green,its clear with a slight brown tinge,lots of it . . .tick tock

Good luck hopefully won't be long. The only sign my bitch showed was that she was a bit more restless the day before and couldn't seem to settle, that carried on through the night too, then 1st pup at 10am. She ate continuously and showed no other signs that I had been expecting!

wow lucky you! im sitting next to her now in the whelping room - that unmistakable 'butcher shop' smell ! lol.
Waters broke about 7.30 so i hope its soon now

Wow, I'll be checking this thread today!
Fingers crossed they arrive safe and sound today, how exciting!

Good luck, sounds like she'll have them today.  We might be joining you if she gets a move on.  Had lots of activity.

We are now on day 64 from last mating and 61 from previous.Last night was a nightmare runny poo kept wanting out all night
but still can't see any plug.She was in whelping box digging and panting all night but hey guess what? it's stopped and she is asleep
and we are knackered she is a great actress. She did refuse breakfast which I must say is a first.
Your girl sounds as if she will go any time now got to be today-especially with that disgusting all very familiar butchers smell ha ha I had almost forgotten about that.
Good luck fingers crossed for you and your girl.x

really not sure now if it was her waters ? she is very damp on her hind legs and its no a urine smell - but no signs of contractions.
She just wants out to dig dosent wanna know the wehelping box

Wow...sounds like you're in for a busy day! My girl had a litter 3 years ago & the panting started at 9am. She was digging by midday, but when hubby came home from work she stopped digging & just lay in the whelping box. 2 hours went by, I was with her, but watching tv. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her slightly raise her rear end, thought she was passing wind, but when she did it again a minute later I had a look & first puppy was coming! Good luck to you both....sounds like it won't be long :)

keeps going out and squatting for a tiny wee & pooh - but still no contractions or visable pushing . . . . should i be worried?

I've only had 2 litters so I'm no expert, but I would think she would be ok as long as there's no pushing.

Am i right in thinking yours is a giant breed? Maybe the contractions are going unnoticed? Though if it was the waters going, that would put more pressure at the back end making her want to squat/wee more....jus make sure she doesnt pop one out in the garden!!!

I have just returned from vet as was a bit worried about constant panting etc.
Vet examined her and said def thought first stage of labour also scanned her and got two healthy heartbeats.
She reckons she is not stressed and just got sent home to wait. Did make me feel a bit better.
She has been doing poo's and tiny pees constantly vet said that was good sign not to worry unless she has green discharge
She is not interested in food,still no signs of any milk.
We have really heavy snow AAAhhh hope don't need to return to vets.
I think your girl sounds as if she will go before tonight. This is all very stressful waiting on tenderhooks who's going to be first.

How exciting!! This is keeping my mind off my 'is she, isn't she' situation. Good luck x

I'm so jealous of you guys, I have so much to get through before we're at the stage of awaiting puppies! 

had 7 pups !

Blimey Piratebear that was quick, she must have started soon after your last post?  Congratulations!!!  Any more to come do you think?

Well done, clever girl.  That was quick.  Nowhere near that far here.

wonderful! any more do you think? well done :)
xxxx

OMG,That was quick.A very big congratulatons and well done to you and your girl. Fab news.
Hope all is well.XXX

That is great news, how many girls and boys then??

Well that just leaves us Reikiangel,and we are still panting away but nothing yet sigh!
Here's to another sleepless night ha ha wee devils.x

I have been watching this one with interest the last few days!  My girl started panting and digging at about 10am today and that is all she has done.  Her 1st litter 2 years ago, she didn't appear to have stage 1, straight into delivery.  I have a feeling I am in for a long night... Good luck everyone and well done on those that have delivered! x

Congratulations!!! 7 pups...wow, & so quickly! Kane & Reikiangel...Good Luck to you both xx