Hi everyone, I posted here a few weeks ago about my girl having mated on day 4 very happily, and then being absolutely adamant about getting mated on day 13. She would now be on day 57 if she took on the first breeding and day 46 if she took on the second. I had been pretty sure she ovulated around the day 13 mating, however she is VERY visibly pregnant, I have been feeling strong puppy movement for the past week, she is very round and puffy looking down below, and the area between her vulva and bottom is bulging out a little. No milk yet but she looks about ready. I know no one can tell me for sure, but does it sound to you like she is nearer day 57 or 46? Thanks very much in advance! This is my first litter and I've been waiting a long time for these babies, so I'm very eager to meet them, I just want a better idea of how much longer I have to wait!

I would go with day 57 to be on the safe side and get the vet to check her asap.
Do you have everything ready for her just in case?

Yep I'm prepared early just in case, I've got time off work, I've got my whelping kit, the whelping box is ready and she's already very settled in it. My vet is aware of the possible time difference and wants me to ring as soon as her temperature drops to let them know if it's likely to be early.

Good Luck and fingers crossed for a safe delivery...let us know how she gets on:)

Thank you, I will do. I am so excited! Can't wait to see their little faces for the first time. I've been showing for a few years but I am SO excited about being in the ring for the first time with a dog I've bred myself. :D

My girl happily mated with my boy on days 5 & 7.....then they helped themselves to another mating on day 14, she whelped day 63 from the day 14 mating

That's great to hear SharonM as we too have just had our girl stand on day 4, 6 and then another on the 15th day. Between days 6 and 15 she drove the stud crazy as she would wave her butt in his face and run off when he tried to mount her but then stood quite happily on the 15th day.

Fingers crossed for our scan in a few weeks.

Thanks for the input, interesting to know!

Little update, she has milk today!

Think she's getting close, she normally doesn't leave my side but this morning she disappeared and I found her in the shed scratching up old newspapers. She has just refused her dinner which hasn't happened once during her pregnancy so far. Temp is pretty stable at the moment at 37.5. It's looking like she did take from the early mating.

sounds like its close, good luck

Have you got an area ready for her to whelp in lined with newspaper for her to shred up when she want to?

She may already be in early labour if she is looking for somewhere to have the pups so keep a close eye on her at all times.

Yes she has a whelping box, it's got lots of nice bedding and cushions in there, got newspapers on hand in case she wants to shred them up. Her temp has been 37.1 for the last few hours. She normally is very good with allowing me to take her temp, but the last time I did it (about an hour ago) she gave me a firm telling off so I'm going to wait until morning before I do it again, think she's feeling a bit irritable, poor baby. She's quiet at the moment but can't seem to get comfortable enough to have a good sleep. At the moment she's sat in her whelping box staring at me. Will keep you updated.

Sounds like pups are not far away.

Are you sleeping near her at night as many wait till all is quiet to get down to business.

> At the moment she's sat in her whelping box staring at me

is this a "you did this to me " kind of stare or a spaced out dont know what to do type stare. you know your girl well enough to know if she's in trouble so watch out for signs of inercia (sp) .

Yeah her whelping box is in my bedroom, she still wants to sleep on my bed as long as I will lift her up and down!

Oh it was definitely the, "How dare you do this to me!" look, lol. She settled down a lot last night and had a good sleep, she's been for a little walk around the block this morning which she enjoyed and has eaten about half of her breakfast. She looks a lot happier today. My mentor said I was probably freaking her out a bit last night because I was getting nervous! Temp is still 37.5 and hasn't really changed yet.

so the second date could still be possible? my girls have always started to change over the week before whelping so maybe she is doing this lol x

Yeah I am starting to wonder! This could easily be me reading into everything waaay too much just because it's my first litter! Maybe that's why she's looking at me funny, she's calling me stupid, lol!

LOL im the same with the litters ive had,i know with my gut feeling its not just yet but excitment takes over and then i start wishing tonight will be the night ,i stay awake watching her while shes fast asleep or soreing LOL then by the time "this is for real im nakerd!" :(  its all fun isnt! what day is your girl on now? x

Yeah I think you're spot on there, I don't feel like she's close, in fact I have been pretty sure she took from the later mating the whole way through her pregnancy. I stayed up until 3am last night watching her sleep. I just can't imagine how in the world those puppies can stay in there for another week, she's absolutely massive, belly has dropped and I can very easily see the puppies moving and can make out individual pups sticking out a bit. I am still amazed every time I see one roll or kick, it's so surreal. I have seen a good number of bitches of the same breed in the last week of their pregnancy (and assisted at a birth for practice) but I don't remember any of them being this huge! She would be day 62 from the first mating today, 53 from the second.

so could be tomorrow or at the earlyst 4days time so not long really or she could go right to 63 days from last mateing the thing ive notised with my girls (large breed) ive only felt pups move 7days before shes whelped with 3 large breed only 2 were mine and 1 stayed here :) xx

I think we've had a temp drop, it was around 37.9 yesterday, this morning is was 37.1 this morning and is now 36.8! Puppies have also gone very quiet, not much movement at all. One question, just want to check I'm taking her temp correctly, only about an inch of the thermometer is supposed to be inserted right?

yes ive only done it that way how is she now? x

any news ?

She's fine, temp went back up again and has stayed up so far. She is still happy to go for walks and eating well although only small meals 4 times a day. Can still feel the pups although I think they don't have much room to move now. She'll be due from the second date in a few days so I'm trying to relax and not fuss over her too much until then. Will update as soon as anything happens! X

thankyou for letting us know! ive been checking your post alot! x

Me to every day.

Good luck,just by chance i guess,but my girl whelped on day 63 within half an hour of her first tie.Couldn't do that again if we tried :)

Oh my god....I'm a grandma!!!! 2 boys and 2 girls. Mum has been an absolute star, I am so proud of her. :)

Her temp went down to 36.9 in the afternoon, she was restless all day but about midnight she yelped and then all of sudden started frantically nesting. She started contractions about 1am and first puppy was born at 2:10am, followed immediately by second puppy. Third puppy came at 3am followed by fourth within five minutes. She's fantastic with her babies, taking great care of them. Thanks for all your support over the last few days guys, what an amazing experience!

Another boy and another girl! Think she's done now.

Well done. Lovely to hear all has gone well

Oops, another girl! I'm pretty sure I can feel one more too. Big litter for the breed!

Congrats,is it over yet?

Congrats anymore?

congratulations, now the fun begins hope thery're all happy and healthy xx

Congrats.  Its lovely watching them mother their babies. xx

wow 7 ?? welldone to you both xx

Thank you so much, I'm over the moon! She had 7 and is now tucked up in her box with them looking very content! I seem to have lost the ability to sleep for more than an hour at a time though, lol!

Well done that girl 7 - you have alot pooh coming.

Congrats.  Been watching this thread for their arrival :)

Congrats x Now let the fun begin

Congrats on the new arrivals.

So which mating did these pups come from?

You have a few busy weeks ahead.

Don't forget to keep her calcium level up with goats milk,cottage cheese and yoghurt

Congratulations! I'll close this now pups have safely arrived.