We've owned our breed now for over 10 years, taken an interest in our breed generally, going to breed and information seminars, and have done relatively well in the show ring.

We decided about 18 months ago to have our own litter. So we've chosen our stud dog. The owner is lovely, very helpful, knowledgeable and experienced as she has also had the breed for over 20 yrs. and we think he would be a suitable match for our bitch.

We've planned for enough time off between me & my partner for one of us to be at home 24/7 once the babies are here, plus been saving so if anything happens we have the funds to cover it.

So......... she's finally come into season (yesterday). A little bit of background first, she has had 'funny' seasons previously, starting to show and after a few days stop, then start again and continue her season, or she'll have a very faint show for a few days and that's it. I'm a little concerned that because of how her seasons have been in the past, we'll have trouble mating her, so after discussing this with the stud dog owner, she said to have her IDEXX tested as she found this the best way to find out when is the best time to mate her (plus we'll be travelling across half the country, so don't really want a wasted trip!!) So my first question is, WHEN do I take her to the vets, do I wait till about day 7? Also how long do I wait till they tell me?

I was also advised to have the Canine Herpes vaccine aswell, is this something that the vets' need to order in? and also when is it best to give the first injection?

Last thing (that I can think of at the moment) worming & de-fleeing treatments . Should I worm her now? And then throughout the pregnancy? I do also have two other dogs in the house, so they would also be treated at the same time

If you've got to the end of the post without giving up, thanks for reading, we've waited a long time for this, and we want to make sure we do everything right. I'm sure we're going to have lots of ups and maybe a few downs, and we do have the support of the breeder and our stud dog owner, but sometimes I feel a bit stupid for asking these types of questions, so any responses would be great, thankyou

Sounds very similar to our story except we didn't have funny seasons.  You work hard to do everything right...but in our case it still didn't happen.   It's the idiots who don't give it a second thought and breed indiscriminately for money that seem to get all the luck!! 

But I'm sure in your case it will happen though!

I would say ring IDEXX to order your kits and ask their advice about when to test. 0800 587602 and choose Option 1 and then Option 1. They advise to start testing on Day 9-10 but if I were you I'd look at sooner than that.

We wormed as soon as season started but don't generally bother with Flea treatment.

It's an exciting but very stressful time when it means so much to you and I wish you the very best of luck!

You've not mentioned any breed specific health tests for the bitch or the stud during your pre breeding preparations.

As to Idex and Canine Herpes I would ask your vet as they will know what they normally do and whether they stock the latter.

I worm with Panacur 10% [only one licenced for use in pregnancy]at the start of the season and then daily from day 40 till 2 days post whelping following the pregnant bitch directions as the dose is lower then when I worm the pups at 2,5,8 and 12 weeks Mum gets done again before reverting to her normal regime.

Both our bitch and stud dog have had the relevant health tests that our breed clubs require, the Sire (to be) has also had an eye examination (clear) and both are temperment tested aswell (through breed clubs)

I think I'll be popping in for a chat with my vet tonight about the worming and CHV, but it's always nice to have some information to go on :-)

Like anything, when you haven't done something before, you need to learn somewhere, it's great there's somewhere like Champdogs where I can come for advice

How exciting for you.

My vet takes blood and sends it off to Idexx and we get a result later that day - all depends where you live I suppose but the postal service is excellent too. 

Re when to start, hopefully this time she won't stop/start etc - as you've been waiting so long and have a long way to travel, I'd start on day 7 - just to give you a base line - there is a table on here where you can then judge when to do then next one if her levels are very low etc to save having tests very couple of days or so.

I worm all my dogs at the same time, so I would worm her now - I use Drontal.

CHV is normally delivered day after ordering at my vets, I always give it now, better to be safe than sorry...  You can be quite flexible on when to give it, I think you can do it just prior to mating until about 10 days after - second one a week - 10 days before due date.

Hope this helps

Thankyou Ells Bells, do you get the Idexx kits yourself from Idexx or does the vet have them? I've read that it's cheaper to ask your vet to extract the blood and for you to send it off yourself. However that would be something I'll be asking my vet later, just wondered really

It is just a normal phial for blood which obviously vet will have.  Don't think it costs any more for vet to take blood and you send it away or for them too - lab fees are the same I believe.  Can always be proven wrong though - best to ask your vet.

Just wanted to say congratulations on the impending nuptials ;)

I was in your shoes 4 years ago, and then just had my second litter.  The advice and support here is excellent.  Even just reading through the posts can really be reassuring or make you think of something you've forgot or not thought about.

Best of luck!

When we've used Idexx we phone them for the kit, take dog to Vet to have blood taken and then post it ourselves, if you take it to the Post Office yourself you know it's gone and not sitting all day on the receptionists desk. We usually get the first appointment of the day so it gets to the Post Office nice and early. Our Vet has to order the Canine Herpes for us, then if she's in whelp order the next one too. Good luck.