I worked out my bitches date of whelp (if shes preg) would be 21st Aug. I was looking up some stuff and came across a due date calender thing and when I put the date in it now says 26th Aug. I was going off 59 days from mating, is this wrong ? The first mating occurred 23rd June ( I thought it was 22nd but it seems I got my date wrong as it was definitely a saturday so must be 23rd )

It's 63 days.  Puppies born from 56 days are usually viable, and many  bitches whelp a few days early. 

In my breed two days early seems to be fairly usual.  Rarely had a bitch go over 63 days from first mating.

Both the bitches I have bred from were bang on the 63 days. Both had 11 pups too!

ok so do I count the 23rd as day one or the day after mating ?

The chart I've always used says that for a mating on June 23rd the due date is August 25th.

From 23rd June, I say that due date is 25th August.  With 18th August being the earliest viable date.  Not sure where you got the 59 days?

Ive always read 59-63 days but can be upto 67 days so I just presumed 59 was the key number then anything over upto 67 was ok and then over that take them to the vets

>then anything over upto 67 was ok and then over that take them to the vets

Dangerous assumption to make!  My breed would be dead if a bitch had been left until day 67.  But then, if I had a larger breed, no way would it get left up to day 67 either.      No way Jose.

It's vital to know what is normal for your breed as it can vary a LOT. I always count first possible day as day 56 i.e. 8 weeks.

I always thought 63 ish days, but read somewhere its actually 63 days from ovulation? :/
Anne

Ive always read 59-63 days but can be upto 67 days so I just presumed 59 was the key number then anything over upto 67 was ok and then over that take them to the vets

Its in the btb and most breeding books.  I nearly chocked when i read it. 

This may help;

http://www.k.faulker.btinternet.co.uk/Whelping_Chart.htm

Or using a calender just count down 9 weeks, using same day of the week as the due date.

The BOTB has a table saying expected gestation for each breed which is helpful. Except it says my breed are early whelpers and she wasn't despite having a large litter, but it is only a guide.

Fertilisation to delivery is usually 60 days, the pregnancy calendars allow extra days as bitch will usually stand at ovulation so doesn't actually conceive for further 2-3 days.

I progesterone test and know when they ovulated and mate 2-3 days post ovulation, I therefore expect labour at day 60/61 and would be unhappy about leaving a bitch longer. If vet in doubt about need for section you can progesterone test again and if level below 2ng/l she should be in labour.

we have a large breed and have never gone to 63 have always been 60-61.

My bitch had a much larger litter than is normal for the breed and whelped on day 57.

wow id of been worried sick! ,never known that breed to go over with large litter like that!

White lilly not sure if your reply is to me - but she whelped at 8 wks & 1 day after a single 5 min tie :) so was 6 days early - all the pups thrived and she was an exceptionally attentive mum - haven't had another litter from her but thinking about it - have 5 people wanting another of hers including 3 that have pups (now 2 years old) from her last litter but won't mate her again until I'm ready for another pup :)

Do I count day 1 as the day of mating so if they mate on 23rd thats day one and 24th as day 2 or do I count 24th as day 1 :/

I count by weeks so if they were mated on a Friday then the next Friday will be one week gone by and so on, if I am getting her scanned then do it between week 5 & 6, with my past history of so many phantoms I want to know before I start the daily worming and puppy food at 6 weeks.

LOL kasshyk so sorry ive just looked back though id read 67 not 57 :( ....x

North light I would work from date of first mating and last - so you have a window with in which she should show signs of labour. In this period monitor her temperature and you should identify a drop 24 hrs prior to labour starting. If she goes over your last date consider vet check BUT if her last mating occured just  before ovulation she could be two - four days over your max date calculated from second mating.

Without knowing accurate ovulation date you can't identify with any accuracy delivery date
K