I've never actually experienced this with one of my girls, but a bitch that was mated by one of my boys was technically due yesterday (she was only mated the once, in the early evening). Apparantly she is fine in herself, eating well, happy and big. She has had one litter.

At what point do you start to get concerned?

One of my girls whelped naturally on day 70 last year, I was worried but as I have my own scanner could see both pups were alive and well.  She was booked in for a c-section at 9am on the Monday morning, but whelped at 1am and 3am, two live healthy pups.

Wow, day 70. I'd have been having kittens! The advantage of having your own scanner

Even with the scanner I was having kittens, never had one go that late and hope I never do again

Had one 4 days late but could feel pups kicking and mother was fine.  Had a friend who has had a litter also on day 70 and all was fine.  Though my breed is a medium sized breed.

No way could I leave one of my girls till day 70, I am bad enough when they reach day 63 from second mating as my first litter did, the 2 litters since went into labour day 61 from first mating.

There is going to be a huge difference of opinion depending on breed IMHO.

With toys normally going early as "just the usual thing", as opposed to larger breeds having perfectly healthy litters after a longer cooking time.

I do admit, even with a large breed, I would be in a panic at day 70!  Yet Sharon, who doesn't have a large breed, did just fine when her bitch went that long. 

I think, ridgielover, that as you know your own girls best, and can feel pups moving, that you have to go with your gut.  It is such a difficult call to make.  I once had a bitch examined at 7pm and was told by the vet that pups were moving well, that the bitch had not dilated, and she had no milk.  She underwent an emergency section at 11pm so I was right in my worry.  And, as a breeder, you must go with your own feelings.  I would rather be told that I'm being paranoid by my vet than leave it too late!

I do sometimes think that we are more likely to get it right than the vet.  No disrespect to vets in any way, I think mine is great.  But I bet I've whelped more bitches than him!  :-)

My Cassie whelped 8 puppies on day 67. She was mated only the once, on the 12th day and had not gone over her due date in her previous 2 litters. But she seemed fine, was eating well and I could feel the pups thumping around inside. Once she got going , they just popped out as usual.

Thanks everyone.

It's not actually one of my bitches, Jean, but a bitch mated by one of my boys. I'm not panicking yet but still finding it a bit stressful! Hopefully it will all happen in the near future and all will be well.

I am curious as to why folk seem to think all is OK if the pups are moving around,pups will move around till they die so I don't see that movement is a good indicator of all being well.

Maybe it is my experience as a midwife that makes me think differently about this, reduced movement was a sign that things may not be as they should be and investigations ensue, unfortunately some babies died before delivery or shortly afterwards

How do we decide what is normal or reduced movements in a bitch. The litter I lost last year there was puppy movement over night as she was in bed with me and she went into labour in the morning and 4hrs later delivered a stillborn pup and 2 partly decomposed, I didn't notice if there was any puppy movement during the labour, in future I will certainly be more observant as when I thought back to previous litters the undelivered pups were doing the highland fling letting me know there was more to come out. I am going to be a wreck with my next litter, hoping history doesn't repeat itself.

I am curious as to why folk seem to think all is OK if the pups are moving around,pups will move around till they die so I don't see that movement is a good indicator of all being well.

Agreed. When my Ginny lost her first litter, I felt the pups move a few hours before, clearly. When she lost 2 out of 3 in her second litter, I checked even more carefully and they were all very lively indeed.

I've never had a big dog go past 64 days so don't really know. In cats, I don't worry at all up to 70 days, but there I have lots more experience. I agree a lot is knowing your animal and gut instinct.

> My Cassie whelped 8 puppies on day 67. She was mated only the once,

Ditto with my Kizi with her last litter with only one mating,a s eh had been offering to stand for ages, but the dog would not oblige until then. 

When palpated at day 28 from mating the vet was very insistent that the pregnancy was not as far advanced as 4 weeks, so when she went over I did not panic. 

She had a smallish litter of 4, so she was mated too early (had been a tart trying to be mated even earlier) and I should have gone for another mating.

All other bitches have whelped by due date, as early as 5 days before, and only once or twice a day over (except above case).

My Clover whelped her last litter naturally on day 68 from 1st mating, 66 from 2nd. A lovely healthy litter of the same number the vet had palpated when confirming pregnancy.

Yes, just because she was mated on a certain day it doesn't mean she ovulated and conceived on that day.  The sperm can live for up to about 5 days and possibly even longer.  I also have had a day 68 litter.  I had a couple of Premates done by the vet and the last one said she had ovulated.  I was sure she hadn't because of her physical signs, but it was day 13 so I travelled miles to the stud dog and got a good mating (she is a tart so no problems there!).  When she went over I took her temp 3 or 4 times each day and it stuck at 37.5, she was lively and eating.  On the morning of day 68 the temp dropped to 36.8 and the pups were born that evening.

how are thing? have the pups arrived yet? x

Sorry - I forgot to update.

Unfortunately the bitch had to have a ceasarean - it didn't get done til early on Friday morning. Luckily the seven pups were alive and well.

Hooray, I love happy endings!

Nice to hear the update - I always wonder about outcomes! 

A section isn't always welcome, but I'm glad that the bitch is ok, and no dead pups.

thank goodness all ended well! :)