Hi all,
My girl is currently 12 days past first mating and 10 days past second mating.  Despite progesterone testing last season she missed (I think the spacing between the blood tests and the results meant she was over by the time she was mated last time) so this time around we went for progesterone test, but at different lab who gave us same day results.

I just wondered what the first sign of pregnancy was that you have noticed in your girls, especially if you have had quite a few litters and in hindsight now recognise things as an positive sign for a pregnancy rather than a phantom.

Just interested really, my girl is bouncing around and showing no signs of anything yet!

To be honest there are no definitive signs and phantoms and pregnancies have shown equal signs or little to no signs.

I have generally never been certain (otehr than with scan or palpation) of a pregnancy until after the 6 week mark.

First time I mated my bitch she showed quite a few signs by around 3 weeks.  She did go very clingy almost straight away, went off food and was acting almost lathargic from day 21.  Day 23 she had a small amount of clear mucus and was sick and she was in pup.
Earlier this year we tried and she showed all the same symptoms, even looked as though she was losing her waiste, only thing she didnt do was have the clear mucus and there were no puppies!!
She is now day 28, other than being off her food she has no other symptoms so I really dont know until I have her scanned next week.
I'm afraid not only is every bitch different, so is every pregnancy!

I haven't known for sure without being scanned till about 6weeks, my last litter I got scanned at 39days because she had had 4 phantoms in the past and lots of investigations had been done prior to my final attempt at getting her in pup, 3 pups seen but she wasn't looking or behaving any differently than she had when not in pup.

It is a waiting game and if you are impatient then get her scanned after 30 days by an experienced scanner.

Behaviour changes has always come first for most of mine, weeks before any physical changes. With one of mine I could tell days after mating if she was pregnant or not as she changed so much. Alas they don't all do it.

After lots of litters I now consider the only definitive sign that I see is a vulva which stays large and puffy.
Ultrascound, x ray and relaxin test will tell you more of course.

Ive had everything from behaviour changes, enlarged nipples, swelling abdo at 6 weeks ( which invariably goes down before due date) increased appetite etc.... and still gone on to be a phantom.

I found my bitch going very quiet was unusual, but nipples turning pink and a puffy vulva staying larger was the only sure sign for me. She didn't thicken a waist until about six weeks in.