Ok so I have a bitch with all her relevant health tests all good. This will be her second litter we kept a bitch back from the last litter 2 years go.

My girl will not have her temp taken we gave up last time as she would try and run away/sit down get grump and very unsettled about it.. Last time she delivered 10 pups on day 61 one still born. The only sign before was off food a bit and crazy digging..

So back to today we are day 56 from first mating, and for the last 3 days she has been off her food, going between runny and solid bum more times runny, very uncomfy bless her, has done some digging/ripping but nothing compared to last time. She is a large breed within breed average for size but on the smaller scale. she sleeps a lot and stares into space, we are sleeping downstairs for the last 3 nights just in case however hoping she wouldn't due to her dates, dates by second mating is day 54. Both times we got a good tie of between 20-30minutes.

Again for comparison Vet felt 3/4 pups and we had 10, vet nurse this time felt at lest 3 she looks a lot bigger this time.

She has her whelping box set up inside a large puppy pen with the two separate doors this serves purpose of keeping other dog away when in the room (have to go via to access garden) and to keep the children away.

I'm tired and wondering if anyone has any stories of their bitch maybe going early? and more sutler signs in case she does not do the hey mum look I'm digging look mum I'm really good at digging this time round.

Many bitches go early.  Day 56 is about the earliest viable whelping.  It's a day that my breed prefer!  You may well find that being bigger isn't relevant.  It depends how much fluid she's carrying.

I have had a lot of pups born on day 56 and never lost one.

if youve seen my post i really wouldnt worry to much about them coming to early i thought this litter would come early from 1st mate they came on the day of 2nd mate ,inless your busy delivering them lol but if so like jean has said thay should be fine keep us updatedx

I will look for your post...

Today she has only eaten some chicken wings (raw) and runny poo... Lots of restlessness and digging/ripping tonight so far

she does sound like its not going to be long but she hasnt got long now as she ,some can be like that for 2-3 days ,is she use to eating raw? that could upset her??...all the best :)

Yeah she is used to raw she was fed on a raw diet before but moved back to biscuits before mating as I don't like to wean pups onto raw and some owners don't believe in raw feeding.. She still gets some of her raw treats but main meal is dog food well puppy food.. Had some more digging..

Day 63 from first tie is next Wednesday 63 from second tie next Friday

she could very well hold out for afew days like that my girl was like that for 3days before she had them yesterday.x

don't like to wean pups onto raw and some owners don't believe in raw feeding..

Do what I do -feed 50/50 raw and commercial food (for instance 2 meals of each per day), so the pups get used to BOTH. Covers all eventualities then and the more different foods pups are used to, the better. :)

That's a good idea..

Well she never finished her food from yesterday and not touched it so far today. Every time she's out she's going both ends and sometimes straining for a poo with nothing although she's been doing that for a couple of days. Dug up all her newspaper. Gosh she was so much easier on her first whelp no digging till the afternoon before she had them at 2:30am

they can be so different with each litter is she ok in herself even tho shes doing all this?? could be anougher 24h so it leaste pups are going to be just fine x

Yeah she's just a bit grumpy but still wants fuss and to lick the little ones face. She's getting annoying with her daughter wanting to bound up and play so she is just ignoring her now

our girl didnt want to be around her friend our other dog but is a pup and very playfull so she is in the other room now and has been for the last 4days before she had her pups.

Yeah I was about to say they are only together in the garden, they are in the same room in the house but they cannot get to each other due to puppy pens Etc and they are also on other ends of the room. Was thinking of moving her out of the room but she still needs to be crated when left unattended or she eats everything in site fine while being watched but has a thing for the sofa and kids toys. 

are you taking her out of the room before pups come? she may be holding on if shes worried about other dog ive been told this can happend! thats why i removed pup from the room our girl washaving them in and staying in with her babies. our pup is crated at night and in day at times she takes herself into it as its her bed. just a thought!!

I do keep thinking about it.. Issue is the whelping box and pen is in the kitchen witch is the only access to the garden and where we eat/cook etc the livingroom has no space to hold a crate or whelping box plus pen as it is full of toys/units.. I was wondering if making it so she can not see other dog even though in the same room would help. No matter if we could find a way of moving younger mum would still hear her so if maybe just not seeing her would solve the issue

can you put her up in a bedroom? much quieter. I have all my litters up stairs to start with so they are not disturbed.

i personly wouldnt have any dogs around whelping room new mums might not feel safe with her babies i have a whelping box in my livingroom with a blanekt over the top but not at the front i need to be able to see mum and pups ,idealy id have mum in living room other dogs in kitchen and in ther crates when mum needs to go out plusshe will feel at ease too but only daying how i would do it :)

yes newyork i would do that too but op has a child how can u watch a baby/young child young dog and mum/puppies if upstairs i wouldnt be happy to leave them at all for the 1st 3weeks :( x

Bedroom is not an option we have young children who come bounding though at 3am to jump in bed and trash the place in general. Will see if the hubby thinks we can use the downstairs bathroom for the younger dog as that's the other end if the house and we don't use it..

Her last litter was in the kitchen but of course we didn't have another dog at that point.

We are going to move the younger dog to the downstairs bathroom, take the door off put a staircase in its place. I joked maybe we could toilet train her at the same time.. Would be funny though at the moment it's just used for storage so empty that out. Or I have a missive walk in cupboard in the kitchen but then she is still kind of in the same room as mum..

:)

Glad that you have come up with a solution.  I'm another that will not have another dog near.  I won't risk the chance of a newly whelped bitch killing her own pups due to stress.

Mine generally go early and I always find that the pups form a firm 'rubber ring' effect around her abdomen just before delivery gets started.
The get into their birthing position and I can certainly see a change.

The obvious sign is 'real' panting, lips drawn back, glazed eyes and a panting sound which I describe as sawing wood :-)

> panting sound which I describe as sawing wood :-)

What a brilliant description lol.

So I moved the younger dog.. And it can't stay moved.. Younger dog will not stay behind the stair gate and older dog is now crying and jumping over the puppy enclosure trying to get to the younger one so she is going to end up hurting her self to get to the younger one.. Anyone ever had anything like that before? My botch in whelp is distressed now with the other dog gone when was happy and content sharing a room with the younger one crated, and her in the puppy enclosure.. 

you could very well be ok BUT youll find once pups come along your girl will let you know if shes happy or not so your better toleave them to gether till she starts having her pups...have had a girl go very depressed when she was put into the whelping room (livingroom) and other dogs in the kitchen but once she was in labour she didnt want them .....the other dogs not puppies x

Yeah I think this will be a very much play by play and when the older one does not want the younger anywhere near enclosure we will move the younger one again. But for now a happy content older one is the main priority so will let her guide us.. Just hope she hasn't done any damage jumping over and her belly is very low

If she wants to be with the other one, I wouldn't split them up yet. Just carry on watching for signs that things are kicking off in earnest and split them up then. My own girl, though kept apart while whelping, was always very happy to have the others come and have a quick peek at the puppies. They never wanted to do more than that, except silly boy Uncle Henry who would have got in the box and tried to nurse them himself I reckon, if we hadn't prevented him. :-)

I find that if the mother feels that no one else can SEE her pups, she will remain comfortable.

This can be achieved by simply draping a cover over a pen, cage, enclosure.
It's the 'eyeballing' which causes the feeling of threat.

The way we have built this whelping box means unless mum is stood up in it the younger dog cannot see her but if mum wants to she can stand and see the younger one both are happily laying down in their own enclosures having a good nap..

Unlike the baby who has woken up wanting more milk.. My baby is over a year old but is tiny so we all still say baby

You really need to have the whelping box in a quiet room away from the kids and other dogs and pets.

When my kids were small the whelping box was in my bedroom at the bottom of my bed.

Once pups eyes are open then I used to bring them down to the kitchen in a bigger pen, where Mum would warn the other dogs not to come too close, and in a week or so would allow them to visit the box.

My kids are now grown up, so I have the whelping box in the corner of the living room (3 x 3 foot cave made by puppy panels covered over.

The kitchen adjoins the living room and has a baby gate and the other dogs are not allowed in, except to nip through when going for walks.

Mum was brought downstairs on lead, and let out through kitchen to toilet etc as often as needed.

I have had the bitch take up residence in the whelping box for 24 or more hours.

I have also had them want to stay with their friends right up to producing a puppy, all want privacy with their pups and would be upset if they thought the others were going to come near.

Small update nothing Huge but she has just started trying to dig her way under the garden shed..

Please take care with this one, of my mentors bitches did this and the only way they could get her out was to totally dismantle the shed.

She is fully monitored in the garden with one or two people watching at all times. No way do I want pups under the shed! My mums car once had kittens under the bath! Trying to remember how long it was after she tried digging under the kennel last time till she had them

More digging in the garden so just given her loads more newspaper in the box

You do know, don't you?  That after all this, your hair will have turned grey, and your eyes will look like a zombies!    :-)  :-)  :-)

Already happened lol I blame the kids she just adds to it haha.. Husband has booked Monday and Tuesday off work to give me some extra resting time. Found out though from the records I can find last time she whelmed the day after digging under the kennel on day 61 well we are day 58 now but if she follows pattern would whelp on day 59 at stupid 0'clock

jean im already there lol in the land of zombies :) x

Just ordered a take away for dinner now kids fed and in bed. Dog has been digging and panting on and off so we shall be up all night

thats how i was monday night i didnt get any sleep she had her pups at tea time on tues i was shatterd and didnt sleep tues night ,but had 3h on and off last night just dont want to take my eyes off them just incase ,mum is the best ever but could still roll on them ...heres to you geting your food eat and your girl poping them out like my girld did :) x

Good luck :) I'm still zombiefied & mine were 2 weeks old on Wednesday. I'm just catching up on posts, I hope you don't have to wait too long x

I've joined the zombie club 10 days ago.  Hope your puppies arrive soon, I always think this waiting bit is the worst.

Ditto to being in the zombie club lol. Thought my girl was starting on day 61 but she didn't have them until day 65 so I was on tenter hooks from then. Still sleeping on the settee even though they're 11 days old.  Know how you feel but it's well worth it when they're here. Hope all goes well :)

Well no pups yet but more digging, licking and losing plug with on and off panting

Getting closer :)

thats how my girl was the day she had them ...not long now :)

I just wish she would hurry up now lol I don't do waiting nicely. On the plus side the whole house is being major cleaned.. Heat pad is already plug in the puppy box with vet bed the one we put pups in while mum is delivering another. Hot water bottle for instant warming next to the kettle

Sounds like you're well prepared. I hope it's not too long to wait & a trouble free whelping x

Just had some shivering in the box and licking.. Must say I don't think my girl is fussed who's here considering we are baking cakes.. Although last time she let even the next door neighbour hold pups under 24hours (she was on call help)

not long now im sure plenty of ppl on here will keep poping onto see if everything is ok i know i am :)