One piece of advice I was given by my mentor, which hasn't already been mentioned, is

Keep the bitch in hard physical fitness right up to the birth,  don't treat her as if she were ill  whilst pregnant.    It will help her during the birth and afterwards if she is super fit. 

Obviously the bitch will want to slow down in the last few weeks especially if she's carrying a large litter ;-)   and at this point it's wise to follow her lead.   But that extra fitness will carry her through the hard work of delivering pups :-)

Hope you have a nice comfy bed so you can be close at hand in the last few weeks and after the pups are born.     I used an airbed, but folding campbeds are also useful :-)

OK - what have I done on this thread to have you complain to admin - unlike you my two posts are not personal.

Having just had a litter of 10 large breed pups I can agree that you need somewhere for the pups to play. I was lucky, mine hardly ever saw rain so were outside a lot. :-) Something I haven't seen mentioned is to let your vet know that she is pregnant and due on a certain date. Even if you go for a scan they still like you to remind them the week before she is due. They will then take a note so they are prepared just in case anything goes wrong. Hopefully, once they are told, you will never use them, but at least they could be prepared. Make sure that the vets phone number is on speed dial. You really don't want to go searching for the number when you are panicking.

As to breeding from only titled dogs, I have seen titled dogs not produce as well as themselves, but a litter brother or sister has produced much better offspring. So long as they are good looking dogs, and are fully health tested, and have excellent temperaments, then why shouldn't you breed? Good luck when you do have your litter.

Thank you dill yes have got a air bed so will have it to hand when the time comes, thanks for advice on the fitness bit she's an active girl so likes her walks.

Thanks Lindy Lou great advice, ill make sure vets number is number one on speed dial! I gave been told by numerous people that Berners can be lazy whelpers

Hi nova I haven't taken any offence to any comments you have made, I understood why you asked why I was intending to have a litter as to what advice you would give. I'm just sorry a innocent question seemed to spark an argument between members it certainly wasn't intended to.

No it was not you Sianb, your question was in no way to blame and a perfectly proper one, it was Husky Gal that was complaining to admin about my posts and I was interested to know why I had been reported, if I know I could avoid but I have no idea.

For those that are interested re titled parents etc. read this article http://www.steynmere.co.uk/ARTICLES8.html
It was written a while ago but I think still have relevance today and even though written about Boxers
I am sure that if you track through all breeds it probably holds true.

All the advice given has been brilliant thus far and I sincerely hope that with the help of your mentors (bitch's breeder and the stud dog owner) that you have a trouble free time.
I will admit that my most recent experience has been horrific (I've bred two times previously to this year in 12 years), where I almost lost the dam twice and then faced the awful experience of losing 3 out of the 4 puppies that were born. I have one puppy that is still here and
I must admit I have kittens when I bottle feed her as her mum doesn't have much milk etc.

The other thing I would say is make sure you have good back up as the sleep deprivation especially if you have to try and hand rear some or all of the puppies is a real killer. I am lucky that my partner and I are sharing the shifts and we have saved our annual leave in a way that one covers the first part of the week and the other the last part for all 8 weeks but am still covering the nights/early hours too as well. So it is very tiring and it's only now that I feel calmer and I'm having more of a reasonable sleep pattern and feel more logical/reasoned. Whereas with next to no sleep I was all over the place and distraught with each puppy I lost.

Do make sure that you have what ever milk replacer that you want to use in a week before she is due her pups.
Plus the bottles and sterilising fluid/tablets and containers.
Trying to get some in after they whelp takes time. Hopefully you won't need to use it 'til when they start weaning..but things like
that are a must prior to whelping as late night shopping won't give you access to specialist items and you can also bet because you need it quickly you will have delays in delivery etc.

Also I don't leave my pups they are supervised 24/7 so I am also limited to being able to get out for supplies and had to ask OH
to go shopping etc. as having food delivered to home would be too stressful for the dam as my living room is quite close to front door
and the other dogs get agitated etc. So a risk of Mum treading on pups could be quite high...so opted to remove that risk.
So might be worth planning to keep your stores cupboards/freezers stocked up prior to whelping.

Oh and have a carrier/box for puppies with a portable heat source such as the snuggle safe microwaveable heat pads.
For emergency trips to the vet. Plus an extra pair of hands that can go with you to the vet..

I wish you the very best of luck and hope all goes well for you.

Thank you boxacrazy great advice.

Hi all, having read through a lot if posts on here I have a question for you all. What would be your one bit of invaluable advice you would give someone who was planning on having their first ever litter?

Probably ... don't!

It's not all it's cracked up to be, there's a lot of heartache in it - though if you put no thought whatsoever into it, then apparently it all seems to go swimmingly :( It's EXPENSIVE to carry out all the required health tests, then there are those that the KC may not require but as a responsible breeder it is your duty to undertake - you cannot guarantee the health of pups you produce but it is your duty to do the best you can for them. It is expensive in buying equipment, in taking time out of work (unless you are one of the lucky ones with a super other half who can support you through the up to 3 months required for pup preparation/rearing). It's just wonderful going to a breeder and seeing the wonderful puppies - pretty much looking at puppy rearing through rose tinted glasses. It's horrendous when things don't go right and your bitch becomes ill ... even more so should your bitch die during/after whelping - if you think it doesn't happen to the best of breeders then do a search through CD :( If things go wrong then that too is expensive. If you do the job correctly you will be exhausted, mentally drained, and financially well out of pocket!

However, if you are really, really determined you have the staying power, the where with all for breeding, the mental ability to deal with potential customers, the ability to turn folk down, the ability to cope with all the phone calls and support that a responsible breeder should provide their pup owners, the ability to take a pup back at any point in it's life - and possibly deal with 'issue's' it may have picked up along the way then the bit of invaluable advice I would give is:

Talk to the breeder of your bitch, get their absolute full support for what it is you are planning, get their help in learing ALL that you can about the entire process - including all the work you need to ensure that your pups are well socialised and fit to go out into our crazy world to deal with all the hugely crazy things we expect our dogs to deal with - get their help and advice about possible stud dog. Absolutely suck the breeder dry of everything you need to know. You might know your bitch, but you also need to know fully the temperaments/characters of what's behind her as that's what's going to appear in future generations too ... your breeder will/should know all this :)

Edited: ooops, not read all posts, just your initial one, so that is what I'm replying to :) My first advice stands, as does my second should the first bit of advice be not what you want ;)

I would always say "the list". Every telephone number you might possibly need on hand and if possible on speed dial. Also figure out where loudspeaker is activated on your mobile so in an emergency you can dial promptly and keep both hands free to take whatever action is required.

Also, don't forget yourself in all the prep. We sometimes get so fixated on our girls needs we forget we are going to be there every step of the way with them. Ensure you have easy access to high energy drinks and foods throughout so that you can stay alert to any situation.

Thanks guys, I definatly haven't looked at this through rosé tinted glasses my breeder and stud owner have given it to me in basic terms! Lol

the mental ability to deal with potential customers,

I rather see them as future members of your extended family. :)

Most do become future members of an extended family, but inevitably some don't :( I use the term 'customers' as they are paying for a pup :)

Lovely to see somebody coming on here and taking up and acknowledging people's advice with an open mind which often doesn't happen with newbies :-)

The way I see it ljs is that u guys have been at this an awful lot longer than me so I appreciate all advice given, and if it helps me make informed decisions even better! Like I said earlier I do like to do my homework and I think being forwarned is being for armed it all helps x

Hi Sianb.
I have BMD's and have bred 2 Champions and a have had a number of litters.
Longevity is very important in our breed. I like to see an average of 8-9 years at age of death in a 5 generation pedigree. Higher if possible....(Not easy to find but possible with care)  Hips and elbows to are very important and should be within the BVA breed MEAN average or  close to it. (You cannot breed by numbers but it takes expierience to use less perfect hips and a very in-depth knowledge of family traits and scores)
Titles are lovely to have but many an untitled dog has produced excellent offspring. If she is of good breed type and has won consistantly at Champ show level under various judges then fine. More important that you have found a male who will compliment your bitch and help to correct any faults she has. Also that she will help to elliminate any faults the male carries.
Temperament must be at the very top of your requirements.. an 8 stone out of control aggresive Bernese is not something anyone would ever wish to see.
Your reasons for breeding are not nescessarily the best. You could have another pup from similar lines with much less danger to your bitch, and much less hard work for you! However if you do your homework right and take extreme care, endorse your pups, choose owners with great care, have mentors to help and expect to loose 10 weeks of your normal life then it could be done.
Whelping a BMD can be a traumatic time as they can be very lazy whelpers and often need intervention by vets. You WILL need an expierienced helper who can recognize signs of inertia or early problems with stuck pups. If there are emergencies vets are usually too far away to help much so please do not attemt to whelp a first litter for you and her alone.
Never forget you coud have a nice easy litter and all turn out well, just as commom to have problems, even the loss of the bitch or pups or both. It does happen so make sure it is a risk you are prepared to take. Reduce it by gaining lots of hands on expierience if you can beforehand. You should not attemp to whelp a litter unless you have been involved in watching someone else who knows what they are doing beforhand.
Once your litter is here expect to have a sever dose of sleep depravation, I often exsist on 3-4 hours a day in the evening once hubby is home from work as he needs his sleep too... BMD's are heavy and can be clumsy so you could well loose pups if great care is not taken. By 4 weeks a larger run is needed and by 5 weeks unlimited access to an outside run. In my opinion the pups should have the main run/sleeping area inside the home and the availability of easily accessed outside space is  an absolute must. Regular trips into the household are needed but remember 8-9 Bernie pups will soon wreck your home so free run of the home is silly and not a good idea. Time each day for every puppy to spend supervised play in the home is better. My pups have a run 12ft x 12 ft inside and a door to a 20 x 15 ft outside run. Believe me it is not too big !!! Every day they need new things to see and do, people, children, car rides, trips into the garden, handling etc....
The fun goes on and on so get it right. We have a lot of back yard, sloppy breeders around in BMD's and there is no need for more, so, do thing right first time and make sure the pups you breed are a credit to you and not another drain on Rescue. Remember too that those pups wil;l hopefully still be around in 10 years time, and will still be ulimatly your responcibility so be prepared to help your new owners for the puppies lifetime....not just till the cheque has cleared !! Oh and expect to share buckets of tears with your new friends who take on your pups when they phone to tell you news good or bad!! I have lost count of the people I have wept with at the death of a much loved Bernese. They do not live long enough and you as a breeder (Yep one litter makes you a breeder ! ) MUST do 150% to make sure your pups are the best you can produce.
Aileen

Thanks merlot that was of great help. I guess I'm lucky to have my breeder who has also been in the breed for years to give me help and support, she is very willing to come to me when the time is right. I have found a stud who compliments my girl, not only in type but in temperament as my girl is such a loving, easy going good tempered dog, I wanted to find a dog with a similar nature as well as good hips, elbows and of type. Thanks for your advice

Just wanted to say thank you for all your replies guys. I will be taking on board all that you have said whether it is a positive or negative, ill keep you posted as to what happens, thank you

If people only bred from champions, there would not be many dogs about. I think the OP has done the right thing by health testing etc.

Hi guys just wanted to update! My girl is yet to come into season, but thus has given me time to put a few things into place and do yet more research! Having taken on board what merlot said and being in the breed her self knows what's she's talking about. I will have someone who will be with me at whelping time who used to be in a large kennel years ago, but also has helped whelp dozens of Berners over the years, he has so much experience with the breed that's its put my mind to rest. I don't know why I didn't think of him earlier as I've now known him and his wife for nearly two years and go to ring craft club with them! And they live only ten minutes away from me. I've also rearranged my ideas for the room in which she would be whelping to give us a run of 12 x 12 indoors and easy access to outside run of 30 x 6. Now that's all in place and I'm happy that the stud compliments my girl it's a waiting game. Just wanted to say again thank you for all your replies.
Many thanks
Sian