I am just asking as not experienced in this kind of thing and would appreciate answers from people with experience please.

Would you take a bitch to a show if she had been mated 3 weeks prior? Would it be too stressful or risk of infection? Wondered what peoples thoughts were.

Thanks

100% would not take her. :-)

Not at 3 weeks no, that's just when the embryos are implanting into the uterus. Before then they are safely floating around, and after within reason they are reasonably safe, but 3 weeks or so is IIRC the riskiest time.

The risky point in a canine pregnancy is the second trimester after the eggs implant in the uterus and placenta is established and before most foetal development takes place (so 3 to 6 weeks).

This is the stage when absorption takes place, and abnormalities in development occur and the foetal units are influenced by what the bitch encounters (re poisons infections etc).

so no I would not take a bitch in her second trimester to any show, large scale doggy event etc.

The first trimester the units are free floating and not linked into the bitches circulation, so safer, but of course for the first half of that period the bitch will still be in season, and after 6 weeks she will be shwoign her pregnancy too much to show.

150% not.
I groom from home as well and mine normally comes into the grooming room with me but I do not allow this even when dogs are not there.
Maybe over the top but take no chances.

Thanks for the detail in your answers. You have confirmed my mind. Despite looking lovely she will be staying behind and my friends will be looking after her for the day.

It's good to understand the actual reasons why, very interesting to know what stage she is at.

Absolutely NO!   And further, we curtailed our showing until after the whole thing was over - puppies we weren't keeping off to their homes and those we were, vaccinated.   We never combined both although if you have a quarantine set-up where those going to shows can be to prevent the spread of infection, there's nothing to prevent taking others out.   But again NOT the in-whelp bitch.   People do, but it's foolish in my opinion.

I know of one incident where an owner took another bitch to a fun day and walked Kennel Cough back to a nursing mum (newly whelped litter).   She lost a number of the puppies and had to work like mad to prevent losing the lot after mum picked this up from the other bitch.