Hi everyone,  iv been reading the forum for a while and took some brilliant advice in the past. I thought I'd post my own quiery to try to pit my mind at ease lol.

I have mated a bitch this week....lots of planning etc and as this is her first litter at four I probably won't try again if it doesn't work.

I did her bloods last Saturday (day 12) came back 8 nmol. Told to retest monday but also had a good convo with them as I didn't really want to retest as my girl threw a tantrum and it was quite a ridiculous experience.  Anyway on the advice from idexx I took her on Wednesday and Friday (yesterday) two ties although the dog wasnt that interested yesterday. I may go back tomorrow just to see but tbh my bitch isn't interested in my dog like she was.

Just after some advise what others would do and if it sounds hopeful.

Thanks Jen xx

With reading of 8nmol the best  estimate for optimum day  is 3-5 days  so if she stood and you had good matings you should be ok
In an ideal world I would have wanted to wait to get a definite ovulation but when I had to travel to Germany for a mating I set off when we got to this level, had just one good mating and we had a litter of 6 :)

Thanks. How many days after that result did you mate her?
I Have been told that I was late but she obviously hadn't ovulated Saturday and idexx said if she ovulated Sunday then the Wednesday mate would be good.

I mated her three days after the 8nmol reading

I would always recommend having a further test to confirm that she did actually ovulate on the predicted days as some can stall

klb, when you set off without having had the result for that test back, what would you have done if the result you'd got back had suggested she wasn't ready yet?

Would you have tested again at the stud dog owner's vet?  Or would you just have chanced it, or waited longer when you got there, before trying?

We will also be travelling and I don't want to cut it too fine and not get there in time once the bloods give us the green light.  So I was planning to test from Day 5, but also to book the ferry for Day 11 at the start of her season.  If I need to, I can bring it forwards from that.  But waiting later, especially with weekends and distance to travel, makes me a bit nervous.  I'd kind of rather get there early and wait there, than not get there in time.  I was wondering if I should then ask the stud dog owner about getting another test done at her vet's, once I get to her... (dependent on the test results we received before leaving)  Is that a good idea?  Or should I just wing it and guess when it's most likely to be, given the results we had before leaving?

I had previously progesterone tested this bitch for an AI attempt and so had a bit of a bench mark as she followed a similar progression to previous test results.
My journey time demanded I planned my journey at point of  LH stage and set off before next test result back -  if she hadn't have ovulated would could have stayed over until she was ready as would have been an extra 24 hours or so. For natural mating with fertile dog you have a good margin as even if a little early if bitch stands she will likely get in whelp as semen from fertile male will live for 5 days plus.

I didn't book any travel / hotels until I had my result back - had my channel crossing options mapped out and hotel earmarked.
If you may want progesterone tests run once you arrive on mainland I would get stud owner to ask her vet now about running tests for you - best be prepared :)
Your travel distances are certainly achievable with progesterone testing ... It's the unknown that is concerning you. You will look back and think why was I so worried :)

Thanks, phew, yes, I am a bit of a worrier really!!  The advantage is that I get very prepared.  The disadvantage is that I over-think everything!! 

I am going to make an appointment with the vet we will use for progesterone testing and herpes jabs, in the next few weeks - just to chat our plans over with her and to make sure she orders in the herpes jab for us and is expecting us.  I also thought we could have a mini-blood draw practice, without actually doing it - with me practising the restraint position I've been teaching her and the vet approaching and fiddling with her neck a bit. 

lol Definately overthinking - blood draw is easy and vets do it multiple times each day :)

> blood draw is easy

Except when you have one that will not be restrained (wriggle like mud wrestler) and had to be sedated for her Rabies blood titre.  I put it down to having blood drawn from both legs at four months for prcd-PRA testing.

Its one reason why I have only ever done Progesterone (in house kits) with one bitch, (different to the above) after 3 days of blood letting she was thoroughly fed up, and never liked vet visits after that, always wanting a quick fuss from vet staff and rushed for the door.

Yup, that's exactly why I want to have a couple sessions where we just hang out and do nothing - also our vet doesn't routinely stock the herpes jab and I want to make sure they are going to get it in for us and speak to them in person about it...

This is the reason I did not go back. My girl was wriggling about so happy wanting hugs that the nurse left go of her....followed by the vet who left the needle in her! My girl immediately had a fit with this object sticking out of her leg....she left the vets a trembling wreck.

I plan on restraining mine, in the way we've been practising.  THat's also one of the things I want to discuss with them - letting me do that. 

Otherwise, I'm not sure I want to do the progesterone testing, if they insist on taking her away and doing it themselves.  She is a bit sensitive - my other dogs, I wouldn't care because I'd know that it wouldn't have a big effect on, but her it could if it is done badly.

Mine are all very easy - they love the vet as they go regularly when pups to be weighed and everyone fusses and feeds then treats
All happy to be examined and never have to be restrained for bloods, just put them on a sit and gentle turn head to expose neck.  All will jump onto exam table on request and One girl even had needle biopsy from her mouth with me just holding her coller - guess I am luckier than I think

My vet has always wanted to shave so I have had them do bloods from the leg, which I suppose they fidget more for.

Just an update. Had my girl scanned yesterday and been told one or two pups.

Great news