Our bitch was mated with tie on April 20th making her 3.5weeks 'pregnant' if she took. Her appetite is non existent, turns her nose up at usual kibble, sardines and can barely get a chicken wing down her. She's moody, lonesome and does have pink perky nipples.

Her latest symptom though is mothering a ball and taking it everywhere (not a breed that usually retrieves!)

Seems too early to be mothering items, last time she only did this in last week of pregnancy so I'm starting to think it's one massively expensive phantom :s

Opinions please, anyone's bitches mothered toys early and gone on to whelp? She is booked for scan on Thursday, the not knowing is killing us.

Ah well, thanks for all the responses everyone, funny how some threads get loads of opinions and others get left. Today is scan day so will find out in next hour or so.

my grandparents jack terrors always hand phanton pregnacys and always made nests and motherd toys
good luck with scan

If we ever had a phantom, which was rare even if the Basset is 'maternal' (even if they can go to secondary inertia the moment they feel pain!!) it didn't start until after the bitch would have whelped.   Certainly not during the early stages of pregnancy!

You have to be patient.   If it was meant to be, it will be.   Plan for a litter and hope.  It won't 'kill you'.     I have never done all this scanning - the only investigation I did was if, a couple of days beyond the 'due date', nothing was happening, I'd have x-rays done if the vet himself wasn't cure whether the bitch was empty or not.   And sometimes with my breed with the well-sprung ribcage, any puppies could be hidden up under the ribs until they finally drop ready to be whelped.   By 7 weeks, puppy movement should be seen.   That still gives the breeder 2 weeks to prepare.

ps   A tie isn't always necessary for a successful outcome - much as breeders prefer to see one.

ps   A scan will only confirm a pregnancy, or not, at the time of the scan.   And if you are told no, my money would be on you still waiting 'just in case the scan was wrong' 

She's empty :(

so sorry to her

So sorry to read this. However literally a few days ago someone here asked if the empty scan could be wrong as they were told definitely a phantom and now an x-ray has revealed 5 pups so I'd keep an eye on her anyway.