I am looking at my diary and trying to clear it as much as I need to.  I have total flexibility and can cancel whatever I need. 

Realistically, for how many days before the due date/Day 63, do you clear your diary? 

Obviously I want to be sure I'm here when something happens, and I will never be away longer than 3 hours even if I haven't cleared the diary.  Should I clear from Day 61?  Day 60? 

This is a large gundog breed which typically whelps easily.  I have cleared the diary the whole time from whelping onwards between myself and my husband, someone will always be here.  But how far back to clear, before the due date?

Thanks.

On day 58 (from the first mating) I start measuring the temperature regularly morning and night. From day 59 onwards I never leave my female at home alone. That is, unless the temperature has told me without the slightest doubt that nothing has started.  But this is MY breed.  With other breeds there will be those whose experience is probably quite different.

Is it a define yes then rabid re puppies

Well, not yet definite but as I have to schedule ahead, I can't wait till too near to cancel things - so best to cancel now anyway and get the diary cleared. 

I'm pretty sure things are looking good - pink and springy nipples, opaque discharge from Day 21 and I think the very beginnings of tummy getting bigger now (Day 32).

My toy breed is usually early so I clear things from a week beforehand. But if your breed usually goes to term, perhaps just a few days?

Seeing as the earliest I've had a bitch go into labour was day 54, and my current pregnant bitch gave birth on day 57 last time (different breeds where one bitch weighed 3.5 kg and the other 32 kg) -I am not going anywhere from day 54 which is today.Not worth the risk.

Just to add - I know from progesterone testing, that she didn't ovulate before our first mating.  So if it's 63 days plus or minus a day, from the day of ovulation, then I think we won't be able to be as early as Day 54 or 57... 

People who've progesterone-tested, how have you found predicting whelping dates?!

My girl went 5 days early but she was carrying 10. I didn't go anywhere from day 54 simply because it was becoming more and more obvious she wouldn't manage the full 63 days.

We usually give up a chair for dinner on Wednesday nights for someone who would normally dine alone and even they were notified a week in advance that this wouldn't be possible in case I was busy dealing with the whelping. People are so understanding :)

A week before she's due

I've got plans to have someone home all the time for at least 5 days before the due date, and can easerly shorten my work hours to almost nothing for a couple of days before that period.

Well my bitch is now on day 55, has panted all day, is nesting and refusing food.

thinking of you Goldmali - let us know how she progresses :)

Mine have all gone into stage one at 61 /62 days post ovulation or 63-64 from LH surge. Always tested and always worked due dates from tests and always been spot on based on reported norms

I have had a litter of 9 pups in a medium breed five days before day 63, of a single mating, no progesterone testing..

Hi I have a girl and am receiving conflicting dates regarding her whelping. She is 53 days after her final mating today. We tested with idexx. She had a tie on the Sunday 27/03 idexx results showed she had ovulated on the Tuesday 48 hours later with a result of 23.4. She then had 3 more successful ties on the Tuesday 29/03 30/03 31/03. Breeder says 63 days last mating however vet says post first mating. Making her 56 post idexx results or 58 before idexx result?? Very confused. Any advice welcomed. Thanks in advance

When you have maiting over a period of time it can be harder to get an exact date.
If she ovulated before her first maiting you take that maiting date to count from to get the first possible date then you have between that and the last one as a range.

Our large(ish) gundog breed just whelped yesterday on day 58. One mating following progesterone testing.
8 health happy pups
To be honest, I wasn't quite as ready as I thought I was but my fella was a fab midwife assistant!

It should be plus or minus a day from ovulation, so idexx date.

Lisamj, dates of matings are irrelevant. You need to count from date of ovulation as you have that due to progesterone testing her :-)