I have a few 'odds and sods' questions about things, which maybe people can answer....

1)  Glucose powder for use during whelping to keep energy levels up.  I have some, but how much do I add to a bowl of water?  (Or puppy milk?)  There are no instructions on the tub - how many tablespoons? 

2)  What is the best stuff to use for disinfecting/cleaning the thermometer when taking temperature leading up to whelping?  I have one of the electronic basal body temperature thermometers and it hasn't been used before.  In between uses, and when finished, how am I sterilising it?

3)  There is a lot of mention of wiping down boobs with Dettol after walks, is that the best thing to use and how concentrated do I make it?  Ditto for her paws - I was going to dabble them in a washing up bowl, what should I add to the water?  I thought maybe I'd just use warm water for her boobs - Dettol is so strong smelling even if weakly made up(!).

4)  I have a big tub of RC puppy (babydog) milk.  (I don't like RC foods generally, but after checking the ingredients and all reviews for puppy milks, this is the one I went for.)  The instructions on how to make it up involve using boiled and then cooled water - I'm guessing this is only for very tiny orphaned/hand-reared pups, and tap water is fine if I'm using it at 3 weeks + for weaning, or to give mum just after whelping?  (People who use powdered milks for older pups or mums, do you use tap water?)

I'm sure I'll have more questions at some point...Thx

I always use boiled water for mixing puppy milk, cold for Mum warm for pups.

I usually just add a teaspoon of glucose powder to 1/4 pint of puppy milk for Mum.

Never take temperature and never wipe boobs with anything but baby wipes, or baby bath liquid in water..

1) I got the glucose powder but didn't use it - mum hated it and refused anything with it in point blank. Instead I beat an egg with some evaporated milk and then thinned it down - she went mad for it. But I only gave it in small amounts during whelping and once when she was done. She happy to go back to normal water afterwards.

2) I use alcoholic wipes from the chemist to wipe the thermometer and the scissors clean. You can also use dettol diluted in hot water and allowed to cool. Again, I didn't use the thermometer all that much as my girl had enough to deal with without me poking a cold stick up her chocolate starfish and I went with what she was telling me when she looked at me.

3) I didn't walk my girl anywhere public after whelping at all and she was happy to potter about the garden until the pups were 6 weeks old. After that she went out on the field but I just wiped her down with a warm damp towel as I knew nothing sinister was out there.

4) I have a a large bottle of bottled water - I think it's the flouride etc that's added that the royal canin manufacturers don't want mixing with their formula but as whelpi and lactol do not stipulate such things I am happy to us tap water and have done so in the past - albeit once the pups were over 2 weeks old.

ok? :)

1.  I put a half teaspoon of glucose in a small dish of water for during the whelping.  For after the whelping, mine LOVE a very fresh egg yolk mixed in water with a little glucose powder and lactose-free yoghurt.  Mix it with a whisk.  You can get a lot of liquid into her this way, which is important for the production of milk.  Later you can continue getting the liquid in with just the yoghurt and water.

2.  soap and water, or alcohol

3.  I don't take her on walks.

4.  I also use Royal Canin baby milk (if and when I need baby milk).  I do heat the water to boiling, mix in the milk powder, and then put the bottle in a pan of cold water and let it sit there till it's the right temperature.  This is for feeding the babies, however.  For Mum after the whelping, see number 1.

Hi Rabid...how is your Mum-To-Be coming along?
With my last litter, I gave Mum glucose in tap water to drink during whelping to increase her energy and also for a few days post whelp for the same reasons.  Nursing babies is hard work and must take a lot out of Mum.

Alcohol wipes for the thermometer between uses, also for any other things you might need to use such as scissors or clamps.

You could use either just warm water or milton wipes to clean her tummy and feet with as that doesn't have an odour.

I had (and still have!) a tub of RC babydog milk which I bought "just in case" but only mixed some for Mum afterwards and I ALWAYS use boiled cooled water for babies of any species. Most people will have some previously boiled water in their kettle from all the cups of tea you have whilst waiting for the arrivals,   I would also point out here that the babydog milk doesn't have much of a shelf life so if you don't use it, you can't keep it for another litter as it will be out of date.  AT £13 a pack, it's an expensive "standby".  This time I'm not going to buy it and if it turns out that I do need it, I will have to send out for it.  I also bought colostrum just in case but didn't need it.  I also bought Dopram V which I thankfully didn't need so this time I'm only having the bare essentials ready.

How long before your girl is due now?

Ok, so just to check....

If I am making up RC Babydog Milk:  I am really hoping everything is going to go according to plan and only mum will need this during whelping at first, and maybe the early few days to get liquid into her for lactation.  It sounds like you guys are saying that even though I am feeding this to mum only, and even though mum regularly drinks tap water (as all dogs do!), I should only use boiled and then cooled water when making up the RC Babydog milk for her?  (Does this make sense if she is also drinking tap water at other times anyway?!)

Obviously if I do need to feed the pups, I will boil and cool the water - but I'm hoping that doesn't happen! 

Then, when the pups are 3 wks and I start weaning, I was going to begin with RC Babydog milk with some NatureDiet Puppy in it, mostly the milk and less solids and then as the days go by, increase the solids and reduce the milk.  So that was my 2nd use for the Babydog milk - at weaning time.  Again, do I need to still use boiled and cooled water at that point?  (I'm thinking yes, here, to be on the safe side?  Although when raw feeders are weaning onto raw mince, does it make sense that I am boiling and cooling water?!)

I don't know why the freaking Babydog milk thing is doing my head in

I have now started a new list, including alcohol wipes, dettol, milton wipes, and baby shampoo.... I feel like I am preparing for some sort of freak weather event, the amount of supplies I am getting in every day.  Every day I arrive home and schlep a load of stuff inside and am convinced I must certainly have everything now.  And then the next day, realise I need more and go out again!  I will be by myself at whelping because my OH is working away (due back a few days after she is due), so I want to be sure I have everything I could possibly need around me.  I have people I can get to come over if I need advice or help, but I'd rather not do that unless I need to, to keep it stress free for mum to be.

midnightvelvet, she is due about 10 days time.

Is the breeser of your girl nit at the end of the phone as your mentor or the stud owner?

Yes of course she is, but why should I take her opinion over all of yours?  She is equally as experienced but she does many things which I now know to be not ideal.

I prefer to ask many people what they do, read several books and articles, and then decide what I will do, rather than just ask one person what they do and unthinkingly do exactly the same. 

If you don't want to answer the questions i have, please don't post deliberately inflammatory comments - like you did on the other thread.  Please stop trolling.

1)  Glucose powder for use during whelping to keep energy levels up.

I've never used it, and not often had a bitch wanting to eat or drink anything during whelping. For my current litter, the bitch threw up just before each pup was born, until the last 3 or so. (She hadn't eaten for a while so it was mainly water and afterbirths.)

2)  What is the best stuff to use for disinfecting/cleaning the thermometer when taking temperature leading up to whelping?

I just use baby wipes. Every time I have a pregnant bitch I take the temperature, thinking THIS time it will tell me something. It never has done yet.

3)  There is a lot of mention of wiping down boobs with Dettol after walks,

Never done it.

4)  I have a big tub of RC puppy (babydog) milk.  (I don't like RC foods generally, but after checking the ingredients and all reviews for puppy milks, this is the one I went for.)  The instructions on how to make it up involve using boiled and then cooled water - I'm guessing this is only for very tiny orphaned/hand-reared pups, and tap water is fine if I'm using it at 3 weeks + for weaning, or to give mum just after whelping?  (People who use powdered milks for older pups or mums, do you use tap water?)

Personally I prefer Welpi but that's just me -just like for kittens I found Cimicat (same maker) much better than RC. I'm one who would never give a bitch milk to drink, having had problems with severe diarrhoea in bitches in my first few litters because of giving milk. I also do not give it to pups unless they need fully hand rearing or topping up, and then it's always cool boiled water.

That made me chuckle about 'feeling like preparing for some freak weather event' (can't work out how to do the copying thing you all do!)

Rabid my pups are 10 days old today and I think I experienced all of what you have done and are doing. My whelping supplies increased by the day from sterilising tablets to expensive Dopram V and Nutri drops, we had the Whelpi milk 'just in case' heat pads and lamps plus 101 other things. It seemed more involved than having a baby.

In the event we used very little of the things bought, the musts for me were hand sanitiser (never got round to using gloves specially bought); old towels cut up; kitchen roll; mine turned her nose up at the glucose but loves goats milk; vet bed stuff is good and the heat pads have been excellent.

The rest will be on e bay shortly!

I note you say you will be on your own at the whelping - for me it was a must just to have another person there for support and in case of any emergency vet trip, and also of course to put the kettle on for you and to share a bottle of fizz with afterwards !

>Please stop trolling.

You have overreacted to a simple question Rabid.

Suejaw has been a member for many years and she is NOT a troll and she is not 'trolling' you! In fact, she has a voiced a valid point in asking you why you are not contacting your mentor/breeder with all of these questions.  You are posting on a public forum and you will receive many varied replies and suggestions - some you may not like. That is the nature of the beast. If as you say 

>I prefer to ask many people what they do, read several books and articles, and then decide what I will do 

then surely, her advice/opinion/questions are as valid as everyone else's.

If you (or anyone else) do not like a question you are asked or the advice given by any member, then ignore it! But accusations of 'trolling' are unnecessary and offensive.

If you (or anyone else) have a problem with any member, then click on the ignore button. That is what it is there for.

People who've been members a long time can also troll others... it's not only something newcomers can do!

Maybe trolling wasn't the right word, but to repeatedly ask pointed questions which don't address the issues I need help with, derail the conversation and make someone in need of help, feel defensive, is hardly contributing to the forum positively, is it?

There's also the "Getting closer now" thread, where she asked why I was having a litter if not to keep one.

If she'd said anything helpful at all, as well as asking the questions, then I wouldn't have minded. It's not so much the questions as the way they are put and the lack of anything helpful about them, their total irrelevance to the conversations being had.

I appreciate I'm on a public forum and people will ask questions I don't like. Equally: I'll respond and may say things they might not like. It goes both ways. If they don't like the responses they're getting, they might think about the questions they're asking!

Thanks for info on the ignore button but conversations between others don't really make much sense if you can't see half of them, so I don't use it. If things get worse, I guess I will.

Admin as a newbie who has read a lot of posts on this site i think you are failing to see this situation as others are.

If the implication in this case is that the mentor will answer all questions then why does this forum even exist?

> Admin as a newbie who has read a lot of posts on this site i think you are failing to see this situation as others are.

With all due respect I think Admin have been round long enough to see the situation as it really is. I for one have seen hundreds of posts where experienced breeders have replied to others suggesting that it is ideal to have the breeder of their dog as their mentor. Not sure why this would be considered a problem?

> If the implication in this case is that the mentor will answer all questions then why does this forum even exist?

To let posters know that a mentor would be one of the best people to advise? To do it's best to ensure that responsible dog ownership whether it be breeding, behaviour or whatever is paramount?

If you look at a poster's profile you are able to see the posts they have put up and those past posts will most certainly have addressed the mentor issue before for other posters not just for this poster. Long term members  give the same replies and information to whomever asks a question - not just to new members but others too.

OMG am I the only person who doesn't do any of these things!

Ice cream, the cheap varieties have lots of sugar so can replace glucose and bitches usually love it

Dettol diluted as per bottle instructions for baby person use

I don't take my bitches off the premises until the puppies have gone so just do dirty paws with baby wipe

I have luckily never had to use substitute milk but RC does seem to have good reviews

I am saving up "chocolate starfish" to use in conversation one day, thank you

With all due respect in return I wonder how many other forums Admin uses/visits?  This is an ancient (in format), very quiet little forum, with a disproportionate number of new trolls (because it is a soft target). Users talk frequently about "improving breeding" and "educating people" all the while behaving in ways that send the majority with questions elsewhere, so that everyone here is singing to the choir educating very few and improving very little.

The question of whether or not the breeder has a mentor has been covered hundreds of times.  Rabid has a mentor, even i, the lowly newbie, know this already from previous threads where rabid has been asked already.  Must it be mentioned in literally every single thread posted about breeding?  Is that a rule i am unaware of?

If the forum only exists so that people can say "ask your mentor" to any asked question then perhaps a locked sticky with that information in it would be more appropriate than a space where other questions can be asked.

Dear Rabid,

I'm jumping over the stuff in between and getting back on track with your questions.  I admire you for your research and your courage and your thoroughness and your deeply-caring attitude.  I would only like to tell you from my own experience, that when push comes to shove (meaning when that birth has really started!!!), there is nothing quite so wonderful as a companion on the scene, there with you, who has experience.  That's so that you have the chance to say, for example:  "Look at that!  Is that normal?  Or do you think I should call the vet?  Oh, I see what you mean.  Good then, we'll wait a bit.  But what is she doing now?  Why does she do that?  Oh.  Uh-huh, I get it."  See what I mean? 

Sometimes I wonder why I post on here at all

> This is an ancient (in format), very quiet little forum, with a disproportionate number of new trolls (because it is a soft target).

It used to be a very well respected forum due to the credibility and experience of the posters - shame so many have left due to posters who constantly queried their motives, knowledge and experience.

> Must it be mentioned in literally every single thread posted about breeding?  Is that a rule i am unaware of?

Repeating information is a way to reach new members asking about breeding. Who knows how many threads they are reading - it could be just the one in which case it is very important to mention relevant information.

> If the forum only exists so that people can say "ask your mentor" to any asked question then perhaps a locked sticky with that information in it would be more appropriate than a space where other questions can be asked.

The breeding topic is just one of the many topics covered by this forum.

> Users talk frequently about "improving breeding" and "educating people" all the while behaving in ways that send the majority with questions elsewhere, so that everyone here is singing to the choir educating very few and improving very little.

That is their prerogative - there are none so blind as those that will not see

We were all newbies on here once and I expect a lot of us when we first joined may have been cautious about what we posted at the time because the answers we might get might not be what we were expecting. Rather than just leaving because some of the posters seemed a bit "tough"it soon became apparent that this forum was very different from other forums. Not only did it's members promote responsibledog ownership and ethical breeding but they gave their considerable experience and knowledge free of charge and refused to change their beliefs just because others may not like those beliefs or the answers they were given to their questions. There are lots of dog forums out there where  one can choose to ask a question - but I personally stick with this one because the information I have gained from it has been second to none.

Maybe I need a break

Nimue, I totally see that - but unless the mentor is some you know is really good, you risk being told the wrong things or encouraged to do the wrong things.  Like going to the vet too soon and having unnecessary C sections.  Or the opposite.  And having someone unfamiliar around at this time, doesn't seem a good idea - if anything might lead to her trying to hold on and wait for more privacy, rather than getting things going... I have people who live close by that I can call on for help to come over, but they won't be there all the way through - or at all, if there isn't a problem.

The breeder of my girl doesn't socialise pups enough (IMO), can't identify one puppy from another and didn't really care which was which, didn't vet me on the phone or ask any questions of me at all, has gone on to breed from my pup's mum every year (now at 3 litters - my girl is 2yo and was her first litter) and basically has done lots of other things I personally would never do and think are wrong.  I chose her because of the pedigree and - frankly - I didn't realise many of these things until I was there to collect my pup.

The stud owner is very helpful, but used vaseline as lubricant during the mating (clearly can't be totally wrong as we have pups in there), thought day 1 was first day of red blood, not any blood, walks her lactating girls with her other dogs off the premisses as normal as soon as they want to go for walks after whelping, and so on.  Again, things which many here (equally experienced!) do not agree with.

So the (repeatedly thrown around!) idea that everyone should have a mentor and that mentor will Have All the Answers and if you just do everything they do, you will be doing everything as right as possible, is just a fallacy.  Probably I am not doing everything exactly like any one other person. I want to speak to lots of people, see if multiple people say/do the same thing, see what reasoning makes sense to me, think about how things apply to my own situation (house layout, surroundings, people) and try to find the best way forwards for myself.

If anyone who asks questions, is just implicitly told to ask their mentor, then what is the point of this forum?  It's like in the Health section, where I asked another question, and was told I should only be asking a vet.  For goodness sake... I don't rely on anyone else to have the answers, because unfortunately in life - time and again - I've seen that people in positions of authority, don't.  I will listen to them and then I will cross-check what I'm told...

>If anyone who asks questions, is just implicitly told to ask their mentor, then what is the point of this forum?

That's not what I meant, of course.  And all your points are well-taken, and of course it is up to you.  I guess what I was trying to convey was basically that is it just kinda "comforting" to have someone with you! 

Looking forward to your experiences, wishing you only the best and totally confident that you will be the master of it all! 

I must say...I wouldn't want to be totally alone during a whelping, it's always good to have someone else's opinion, if nothing else.

Hopefully things will be straightforward and you won't need any one else around, but I find four hands are so much better than two!

I love the way things get twisted around so that they become something that they are not. Have a go at me if you wish Rest assured though that I have seen it all before. Hundreds of times over the years. What I do, where I go or what I know is not relevant. If I have any help/advice to add to a thread or think I can help, I will post.  However, I will also not hesitate to step in as Admin and bang heads together if needed. I would rather not have too as allegedly you are all adults. Sadly, from time to time I do need to step into a thread before things escalate. This is one such thread. A simple question was asked and offense taken, so the claws come out and before you know it, battle lines are drawn, sides are taken and common sense goes out the window! Life really is to short folks ..

Now, let's get this thread back on track can we

I agree (if at all possible having someone with you) and before I remarried I had for my first litter someone who the bitch knew well come and supervise though she did have first pup on her own, it was only 8oz and I was not prepared for how cool it felt, as I had only ever had experience of newborn Rabbit kits whom are incredibly hot (no coat).

Thankfully my friends arrived in time for second pup who was twice the size of first and needed help being born (lube and traction).

Some issues with second litter, stopped me using open tray whelping boxes and to going for the den arrangement I have used ever since.

The person in attendance at a whelping does not necessarily have to be a mentor or someone who is supposed to have all the answers.
It can be a good friend or a family-member.  As was suggested already here, maybe that person could drive the car, for instance, if it should look like a trip to the vet is in order.  Or make that cup of tea.  Or hold your hand.

After so many years, I have birthed only my last 4 or 5 litters alone.  With a close friend of mine, who is a breeder herself, we have, up until recently, always gone through the births together, even those which ended with the one of us waving to the other as she drove off to the vet's with Mum.  We have learned together, not exactly the blind leading the blind, but instead a kind of creative sharing of new experiences and the application of knowledge each of us had gained elsewhere as well.  She has excellent common sense, I have better nerves when push comes to shove.  One dark January morning at around 5 a.m. saw both of us at the vet's with Mum (her little poodle), with the baby half out, its bare legs dangling there, but nothing further happening.  Times like this are the ones when we are grateful not to be alone.  BTW, the baby survived just fine!  The vet said:  "It is dead for sure."  I said:  "I don't think so."  And it wasn't!    Births are so full of surprises!  Again and again!

I don't really have anyone I could ask, without knowing when it's going to happen.  I mean, asking someone to commit to being here with me when it could be 3am and all through the night, is a big ask.  It would be like 'hi - I don't know when this thing is going to happen, it might be the middle of the night, at short notice, but please will you commit to coming over without knowing when, day or night, it's going to happen, over a week?'.  I also know that I will think better, make decisions better, and be more focussed on my girl, if I'm not also feeling socially awkward having someone in my kitchen at 3am and trying to make conversation with them....

There is a chance my OH will be back in time - she is due on the Weds and he is due back the Fri morning.  So, if she is a couple days late, he will be here.  She is unlikely to be early, due to us knowing when she ovulated with the progesterone testing.  The other dogs are going to my parents, so they will be out of the way and so I can focus totally on mum and pups for the first week.

What my friend and I have always done is to inform the other one as soon as the temperature drop has occurred.  Then we know that the birth should take place within the next 24 hours or so.  As soon as Mum starts pushing, we call.  "She's PUSHING!!!!"  Then we get together.  Even if it is the middle of the night.  But it usually hasn't been.  And we also know that it might not be possible to be together.  After all, if Mum starts pushing when the friend (she or I, depending on whose female it is) has a doctor's appointment, there's not much we can do.  Then we ARE on our own.  And if Mum does not start pushing within a reasonable time, then we confer about possible inertia and so on.  It doesn't mean that either of us has all the answers, it is just helpful and comforting to have someone there.

I think it might be as well to remember that when asking anyone for their opinion what you will get is "their opinion", that may be based on 30 years experience and lots of litters but that doesn't make it right.  Whelping does not follow a set time scale or pattern as most experienced breeders know, I have learnt over 25 years and 16 litters but the advice I give is my opinion based on my knowledge and can and should be disregarded if the bitches owner thinks I am wrong.  I have attended quite a few whelpings to help friends and anyone who might need a reassuring presence, even talking a newbie through the birth while being a passenger in my friends car but I will never have all the knowledge so I just want to say that even the best mentor should not be absolutely relied upon. Above all most bitches will whelp naturally and without help so keep calm and follow the "maximum observation minimum interference" rule, taught to me by a very ancient mentor

If it's any consolation,  I won't be having anyone with me either. I have no family nearby and none of them (apart from my sister and brother in law) would understand even if there were. I have a friend on the other end of the phone who has some breeding experience but again, I'm not comfortable with anyone in my kitchen at anytime of the day or night if I am otherwise occupied concentrating on my girl.

Hubby works 12 hours daily and is usually falling asleep in his dinner so he'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot! My mentor turned out to be useless and very, very old school - so much so that he advocated letting my bitch have a litter in a cold, drafty garage and then drowning anything non standard, colour wise (this was 2 years ago!). Both hubby and friend are happy to drop everything and come to take me to the vet, vet is happy for me to call as much as I like and although the stud owner is over 2hrs away, she is very experienced and just a phonecall away regardless of time.

I am much happier and less likely to make a complete balls up if I am able to get on with it alone. If hubby is home, he'll be in the lounge keeping the other hooligans busy or out cold snoring.

For my first litter I had with me an elderly, no one could argue, very experienced lady that I thought I needed there. She has sadly long passed now.
All very well you might think but during and after the event I realised how old fashioned she was in her ways and ideas.
I knew there were things that on my own I would have done differently but I was frightened to upset her and she had offered and given up her time to help.
I never invited anyone again but always have the book of bitch on hand ( and other books) another friend on the end of this phone and this site has been a help too.

Rapid if she is very big and heavy yes she could or will go earlier than due dates and as for people who keep saying you should have a mentor seem to forget every pregnancy is different even with the same bitch but it is handy to have someone if possible as long as your bitch is okay with it some are not.

Response to Goldmali 's answers

Believe it or not, I agree with all the answers!!!    I've never used glucose in my whelping bitch's water bowl much as I do have some in because it's possible to keep newborn puppies going on a diluted water/glucose solution.

I use baby wipes or similar for feet and teats.   I really don't bother with temperature taking

I prefered to have Esbilac or Whelpi on hand.   And have never given it to my bitches.

Rabid, the breeder of your girl and the owner of the stud dog used, are possibly two of the most experienced and well respected breeders you could hope for as mentors.. you could do a lot worse than have them at the end of the phone... whatever time it is...

>1)  Glucose powder for use during whelping to keep energy levels up.  I have some, but how much do I add to a bowl of water?  (Or puppy milk?)  There are no instructions on the tub - how many tablespoons? 

Never used it, never needed it.. ice cream does the job just fine.

>2)  What is the best stuff to use for disinfecting/cleaning the thermometer when taking temperature leading up to whelping?  I have one of the electronic basal body temperature thermometers and it hasn't been used before.  In between uses, and when finished, how am I sterilising it?

a capful of Dettol works wonders for everything.

>3)  There is a lot of mention of wiping down boobs with Dettol after walks, is that the best thing to use and how concentrated do I make it?  Ditto for her paws - I was going to dabble them in a washing up bowl, what should I add to the water?  I thought maybe I'd just use warm water for her boobs - Dettol is so strong smelling even if weakly made up(!).

Hot water and a flannel is enough.. also massaging while wiping down helps distribute milk and helps reduce risk of mastitis.

>4)  I have a big tub of RC puppy (babydog) milk.  (I don't like RC foods generally, but after checking the ingredients and all reviews for puppy milks, this is the one I went for.)  The instructions on how to make it up involve using boiled and then cooled water - I'm guessing this is only for very tiny orphaned/hand-reared pups, and tap water is fine if I'm using it at 3 weeks + for weaning, or to give mum just after whelping?  (People who use powdered milks for older pups or mums, do you use tap water?)

Nutro Lac (Goats milk substitute) is about the closest you will get to bitches milk... I have used Welpi, Lactol, RC, Lamlac and Nutro Lac... will never use RC again... and have stuck to Nutro lac for the last few litters... I give it to nursing mums also.  I mix it into their feed when weaning after soaking puppy food... never measure it unless bottle feeding.. I just scatter the powder into drinking water for mum and scatter & mix powder into weaning food... taste and smell seems to encourage eating.. It's a choice, not a need. just handy to have in case you need to bottle feed.

Response to Goldmali 's answers

Believe it or not, I agree with all the answers!!! 

Yay!

>Rabid, the breeder of your girl and the owner of the stud dog used, are possibly two of the most experienced and well respected breeders you could hope for as mentors.. you could do a lot worse than have them at the end of the phone... whatever time it is...

Just out of curiosity:  I assume you are saying this because you know these two individuals personally.  If so, that's very valuable advice.

>Never used it, never needed it.. ice cream does the job just fine.

I should think there would be a huge difference between glucose powder and commercial ice cream, which contains anything and everything, including high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colorings and flavorings and preservatives.  "Double-cream" ice cream is made with butter, not cream.    Perhaps in the small quantities one would give to Mum it doesn't matter?  In any case, whatever is in it will go straight into the milk.  I'd opt for glucose powder.  I don't know if it is necessary in my small breed with only 3 to 6 puppies to birth, but maybe for big breeds with 12 or 14 puppies, it is really important.  I do give the powder during the birth. And for a couple of days following, just to make the liquid I want to get into Mum taste good!

I'll answer your questions
1) I made a mix up of brown sugar (couldn't find molasses in the supermarket) with egg and goats milk all scrambled in the microwave.
Also gave lots of simple vanilla ice cream as well.
2) i did what the vets do and mix up hibiscrub into a pot with cotton wool
3) she didnt go for walks.until the very end and didnt wash her down as she only went with known dogs on private land
4) tried various different milk replacers as needed top ups. None worked well so tried warmed goats milk on the advice of a local breeder.
Just seen kays post, didnt know they did a goats milk replacer too.

I made sure i had someone with me at the time of the whelping and a friend agreed to be there whenever i needed her no matter what the time. Thankfully it was a reasonable time of the day when her waters broke, an.hour later she was at mine and already had a number of puos born but was on the phone to another breeder friend trying to keep me calm and of course in case of any problems. Stud dog owner was an amazing mentor on the phone to me.

>Just out of curiosity:  I assume you are saying this because you know these two individuals personally.  If so, that's very valuable advice.

Yes :)

One of the great benefits of ChampDogs for me, is the anonymity and being able to ask questions in confidence. I'm not really very comfortable with the fact that someone has gone to the trouble of figuring out who I am, and who the stud owner and breeder of my girl are - in fact, it makes me feel a little spied on. It's not very easy to do this, as these details aren't in my profile - someone would have to piece together bits from what I've said across many posts.

I have very good reasons for not asking the breeder of my girl - and if I said what they were, I'm sure you would all agree. However, now that someone claims to know who they are, I don't want to give those details on a public forum - so I can't even give you the full story anymore or participate here freely. 

Since I don't want to comment here having to imagine how everyone I know might hear what I say, I'm going to leave CD now. If I run into problems at whelping, I will post again, but otherwise....

gsdowner, best of luck for your upcoming litter, I hope everything goes well after all you've been through.

And many thanks to everyone who's given me their excellent advice over the past weeks, it's much appreciated to have so many experienced people on hand.

Sorry you feel the need to bow out

I suppose that's the difference in having a numerically small breed.. anyone looking on here would know who I was...it doesn't bother me but then I don't post anything that I wouldn't want known in my breed...

>I'm going to leave CD now. If I run into problems at whelping, I will post again, but otherwise....

I think a wise decision.
Anyone who breeds dogs "by committee" as it were,may give too much weight to one opinion over another and at their peril.

Find someone who has experience ...not just an opinion.

> Since I don't want to comment here having to imagine how everyone I know might hear what I say, I'm going to leave CD now.

Why should that matter? Being a public forum they can see everything posted here anyway providing your not insulting anyone you know I don't see why someone knowing who you are would be an issue posting generally. After all if you don't want people to know something don't post about it on a public forum.
Alot of people know who others are I don't see why this is a problem.

I'm sorry you've had to bow out, I for one was looking forward to hearing all the news as it happens.
Good luck, hope all goes well.

That's a shame, I've enjoyed your posts and recent journey overseas.

I changed a few minor when posting so people couldn't easily figure out who I was. Rare breed so a bit easier for people to put 2+2 together.

How many dog breeders on Guernsey ? Not many I'd say, so someone who knows your breed / stud / mentor would easily work out who you are not much spying/ sleuthing required.

Admin,
Maybe give people from numerically small islands the anonymity of a UK flag.

Good Luck,
Kenny

Lots of people here know who I am its not a problem. I never post something that is insulting to others or something I wish to remain private. Why would you post private stuff on an open forum ? Its not difficult to match your profile to a web site and discover the real " You"  Shame you feel you have been spied on but I suspect we all have in one way or another. If you never post untruths or secrets its no problem. The main reson for our poster names is to avoid advertising really as its not allowed on the forum.
Hope all goes well for you and your girl.
Aileen

How very sad, I've never bred dogs, but have bred livestock & know it would have been helpful to have "independent" opinions/advice in the early days, only help I got was being told to do as I had been shown !

Step back for a while & ignore those whose advice is not helpful, there's always the ignore option

>One of the great benefits of ChampDogs for me, is the anonymity and being able to ask questions in confidence. I'm not really very comfortable with the fact that someone has gone to the trouble of figuring out who I am, and who the stud owner and breeder of my girl are - in fact, it makes me feel a little spied on. It's not very easy to do this, as these details aren't in my profile - someone would have to piece together bits from what I've said across many posts.

Erm... definitely not spied on lol... I got an e-mail from Champdogs as your litter is listed... all your details, Dam and Sire, are there for everyone to see.

Lots of people here know who I am its not a problem. I never post something that is insulting to others or something I wish to remain private. Why would you post private stuff on an open forum ?

Indeed. Even easier to find those of us that use our kennel name as user name. And CD can be read by anyone. I was once told by somebody who I have never seen post on here that they'd read something I'd written. So what? Anything you put on CD has to be acceptable to you to be read by anyone in the world, and there will always be somebody who happens to know the person or easily guesses.

Rabid it would quite easy for people to work out who you are. We all know what breed and where you live and if we wanted to check the litters board all the details are there for everyone to see.

It's a real shame you feel that way, I was looking forward to hearing how things go with the whelping. Good luck.

Oh that is a shame you feel this way Rabid, I was really looking forward to hearing about the birth and how your litter was doing. It's been such an interesting journey from the start and I'm saddened that I won't hear about the finish. For someone like me who is a pet owner rather then a breeder, I've found the whole process very interesting and makes me realise how difficult it is breeding dogs properly rather then just putting two random dogs together and hoping for the best.

Please reconsider Rabid