I came on this as I wanted to get as much advice as possible and am in the very unfortunate position that my dog's breeder has been taken in to hospital and is unable to give me the help and advice I was relying on.  I have to say that I am now rather scared to ask anything as there seems to be a number of very judgemental people on this who make assumptions and are either openly hostile or quite 'sarcky' and dismissive.  I am also aware there are some incredible supportive people on here - like those who obviously helped another breeder through a very difficult time.  I am really happy to take any advice and to be able to get help from all your expertise but I am nervous enough without getting criticism about not having the breeding knowledge.  I know that - I only went ahead because I thought I would have the breed expertise of my mentor throughout

Like everywhere else on the internet, there are brilliant and awful responses.

The expertise here is good however, if you can take a pinch of salt for any potential rudeness you'd be better asking imo.

Firstly, sorry you and your dog's breeder are going through tough times respectively.

Secondly, this is a wonderfully supportive forum. Ask what ever you want to ask and lots of people with real experience will try to help you as best they can. Try to give as much detail as you can without mentioning your breed and I am sure you will be very happy with the responses. Please do not let a few put you off. I wouldn't be without these good people and that's not something many people would say about complete strangers :)

Frankly, speaking as someone who has benefitted from a lot of help with our current litter, the benefits (excellent advice) far outweigh the risks (of sarky responses).  You probably will get some.  But so what?  Ignore them and use the helpful ones!  On a cost-benefit analysis, it is absolutely worth asking questions!

Thanks folk.  Feel a bit reassured and you will all get sick of my million questions.  I am not even sure if she is pregnant - only 21 days since first mating.  Going to vets on Monday for her second L4 vac  and hoping she will be able to confirm or not.

We (those of us on the forum who wanted to participate, as it were) have been accompanying Rabid and gsdowner lately all the way through the matings, the pregnancies and the births.  We've been involved, concerned, and have shared in the stress as well as rejoicing in the wonderful news of successful births. We've answered and discussed loads of questions. It's been fun.  It's been enlightening.  I don't think there is much to criticise this forum for.  I find it wonderful to have serious and very caring people to "talk to" about every aspect of breeding, even though I am anything but a novice.  It is great to share knowledge and experience with others who care as much as I do.

If you appreciate that the ethos of this forum is responsible ethical breeding with the welfare of the dog and puppies upmost, you will find support.

Umm..... I know this wasn't asked about, but it was mentioned:  Personally, there's no way I'd use the new Lepto 4 jab at all - and certainly, I'd never vaccinate a dog I think is pregnant (with any vaccine), but especially not with L4. 

I wouldn't even want to take my supposedly pregnant dog to the vets for anything which isn't absolutely essential during pregnancy - it is, after all, the place where sick dogs go...

Pregnancy lowers the immune system (in people too) and it's not a good idea to vaccinate during this time. 

FB group about the dangers of the new Lepto 4 jab:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/322967551247441/

I agree, I have in last 10 years opted for mimimal vaccinations, (puppy vaccs and first booster) but would never vaccinate a potentially pregnant bitch.  I'm not anti vaccinations, but realise they have risks as well as benefits.

I believe I read somewhere that doing so would reduce the uptake of maternal antibodies to the pups, but can't remember where, will go hunt google.

I think you will find most of us very supportive, having said that it will probably be the case that some advice will be conflicting or even unwelcome and then it's up to you to take what you need from the replies and leave the rest alone. I take the view that whether or not you are doing everything in a way that keeps all the posters happy the pregnancy is ongoing and we must try to help the outcome to be satisfactory, all breeders started somewhere and we will do our best to make sure you have good advice when needed.

Lepto4:

Now here's an interesting watershed to current events in terms of our dogs:  According to the information I have garnered from various veterinary sources, only Lepto4 is available in the EU.  The 4 stands for 4 different strains of the virus.  In Switzerland (like the UK, also not a member of the EU...ahem...), we have Lepto6.  Effective for 6 strains of the virus.  Possibly Lepto6 will soon be available in the UK...?

My vet told me recently, and this has been corroborated by the University Animal Hospital in Zurich, that the majority of cases of Leptospirosis treated in Switzerland occur in dogs who have been vaccinated "only" with Lepto4, not Lepto6.  They say that the two strains not present in Lepto4 are the most common strains of the virus in Switzerland.

I too would never vaccinate a pregnant dog, with the exception of the Herpes jab.

Are you able to ask help from the stud dog owner?

Thanks.  I will check out the vaccinations.  I was only going to get it on my vet's advice after I went pre-breeding to get my dog checked out and ensure she was fit, healthy and had had all the vaccinations she needed.  My vet gave her all she needed but said this was a new type and needed updated 4 weeks later.  She knew I was taking her to be mated the following week.  I will phone before I go and not go if there is any doubt.  I am pretty sure she is pregnant as I was advised (by the stud's breeder) to look at her gums on day 21 and they are white which I believe is a positive sign.

> to look at her gums on day 21 and they are white which I believe is a positive sign.

never heard or read of this one, and white gums would no0rmally be a bad sign for any dog?????

I've never heard of white gums being a sign of pregnancy.... One good early sign, is losing a clear/opaque gloopy discharge from about day 21 onwards. 

Have you read the research on vaccinations and L4 in particular??  Yes, it is new - with a lot of people experiencing side effects!!  (As in that FB thread.) 

I'm pretty sure your vet will tell you to go anyway because on the packet it says it can be given to pregnant bitches - but you have many experienced breeders here saying not to vaccinate during pregnancy...

Quite a few mentions of it on line.  This is probably the clearest with a photo   https://gordonsetterexpert.org/2016/04/29/is-she-pregnant-check-her-gums/

Having read the FB stuff and googled other info - she is definitely not getting this (pregnant or not!)  Thanks for the advice

21 days ai also a bit early for a scan, if that's what you mean about finding out if she is pregnant. Best to wait until after 28 days. Certainly would not give any vaccinations except CHV, which needs to be done 7-10 days after mating and again 10 -14 dYs before whelp.I certainly would not use Lepto vacc  in this situation. There is some research at the moment to say it can cause auto immune disease. I wouldn't take the chance.

I have 21 dogs, different sexes and different breeds.  Every single dog had Lepto 4 jab, like you, on advice from my (much trusted) vet.

I have not had any adverse effects from any of my beloved dogs.  And I have had vacs done on the second day of a bitches season.  On a bitch that was being mated.  No problems with pregnancy or pups.

....but not on a pregnant dog.... ?

I have obviously missed the timing for the CHV vaccination - my vet never mentioned it.  Is it too late at 21 days?

Yes I know and I think it is becasue it usually means the dog is anaemic for some reason and that is why it happens at this stage of pregnancy as well - just for 3 days.
'It would be ideal for you to begin checking the gums earlier than the 21 days so you have a good picture in your mind of her normal gum color. If she is not pregnant the gum tissue will not change color.

Why it works:  this is the time when the fetus implants itself on the uterine walls. During this process a good deal of the blood flow is redirected from the body of the bitch and focused on her uterus instead.'

Going back to your original question: I'd say Yes!
There's some I don't like so I have, eventually, put them on ignore ; some can seem abrupt at times- I think it's cos they care and have answered the same thing over and over again (don't let that put you off though) & they're not automatons and have good and bad days/moods like everyone else.
I think it's best to be honest and give as much information as you can, especially in your first post, so misunderstanding is kept to the minimum.
Although there's lots of breeders on here their knowledge is not restricted to this (I read breeding posts & learn from them, & even comment on them despite never breeding) nor are they 'fonts of all knowledge ' they just advise according to their experience.

Just to add- I've had lots of help on all sorts of things