Hi all I'm new here my girl is 54 days pregnant tomorrow,
I have been reading this forum the whole time through they is some great stuff on here

So I thought now I'm getting closer to the due date I would join and write I quick script. So my girl was mated on the 12th of October and had a 25 min tie, which will make her 54 days tomorrow we had her scanned at 4 weeks and you could see the pups clear as day vet reckons 5/6 may be more

So she has clear discharge when she pees not a lot just a stringy bit afterwards. Today when I let her out she will go to the back and will dig like mad I always sit out with her till she done her business.
I brought her in and she was digging at her bed like crazy,
Puppies are still having a party inside and she still eating and drinking but not as much as she has been so greedy throughout. I just hope she will keep hold off them for at least 5 more days any one experienced this please share your thoughts thanks in advance.

Pups are perfectly viable at 56 days, good luck.

Thank you...

Tomorrow is 55 and she started breathing really fast for a short time today and now has abit of diarrhoea is this a sign things are maybe starting.

In the last week they can be very uncomfortable.

Hi brainless my girl is 57 days now and been panting on and off today and keeps going in her whelping box she will usually be in your face constantly but is keeping her distance today iv just taken her temperature and it's 37.5 the problem is she not really going to toilet and only nibbling her food.

This first stage can go on for in my experience 36 hours.

One of mine took 36 hours in first stage and then had all five pups in an hour and a half.

Can't day anything about temperature as have never taken it in 20+ years and 23 litters.

36 hours
Bet that felt like a lifetime

Sure did 12 hours more average though 24 not unusual, but that is maybe as I know the signs of first stage labour, where maybe I missed them in early litters until closer to whelping.

I'm always reassured by such experienced breeders as Brainless who don't take temperature, as I know people who swear by it and make me feel very stupid for not doing it.

I have never done temperature, just rely on the bitches behaviour and my experience, if you get a gut feeling that something is wrong then get it checked but do remember that vet's tend to only see abnormal deliveries and can be pretty clueless about a normal one, keep calm and vigilant!

> I know people who swear by it and make me feel very stupid for not doing it.

LucyDogs you would be surprised how many experienced breeders go by gut, not temperature.  I know my dogs and only have to look at their eyes.  And to be honest, I've always thought that if anyone kept sticking something up my bum I would growl. 

Haha that made me giggle Jean! I am perfectly capable of doing 'icky' stuff when needed, tearing cords, opening sacs, getting puppies breathing etc without the least worry about the slime and blood etc, and I'm sure I could take a temperature if it was necessary - but it always seems pretty obvious the the dog is getting ready to get things going without the need to stick things up her bum!

Sorry dint see all the posts.
Well today she as been acting rather offish she has had a lot of discharge today and is now losing milk she don't want to come out of her whelping box she is picking at her food just taking out the meat and leaving the nibble,
Her temp is down to 37.1.
I think she holding on as I have my oh work night out tomorrow my parents who was going to sit with her if she had the pups but if no pups I will be staying with her.

See mien take no notice of the whelping box until they are actually in labour. 

I encourage them to know where it is and they hop in have a sniff and ignore it from then on.

Some have gone as far as refusing to go in it until a puppy is about to be born, when I give them no choice.  A few of mine want to be with their pals until the last moment, most though are in their whelping box once first stage is underway.

I use shredded paper and they seem to like digging in it.

Well through the night she was panting on and off and today she is just frantically digging and just breathing faster.

Well day 60 is quite likely for whelping.

The panting and look in the eyes will normally tell you if this is labour.

Have you not arranged for an experienced breeder to be with you if this is your first whelping.

I had friends in another breed to attend. My first time,  and have done the same for others.

I have got the stud owner on speed dial she is very helpful but it's nice to talk to other people and get there thoughts it also passes time

My good friend is a breeder but she breeds Chinese crested she is available as well.
My girl does keep staring at me with very sad help me eyes

In labour the look is quite different,  it will be self absorbed and introverted.  Having someone who knows what they are doing ( most vets don't unless they are breeders),  can be helpful to tell labour from late pregnancy discomfort.

Hi brainless just a update my girl had 6 healthy pups with no complications she was a natural and is now sat nursing and cleaning them.

Congratulations!  So glad that your girl is fine.

Thank you Jean can't stop peeking on them there so cute mum has a really big appetite which is good.

Excellent, enjoy.

Hi brainless mum got diarrhoea pups are 4 weeks old on Sunday started weaning them as they are very greedy took to it like they new what to do anyway got some paste from vets for the diarrhoea 2 days later still watery so took mum into vets today they say that the pups are running her down and her body can't repair cause she feeding 6 pups so take pups away for few days while she on her medication she has just started tonight so iv got the pups in a create and mum in a puppy pen next to them but feel so bad iv been giving the pups milk replacement and they love it but feel really bad for mum but want her to get better what would you advise be thanks in advance

Most vets know diddly about puppy rearing.  I would not keep pups away from Mum.

I assume you started them on sloppy weaning food at three weeks,  and that they are now on 4 good size meals if soaked puppy food 4 times a day?

This would then mean it us not a strain on Mum,  and this would not make Mum loose.

Has she and pups been wormed.

If she still cleans up after them it could be their food disagreeing with her.

I'd put her back onto her pre pregnancy maintenance food,  but about double what she had then,  split over as many meals as pups get.

Another one who would never keep mum and pups apart.

It sounds too distressing for the bitch to me.

Well I kept mum away for few hours she could see pups and I think she was glad for the rest as they are very demanding pups, she as been laid with me getting lots of love and she seems to be perking up now diarrhoea has seemed to of settled pups seem content.
They have been eating puppy food soaked they did start of with mushy food which I blended for them and now there quite happy just eating it soaked now.
I just can't imagine holding her pups away from her for such a long time.

It's important that she can get away from the pups,  but can go to them when she chooses,  this will allow for a natural weaning process.

Often for a few days it will seem that she no longer wants to have anything to do with them,  but this is only so that her milk can reduce,  and then she will want to have more play time with them once they understand the milk bar is not a free for all any more.

She can come and go with the pups but just don't go she wants to be with them 24/7 but she is a really needy dog and loves company

Be led by Mum.  :)