Hi all, I have a 6 year old bitch who was successfully mated on the 4th and 6th of September so is around 8.5 weeks in. Her normal temperature is 37.8-38°c and this morning it was down to 36.5 but has gone back up to 37.2 this afternoon......would this be classed as a drop? She likes to be outside alot and today is alot cooler than yesterday, would that factor into her temperature?

This is her 3rd litter and the last 2 she had whelped down by now, I didn't do the temperature thing with the last 2 as she was digging around like a loon and was quite obviously having the pups like NOW!!

Any advice is greatly appreciated

During the final weeks, if checked, it will be found that the temperature fluctuates, going down and then up again.    It's only when the temperature goes low, and stays low, that you can reasonably expect labour to begin, say within 48 hours.  I have never set much score by what the thermometer told me however.

If she's 6 now, I hope you will retire her and be having her spayed after this litter.   3 mix-bred litters is, in my opinion, quite enough.

Thankyou for the information and your opinion.....just out of curiosity, would you recommend retiring her and getting her spayed if she was pedigree?

As a pedigree breeder, I do not have more than 2 litters from my bitches.

This is going to be her last litter, I do not agree with breeding dogs for their entire lifetime pedigree or not. It's not fair on them, she is my beloved shadow who is never far from my side, not a breeding machine!!

The decision to breed her was not on a whim, I seriously thought about it for the first 3 years of her life. The reason for breeding from her is that she is impeccably bred through working lines (which she loves), she has an amazing temperament and is my 5 year son's world, I  wanted to share that joy with other people.

It just surprises me that pedigree breeders look down on people like me......not everyone wants a pedigree pet, be it cat dog or any other pet, most people are looking for a loyal companion.

> successfully mated on the 4th and 6th of September

Only a very small point..presume you mean 4 & 6 July... ;)

If so would be due 5 to 7 September depending on ovulation. Every litter is different, even with the same bitch.
We have never taken temperatures so cant help with that but if she didn't take until the second mating, it may be a shade early ;)

> .....just out of curiosity, would you recommend retiring her and getting her spayed if she was pedigree?

The KC has a limit of 4 litters for any bitch, but I have never managed to fit in more than 3 litters for any bitch.

First litters in my medium breed are not bred until over two and in practice the bitch is as likely to be three, depending how seasons work out, then I like to have two clear seasons, then if she misses, by the time they are 6 when I like to have last litter you may only breed twice around showing and life in general.

Only once had a bitch whelp a few weeks after 7th birthday and two have litters closer to two than three.

> .just out of curiosity, would you recommend retiring her and getting her spayed if she was pedigree?

Yes.   I only took 2 litters, if that, from my bitches and they were retired/spayed at around 5 /6 years.   We only ever took a litter when we wanted something new to show.  And then only if said bitch was of good enough quality.

> just out of curiosity, would you recommend retiring her and getting her spayed if she was pedigree?

Being a dog lover I could love any old mutt you gave me.  But, first and foremost, I always advise people with my breed that 2 litters is more than enough.

Please believe that I could love your dog, purebred or not.