Hi my bitch is now 42 days pregnant and doing great.This is my first litter and i am very excited but also scared.I would like any advise anyone can offer.I would also like to know as i also own the dog that mated my bitch if and how long i am to keep them apart when she has the pups.thanks

Hi Louise
You need to keep the dog well away from the bitch and her puppies, dogs may kill puppies and bitches will do the same if they feel threatened!
Your bitch needs to have her own space with a purpose made whelping box well away from k9 and human inturuption where she will feel safe and secure.
All dogs attitudes to puppies are different btu in my opinion it is not worth taking the risk!
Have you bought the "book of the bitch" ? it is very helpfull at this time!
good luck
kate

thanks for reply i do have a large whelping box made and my bitch will have her own room in the extention.so are you saying keep my dog away from my bitch and her puppies at all times or until the puppies reach a certain age.i do not have the book of the bitch where can you buy this book thanks again

you can check out different book stores and prices delivery time etc on http://www.bookcomparison.co.uk
mel

My bitches whelp in one of the bedrooms and the pups and she stay there until two weekswhen the eyes are open. As mine are very much part of the family the bitch by then is finding that she dislikes being away from the hub of the family.

The pups are put in the kitchen where the other dogs will peek at them from a distance, as Mum will make it clear that they ar3e not to interefere.

by 3 weeks she will usually allow them to sniff while she watches carefully. By four weeks she is happy for the pups and other dogs to get to know each other better, but watches.

yes i was worried about my bitch being away from the dog as they are never parted and go everywhere together.i was worried she would fret without him but I suppose she will be too busy anyway attending to her pups.

Hi,

We do the same as Brainless with our bitches and pups, ours move into the kitchen/dining room at 3 weeks old and we don't let any of the other dogs come near until the pups are about 5 weeks old incase the mum gets worried.

The other dogs are behind a gate and can see and hear, but not get round the pen or upset mum.

What breed are the parents? What is mum's temperament in general?

I wouldn't risk anything, especially as this is your first time. Do get the book of the bitch, it's fantastic and let your vet know when the pups are due in case you need their help.....hopefully you won't especially if your bitch is fit, healthy and well exercised.....as long as the dad wasn't much bigger than her.

Good luck and keep us posted.

manda
X

hi thanks so much for all the advice my breed is boxers and the parents both have very good temperments.i have consulted my vet with the bitches due date just in case I need to call him.The bitch is in good health but fairly tired which I suppose should be expected at this stage.The only thing that has worried me over the last few days is she seems to be having accidents (not making it outside for the toilet) both my dogs are walked 2 times a day but they have a dog flap in their room so they can get in and out as required.The last 2 morning she has had accidents in her room and last night when i went to check them before i locked up she had wet in her bed.This has never happened before.Any advise would be helpful or maybe I should check with the vet.thanks

This is not surprising at all, have you had children yourself?

Think about it. A boxer bitch of what are they 30kg? having 8 pups of around a pound in weight would be carrying the equivalent in offspring to a woman with a large baby, but the bitch is only half or less the weight of the woman.

In pregnancy the production of urine does no subside at night as it does normally, and all the pressure mean toilet trips need to be more frequent, and accidents can occur.

oh thanks very much for quick reply i was going to phone the vet as i have also just noticed she is losing some jelly like discharge not much but is this normal thanks again i really do appreciate this.

My girl passed clear mucous jelly everytime she had a pee from around 35 days onwards, my vet told me it was perfectly normal!

Losing the jelly like substance is very normal,it is her own way of stopping infection reaching the pups, before she has them she will lose a lot more and it may come down like strings of mucus, do not be alarmed very normal as I have read in the book of the bitch. We are having our first litter of springers soon and feel excited but also very apprehensive, hope this helps.
Camilla