I'm not sure if my girl is in labour but is acting very strangely this evening. She is in her whelping bed for the first time. She has not wanted to go in at all before. She is not panting but breathing quite heavily and keeps licking her bed, feet and teats. She is making bed quite wet through licking it. She had breakfast this morning but has not eaten since. Every now and then she will get up and dig at her bed. She also pulls at it with her teeth. The rest of the time she just lays on her side and is sort of dozing but not sleeping deeply. She is 60 days today.

Sounds like it might be, but I have had them deliver within an hour of this type of behaviour, or then again go on for another 48 hours.  Just do not leave her unattended at all from now on.  Make har go out for a wee every few hours, and in the dark take a torch with you, as she cxould pass a pup thinking she needed a poo.

I also always give mine boiled water with glucose in it to keep up their energy levels for the job in hand.

I have just took her for a wee. Had to drag her as didnt want to go out but she did a wee. She had a really long stringy discharge. She shot back to her bed when we got in and is cleaning herself + licking the bed again. I will sleep downstairs with her.

Good luck, keep us posted.

Karen

Nothing happening yet. She is just lying on her side in her bed. She did manage to come out this morning to scrounge for toast. I gave her a small bowl of food which she ate. I dont know if I should be feeding her but as she ate it I suppose she is alright to do so. Why cant she do the things it says in the books ie panting etc trust her to be different. Not sure if this is it or how long its going to go on for. Its just a bit worrying when symptoms are different to the book and how other people have described it.  

Good luck!
My girl was just resting for a good 24 hours before anything happened.
The pups are 5 weeks old today and a boisterous bunch of adorable Staffies. Eating and lapping well now.

Hi all, well its finally happened after all the worry of whether it was a phantom or not. Six babies born today 3 girls and 3 boys. Absolutly gorgeous. Arrived between 4.30pm and 8.30 this evening. She had been trying to push the 1st one out since 1pm. Called the vet at about 4pm and he said to meet him at 4.45 at the surgery. My friend arrived at 4.30 to take me and out popped 1st puppy as he walked in the door so cancelled vet and the other 5 popped out easily . Dont think I will be doing this again though my nerves are shattered.

Brilliant news, I hope mum and babies are doing well.

Karen

Congratulations!!!!

well done to both of you and what a nice size 3 of each
hope mam and babies are doing well
what colour are they?

Congratulations. Have you been able to get any sleep? :D It's a tiring time.

Hope everybody is doing well,Sandra:)

:D Fantastic news.. nothing as cute as a baby staff ;)

Well done your little girl, what a lovely size litter, now comes the hard work and sleepless nights.

all well at the moment. Got it wrong 4 boys 2 girls. Have not been on because am knackered. How long would you leave it before you can leave them overnight. I have been sleeping downstairs with them but not getting much sleep because she keeps climbing over me and gets very restless walking around and keeps getting on the chairs and still keeps digging. Also she keeps attacking one of my cats. He is a bit evil and maybe she feels she cant trust him but he hasnt been near her babies and last night she got him and he wasnt in the same room as pups. Will she stop doing this as they get older as she really means business and i am worried she will kill him. He is 16 and doesnt need this aggresion.

If she's not settling I'd be worried in case she had a retained placenta. Have she been checked by the vet? I'd phone them just in case.

In the cats case I'd definately keep him shut away from her. Some bitches just don't like cats near their young at all, or any other animal, come to that, even a daughter from a previous litter.

I slept with my bitch for about a fortnight. Well, sleep isn't the right word ;) It depends on your bitch, I suppose. My whelping room is the spare bedroom next to mine so I would still hear the pups, but mum wouldn't disturb me. :D

Hope all is well. Sleep lightly :)

Hi all, just got back from vets. He said she is fine but gave me amoxil just as a precaution. She was still digging this morning and trying to get into my wardrobe. Vet said its probably hormones. She doesnt spend much time with pups but is feeding them ok. They are putting on wait and sleeping well. Mentioned cat problem and he said will probably go away when pups are older. Hope so as trying to keep them apart is hard work. She gets on ok with other 2 cats and small dog. She doesnt mind dog in same room as long as he stays up one end and keeps away from pups.

i am glad everything is okay.  My vet has checked my bitch ver and is 95% positive she is in pup but only about 2/3 weeks.  She should be due on the 4th February and am feeling nervous as although she has had a litter before this will be the first litter she has had with us.  I hope everything goes as well for us as it did for you.

gosh you must have an excellent Vet, as I have never known a vet able to confirm pregnancy before 25 to 287 days, and most won't scan until 30 days into a pregnancy (4 weeks plus).  I would love to have a vet that was 95% sure a bitch was in whelp at 2-3 weeks along!!!  Would save me wasting entry fees, or allow me to enter a favourite show if she were not.

I agree with Brainless. As the embryos don't start to attach to the uterine wall till about 21 days, it would be a very clever vet who could diagnose pregnancy at less that this.

I was wondering how he could know so early too as I have been told not only by those on the forum but by others who have had bitches that I wouldn't be able to tell till about 3/4 weeks.

I will get a scan done before I say anything to my husband.  If he's wrong, he's wrong but her behaviour seems to be a bit odd.  She is ripping her bedding and never leaves my side.  she is not settling either.

Like you say I have an excellent vet. 

It's best to wait.

Wow a lot has happened since I last came on a big WELL DONE for your bitch as this is her first litter they can be a bit scatty as its all new to them and this should calm down in a couple of weeks her trying to kill the cat and stuff keep your little dog away as well as Mum does mean business and I remember how I felt when I saw my son and their is no doubt I would of killed for him.
My bitch is due this weekend and her first litter she was a wreck panting loads and just being plain stupid but it subsided and things really settled nicely so just keep an eye on her and try to make things calm for her as the more excited she becomes the more risk that she starts to try and move pups to somewhere where she regards safe have you a big box as you could try to make a tent over the back of it with a duvet cover and that will make her feel safer then she only has to look front on for any threats as she is tending to think. Also have you bought her some Stress which is calcium and stuff but we always give ours that once the pups are born I have had a bitch with mild Eclampcia and dont want that again as it can mean hand rearing.
Anyway keep us posted and try to chill your going to have your work cut out in 3 to 4 weeks time so reserve your energy

Hi
    My girl has calmed down quite a bit now. She still digs when she is settling somewhere but not so much. She is in a covered box anyway. I had a giant dog bed ready for her. Greatdane size but when I read book of the bitch it said create a cave like enviroument so I had a brainwave and put the bed inside my sons pop up tent. I am keeping her away from the cat. He stays upstairs and when Kizzi wants to go out she is taken on the lead in case he appears. The other two cats she leaves alone although they never come in the room where the pups are. My little dog does come in but only when we are there and she dosent mind him. Pups are putting on weight. All dogs weigh the same at the moment 1lb 13 ozs. Both bitches weigh 1lb 8ozs. They have doubled their birth weight. She has been going out for a walk since day three and is quite happy to leave pups, although when we get back she rushes to check on them.