my pug bitch is expecting her first litter very soon. she is huge, it looks like she is going to have a lot of puppies! what are the signs that she is going to have her puppies? also, when can I breed her again once she has had her pups? is her next season ok or should I wait til the following year?

Give her at least one clear season between litters.

I suggest you buy a copy of "The Book of the Bitch" by White and Evans. This will answer all your whelping queries.

Wait till you see how she comes through this welping before you plan the next, you may find that you do not want to go through it again or you may not be able to afford to. Would suggest that you get The Book of The Bitch ASAP. That way you and your bitch may manage well enough for you to think about another litter in about 18 months.

Make sure your vet is fully aware of her due date. Brachycephalic breeds like this are notoriously poor whelpers, and surgery is often required.

Just want to second what Jeangenie said - Pugs very often need C sections.  If you dont already know, find out from your bitches breeder if her Mum delivered naturally or needed a Ceasearean - it tends to run in families.  Tt is vital that your vet is prepared for the possibility, and you know just where you might have to take the bitch.  Lots of vets now dont rungtheir own out of hours surgery, and do a sort of partnership thing, so you might have to go to a strange Vets, if needed.  Also you need to be fully prepared to assist the bitch to rear the pups, in my (as yet a little limited) experience of pugs whelping, 50% of them dont want anything to do with the pups at first, and you have to do all the feeding and cleaning etc, so make sure time off work etc is booked!  You need to be on hand 24 hours per day.

Next, pugs dont do any of the whelping clean up themselves, it is up to you to deliver each pup if she whelps naturally, do the cord, get it out of the bag, clear airways and get breathing, dry off and then make sure it gets its first feed.  Dont forget to weight and record each pup.  With a litter who are unlikely to have much in the way of marking differences you need to find some means of identifying them for the growth records.

Oh, and as already advised, buy the Book of the Bitch asap.  Good luck, they are a wonderful breed, but not ideal for a first time whelper!  Oh, and please, dont even consider mating your girl on her next season, at least a full year between litters.  (Depending on the success or this delivery, of course).
bye
Gwen

My friends Pug comes from a line of 'rare'  self whelpers but she still needed a c section.

Yes, it is only a rough guide, I think with Pugs you always need to be armed with the idea they could well need a C-section, but it is almost definite if Mum delivered that way.  Just needs 1 biggish pup or or lying awkwardly to do it.
bye
Gwen