Hello,
I'm writing to ask if any breeders have any tips on recognising whether my bitch is pregnant or not. If she is she would be 4 weeks on by now. She possibly is a little more clingy and affectionate in behaviour but I cant say I have really noticed any physical signs at all. Should any be obvious by now?

I would also like some advice on how she is likely to cope with cats sleeping in the same room as she will have her pups in. I am assuming she will have the pups in my bedroom. This is where she sleeps and feels safe. The cats also sleep here and access to outdoors through the window at night. I would like Mabel to be able to nurse her pups in this room for the first few weeks. I can put her in a puppy pen with a den inside. Do you think the cats would be a problem?

Well at 4 weeks my bitch Jasmine had a clear/opaque discharge. It is very sticky in consistancy and will stretch between finger and thumb (yuk). Also at 41/2 weeks she went off her food and only ate half of what I put down for her. At 5 weeks I changed her to a higher protein food and she ate that without problem. At around 5 weeks I also noticed her sides getting saggy but nothing underneath at that time. Hope this helps. As to the cats personally I wouldn't have them near the pups in the same room. Dogs with young pups need to be away from other animals. I am sure the cats wouldn't ignore the pups and would go and see what all the noise was about. This might have the effect of terrifying the bitch, being scared for her pups. I would close the window and shut the bedroom door. Maybe you could leave another bedroom window open for them so they could sleep there instead.

hi judenmabe , i take it she is a maiden , if she is i notice the teats go pink on my dogs, more so the ones at the top , which tend to get more larger Also a sticky substance from her .As for the cats keep well away , my bitches would hurt them if they went n e where near!!!!!!

Just a little word of warning - don't let your girl near a cat's litter tray - they can pick up Toxacara from the cat droppings with disastrous consequences (abortion mainly). Occupational hazard where cats and dogs are together.
Incidentally - same goes for pregnant women

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Jo I think you mean toxoplasmosis, the bitdh is likely to ahve Toxocara (round worm encysted in her tissues which will become active at around 6 weeks of pregnancy) though she could get a top up from the cat too. It is the toxoplasmosis that can cause miscarriage. Do not let her in where lambing ewes have been as these can also pass on toxoplasmosis!

Hi, I dont usually notice (by tummy size/shape) that any of my girls are pregnant until 4 1/2 weeks at least, and only then if its a big litter. usually by 5-5 1/2 weeks when viewed from above the dogs waist has thickened and their appetite increases dramactically. By 6-6 1/2 weeks mine should have a definate tum unless there are just one or two puppies. Not all mine have a discharge, some dont until the last week or so.

Thanks for all your help everyone - I shall start training the cats to use a different sleeping place/outside access as from today! I haven't noticed much of an increase in size in Mabel's tum but she is a lhasa apso and therefore has a lot of coat. She does has a bit of a discharge though so fingers crossed!