Hello members.  Sorry if this is long winded but I wonder if you can give me some advice. After very, very careful consideration and a lot of advice and encouragement from a top breeder/writer/national and international judge and having spoken to my vet (who I was informed by my veterinary practice of his impending arrival, happens to  a european breeding expert that was drafted into the practice) my bitch was mated (planned mating) on 26/10/05 and again on 28/10/05.  She is two years two months old. This is her first ever mating (and mine - does that sound right? lol). Her temperament seems to have not changed so much as in enhanced (I say this because she has such a beautiful, fun loving nature, with not a nasty bone in her body but it seems even more enhanced since the mating. She is a hippy chick, peace and love etc.).  When she sees a person she runs towards them and then stops and does a series of little skips before going up to greet them. I know this is irrelevant but she does make me laugh out loud on a daily basis.  Anyway she has been discharging (clear milky white that does not smell of anything at all) and sometimes hangs down like a piece of thread and she has thrown up on occasion.  Her teats are very swollen but they have always been large so it is hard to tell but they do seem (seem being the operative word here) to be hanging a lot lower than normal and her athletic build seems to be disappearing from below and her ribs seem larger (or maybe I am seeing things).  There are also two little lumps just back from where her ribcage ends.  She has become very clingy, jumping onto your lap at every opportunity when you are least expecting it.  I say least expecting it because she is a large breed dog.  She then puts her face very very close to your own and just stares at you non-stop with her tail wagging away.  Her appetite is very healthy but there again it always has been.  She is sleeping a lot but I put that down to the fact that it is cold outside and nice and toasty inside.  If it is possible she seems to have a smugness about her and seems to be acting very proud of herself.  One of our other bitches (bless her, she is five years old and has never and will never be bred from as even though we love her to pieces I will be the first one to tell you that although she is beautiful, I do not think that she would be a positive contribution to the betterment of the breed as she does not fit some of the breed standard, her temperament is outstanding though and we love our babies whatever they look like) seems to be constantly grooming her.

Now if I am correct she is now either 34 days in whelp (if at all) or 32 days in whelp.  Is it right or too early for me to be seeing these signs?  All advice welcome.  Sorry I did say it was long winded.

Isn't it nice, after some other threads, to hear about someone doing things PROPERLY? :D

I would say that it does sound as if your girl is pregnant - mine have acted the same way when pregnant, and more "mopey" if having a phantom.    Do you intend to have her scanned?  Its about the optimum time for scanning, imo.

Do you have The Book of the Bitch?   If not, I'd advise you getting it - it will become your bedtime reading!

Do let us know how things progress.

Margot

Hi Margot, sorry for the late reply, I was just reading the other thread 'Don't reply if you don't agree' and got a little to engrossed with my reading.  Thank you so much for your reply.  My vet thinks I am crazy (although I suspect he respects my dedication) because I took her for a pre-mate every other day until she was eventually ready to mate.  I think he became rather sick and tired of seeing me at the practice.  I will indeed be taking her for a scan.  The stud dog owner who is the breeder/judge/writer has told me to wait until she is six weeks in whelp to be absolutely sure.  Would it harm her at all if I took her before then?  I do not have The Book of the Bitch.  To be honest I had never heard of it until I started reading the posts on the Forum.  I have read the book Dog Breeding The Theory & the Practice by Frank Jackson.  I do have another book but it seems to have gone astray.  I think I am trying to tell myself she is not in whelp to prepare myself for the eventuality of either hit or miss.  I do not know why am feeling so anxious.  Sad as it may seem (that is not right I actually do not find it sad at all but a very informative way of gaining expert advice and different opinions which are always welcome), I actually spent a few hours today reading all of the posts on the Forum regarding breeding.  I just want to make sure I am prepared for anything and everything that may occur if she is indeed in whelp.  I shall purchase The Book of the Bitch from Amazon right now as forewarned is forearmed.  Once again thank you Margot for your response. It is very much appreciated.

Mia

I've read the Frank Jackson book too, but still prefer Book of the Bitch!

That other thread has now been pulled - a good thread on HOW NOT TO BREED couldn't have been better!!    I've only scanned once, at 35 days, and it was accurate.    If you can persuade your vet not to shave your girl's belly, its more comfortable for mum when puppies are feeding and their little nails start growing - ouch!!!

Margot

Thank you all for your posts, you are most kind.  I will now go to Amazon and purchase The Book of the Bitch.

Perhaps you could just put my mind at rest over the hip scoring thing :)

>>Do you have The Book of the Bitch?   If not, I'd advise you getting it - it will become your bedtime reading!

Know what you mean Margot - my bitch is just having her first season and I'm re-reading it for the 12th time!! Not sure if I want to breed or not yet though.

Hi! Well done for doing things properly - you're a breath of fresh air!

I'd say your bitch is either pregnant or developing a phantom, and the only way to know for sure (at least know before she's two weeks past her due date and nothing's happened!) is to have her scanned, if your vet isn't good at palpation. I must admit I recognise the behaviour you describe - my bitch was just like that with her first litter. So fingers crossed! :)

When you say having spoken to your vet you do mean the appropriate screening tests were performed don't you not just sought his opinion?  It would certainly include hip scoring in a large breed plus whatever else is recommended by your breed club.  It's just that people usually mention these things specifically when they talk about premating procedures :)

I echo Margot and JG, well done for going about things in the correct way.  The clear stringy discharge sounds right for timescale, not usually found in phantoms. :)   Keep us up to date with progress reports

Oh well, just me getting paranoid after recent threads then :)