hi everyone, as you may know i have a girl who is pregnant, she is on day 61,

she is acting pretty strange, this is my first time breeding, i do have the book of the bitch but would like sime experienced oppinions,

her behaviour has changed, she is permanently panting, very unsettled, nesting, and keeps trying to poo all the time, could she be pushing, we havent seen her waters break, and dont know what they look like if they did, i have so many questions, sorry. also it would be ideal if everyonr could give me there statistics on how long after this behaviour should she go into labour,

sami x

Your girl could "act strange" for a while longer yet!  I had a girl do it for 2 days last year.  Some go into labour the same day.  When her waters break, I think you'll realise what is happening, and the pups won't be too far behind.  If she looks as if she's trying to poo, there could be some contractions going on.  You are going to have a sleepless night of it is my guess!

i know, but if i have to have a sleepless night so i can help her i will, we've stocked up on the red bull and pro plus, (very unhealthy option) lol

Sounds like she shouldn't be too long before it gets underway.  Have you been taking her temp over the last week, as a big drop would indicate when she will start?  You don't always notice the waters breaking but if she is trying to push you should be seeing her have contractions.  If you are worried it is always best to speak to your vet but it doesn't sound to me like she has actually started but is getting ready.  I wouldn't leave her on her own at all now and when you go into the garden at night keep her on a lead and take a torch just in case she does pop one out quickly. Good luck and keep us posted.

thanks, well were in the conservatory and she's in the livingroom, will it be ok to keep the door shut as she is very reluctant to go in her welping box and has made 3 nests i just dont want her to start having them on our matress, she knows were in here, and keeps coming to the doorbut she can see us,

I honestly wouldn't be behind a door and distress my girls when they need my reassurance.  No need for her to have them on your mattress - stay with her in the living room.

How about you sleeping on the settee with your OH having the conservatory.  I would be a bit worried about the door being shut as you may not hear any noise.  I know it is harder to sleep in the same room when you have a panting dog in your ear!  You could take it in turns to have the bed as you will need all your energy over the next couple of days (and weeks).   Once she has actually started or given birth they usually accept going into the whelping box - it tends to then click into place that this is their place for them to have their babies.

were in the living room now, she is so much more settled, excellent advice, our dog is bein so good, he normally sleps with her and normally pines for her, i think he knows whats going on, he needs a good treat tomorrow, (hes in our bedroom in his transport cage, as our girl decided to make a little nest out of there cage as well as everywhere else,

i shal keep posted, sami .

Very sensible keeping the boy out of the way - the last thing you or she needs is him fretting to get to you or her. So yes a special treat most deserved (when it's all over).  Good luck if she gets going tonight and try not to worry too much - it will hopefully be over before you know it. 

thankyou v much, i think we have a visitor (a ghost) she keeps staring at things as though someone is reasurring her, maybe its a good thing,

That's the far away look they have before they start.  She needs you to keep reassuring her and it shouldn't be too much longer, prob tomorrow morning but they can surprise you so remember not to leave her.  Night night - My pup's are nine weeks old now and I just have the little one that I'm keeping.  It is certainly worth all the stress breeding causes.  He's a lovely little boy but keeps me very busy - we had 11 born with 8 live - so not a lot of sleep over the last couple of months.  Now I just have late nights and early mornings but what a wonderful time it was.  I shall check in the morning how you all are.

So did you have a fairly restful night or were you disturbed?

well she decided to hop on our bed so i thought it would be ok, then at half three we woke up, thought her waters had broke all over the bed (no, it was sick) lovely, im nit sure if her waters have broke because i dont know what to expct, in her bed we put news papers and hen ilooked they were dripping wet,

i think her waters have just broke, its a small amount but a bit darker than wee, it is sloghtly browny but not cause for concern,

The contractions should start within a couple of hours - I have found that the first puppy is normally born within 2 hrs of contractions starting.  How exciting - keep calm and perhaps make yourself a flask just in case things get moving a bit quicker than you'd expect.

shes making a nest, her waters are all over littke dots everywhere, her waters broke on our settee lol, then a little repeat when she did a wee, is it normal to crouch all the time as though she needs a wee,

i think she is trying to push but i cant tell if shes contracting

The first puppy should appear within about 3 hours of her waters breaking. If they don't, ring the vet. If she is contracting, and pushing unconsturctively for 15 mins or more, you also need to ring the vet.

Hope this helps, good luck!

does the contactons come randomly or permanently when it becomes cause for concern?

It's only if she's contracting AND pushing and nothing is happening, that there is a problem in the short term. If she is contracting for a ong period of time, she may have inertia, so you would need the vet.

If the contractions are happening infrequently, then she is probably imminent. The contractions will gte stronger and more frequent just before she starts to push. Just reassure her.

I am not an experienced breeder myself, only one litter, but that is what I experienced. If there is any doubt whatsoever, ring your vet. A phone call costs nothing. :-)

thanks ill keep posted

shes had her first one it was born not a problem, she seems fine, i just got freaked, when shes picking it up i keep thinking shes goooa hurt it, 

second one

third one

Congratulations so far hope they and mum are all well, Hows she doing now?

well i just wasnt quick enough lol looking at ur pic we have the same breed i didnt see any contractions or pushing coz she was soo big and delivered a pup outta the blue keep us updated and let us know how many she has my girl had all hers in the front room aswell on a kingsize duvet only went into her box after she had them all typical lol

Such an exciting thread to follow. Is everything quiet and finished now or are there any more?
Congratulations to you.

Karen :)

ten!!!!!! iv been to buy some puppy milk just encase, i hatecevery minute of it, everytime she pickes them up i think she,s going to hurt them, im shaking like a leaf, and am so hungry, were still not sure if she's finished yet though, just trying to get them feeding, really hard work

Wow!! Congratulations. Is that a large number for your breed?
jane

Ten new puppies, congratulations and well done to both you and the new Mum.

I certainly take my hat of to everyone who has more than 2 or 3 in a litter. 
That is about the average for my Papillons. lol

Regards
Joan

well i feel a little more content now, hopefully she wont have anymore, im just hoping they will all be ok because i know its crucial now,if we need to feed them a suplement, do you know wether or not if we can give them mothers milk too?

Congratulations!!!

try not to supplement their feed unless you absolutely have to. Mum's milk is on a supply and demand basis, so if you start feeding them , she'll start producing less.

Congratulations!!

Oh boy you are really in for some fun now!
Congratulations on the brood that is fantastic.

Karen :)

Wow - what a morning you had!!  Sorry I missed out on it - I had to go out for the day but would rather have been on here following your story.  So 10 - that is brilliant - very many congratulations, you did so well (and so did your girl)

do you know what, i freaked and left my mother and OH to do it, i dont think i ever want to go through it again onless i had a breed with smaller litters, i keep thinkin shes hurting them and she picks them up all the time, there tiny little screams, is scaring me, i just want to take them all off her and look after them, trouble is we cant tell whos been fed as they are all the same except two, im a paranoid wreck, iv always been so open minded and sponge like, iv heard so many horror stories and its eating away at me as though she is going to do the same,

all the neigbours just keep saying just think of the money, but thats not for me to think about, i dont care about the money at all, its just as well my OH is off work the week, i dont want to put it all on him but after the first few days il be ok i think,

the worst thing is i was what i thought prepared when really i let the side down and just spectated,

i told OH im going abroad next time if there is a next time, I THINK IL JUST STICK TO BUYING THEM

congratulations on your brood you sure will be busy.

by the way you can get coloured paper collars of ebay this is what i used for mine this way you can track the weight of each pup so you will know which one is not getting enough milk and help by putting them on the back teats.

well done

excellent thankyou

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-x-10-60-Pack-Tyvek-Puppy-Kitten-Collars-ID-Tags_W0QQitemZ380031292110QQihZ025QQcategoryZ20746QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

i found these a great help, hopefully u will too..sandy

Don't beat yourself up - it is a scary thing to go through. If you do decide to breed again you will at leasr know what to expect.  I know with my first litter I was very stressed and kept snapping at my OH as I was so worried when all he was trying to do was to help me.  Until you can get the collars you could use felt tip (but you will need to keep reapplying) or I have used nail varnish (although the mum doesn't usually like the smell to start with).  If you have a chart you can then record who is feeding.  You could also put half into a box whilst the other half is feeding for five mins at a time then you can be sure that everyone is having some. 

When my girl had her first litter she was very rough with them but I didn't interfere just kept a watchful eye on what was going on.  She just has to learn how to be a good mum and I'm sure she will get there.  Try not to worry but I know it is hard.

hi    my  girl had her babies yesterday on day 62.she started at 9.00 going to the loo and acting very restless then at  12.00 I saw her bearing down like she wanted to poo,so put her in  the whelping box and out popped baby no.1 at 12.10 a boy. Baby no.2 at 12.30 a girl and then no.3 a boy at 1.30.It is the first time I have had a daytime birthing.I usually give mum plenty of carnation milk watered down and then for breakfast she has had sausage and pasta with a teaspoon of bonemeal which I will give daily.Hope all goes well for you and your babies.

thamks, well i know what my problem is,   

i dont trust her and its for no reason, people have told me so many horror stories and i keep thinking its going to happen, well so far so good, i havent sexed them yet, i dont want to intervene too much, shes realy good, she allows my oh to pick them up, because there s so many we dont want any of them to get squashed, i have ordered some of them collars they should be here tomrro, thanks all and il keep posted

They are tougher than you would think, my bitch had puppies last year and it took some time for her to learn not to sit on them, luckily there were only 2 as I feel she eased me into the idea of breeding very smoothly. They do squeak of course, specially with 10 as they won't all be able to feed at once. My OH was trying to ask me if I wanted dinner cooked yet when Ellie's first one popped out, then he wanted to take a photo while I was still rubbing it and making sure it had started breathing, I was quite proud for not snapping at him lol!

You should be weighing them to make sure they are all gaining, so you will have to sex and identify them. Your bitch shouldnt mind you handling them.

well i know she dont mind, im just scared she dont like it, she proved a great piont today, unfortunately, we did have a runt, i was so concerned about him that i had him at vets this morning, she accepted him back into the litter but sadly he died this afternoon, im so upset because the vets said they cant do anything for him, hes only problem was that he was too weak by this time to suckle we tried everything, im putting a new post for oppinions

To be brutally frank, sometimes some pups are just not destined to make it.  Nature allows for this by the bitch producing multiple offspring so that some will survive to maturity.

Those with really serious problems are lost early in pregnancy, absorbed later, die at or soon after birth.  some whose wiring is wrong survive birth but cannot make th transition to independent living and die within the first week or so, and others make ti to weaning and then a problem shows up once their bodies have to do more than process milk.

Due to modern veterinary science and rearing methods the breeder has a quandary in deciding which whelps should be helped to overcome initial difficulties.  This decision should be based on the likelihood that the pup will go on to lead a full and healthy life, not simply survive. 

Sorry, but I am trying to make the point that the puppies need to be weighed at the very least, to make sure they are each getting their share of milk and gaining weight. I really dont see what the difference is to the bitch not "minding" or "liking" it. The puppies will have to be handled in the future. Also, why shouldnt she have accepted her own pup back? I dont know what your worries are about touching the puppies.

i think its was because i had heard so many horror stories and it was my first time, everything fine now, im braver now, we have 5girls and 4boys, they have all gained double weight all around a pound mark, well 16/17 oz, i know you were just trying to help it was me being v weary, the same day she had them, a guy with a pit/mastiff/staffie/ had a litter and she ate them all except one this is what set me off, however he is not the type of person to be even keeping dogd let alone breed them, as you can tell by the overall breed or cross breed