Hello everyone!  I've been reading through the boards a bit and have found some wonderful information on here.
Just to clarify, I am from the USA and own a (will be) 2year old (in just 2 weeks) female, named Vida. (I'm not listing breed, as it is my understanding that is against the rules?)  She came into heat on July 29th, and I bred her on August 10th & 12th, both ties lasted 30minutes.  This is the first time she has been bred.  I bred her to a CH male who I feel is a great example of the breed, and has produced puppies that are also great examples and have done well in the show ring.  He is also OFA certified.  So as of now, I am hoping she is about 18 days along... and I am so excited.  I ordered two books that were recommended in another post on here, "The Book of the Bitch" & "The Whelping & Rearing of Pups", they should arrive on Wednesday and I am sure I will read them cover to cover!!  I have also started to compile a list of things I will need once my girl begins to whelp (also with the help of a post from this site).  I am wondering if anyone has any other advice, or possibly some "secret signs" of pregnancy that only other bitch owners would know? hehe- I am ready to know *now* if she is indeed pregnant or not.  Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Hi Army Girl! And welcome to CD!
I think the books you've ordered will cover most things you need to know. Any questions you might have after reading them will be answered here on this forum,all you need to do is post your questions.
Actually we're all the same when waiting for a bitch to "show". There are no secret ways of knowing for sure at eighteen days. A very skilled vet might be able to palpate at around 21 days. A light nausea in the third week might indicate that the pups are attaching themselfves to the walls of the two horns. (up until then they've just been floating around) If it's a maiden bitch, as in your case, you will be able to see her teats grow and become a bright pink colour in the fourth week. That, in my experience, is the only sure sign, that isn't present in a phanthom pregnancy. And of course the mucus plug, but that you'll not see until later.
Good luck, and again, welcome to CD.
Karen

Thank you so much for all the little pointers! I am making note of those, and will be watching for those signs in the coming weeks.  I plan on taking her to be palpated at around 28days.  I have noticed her teats being a bit larger, but think it may just be wishful thinking at this point, haha. 
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Danni

oh & I wanted to explain so everyone knows why my screen name is "BLTArmyGirl".  BLT are my husbands initials, and he is in the Active Duty Army, so I'm his Army Girl... haha.

I have a pregnant maiden bitch, and I was pretty certain she was pregnant just a week or so after mating as her temperament changed a LOT. There were no physical signs then, but her behaviour chanegd so much she was like a different dog, so I knew something had to be up. After 3 weeks she went off her food and we had to tempt her with all sorts of new things to get her to eat. Soon after that she developed a clear discharge, and became REALLY hungry instead. We had her scanned at 5 weeks and it was at about the same time her teats started to turn red and grow larger.

One good indication is if the vulva stays swollen after your bitch has fininshed her season. Also, as well as the teats swelling and going pink, she will lose a ring of hair around her teats.

More great signs! Thanks everyone.  I have noticed that Vida has been a bit more clingy to me, she will not leave my side, even when others try to bait her.  She and I have always been close but this is alittle extreme, not sure if that's the type change that could mean anything.  Her vulva did not remain swollen after her heat. 

As I said, she tied once on the 10th and once on the 12th, both for about 30minutes.  By the 15th she was finished bleeding, and has since had a thicker discharge, not completely white, however not clear- it's a bit opaque.

She is still eating all of her food just fine, and should be about 18days along (exactly 3 weeks on Sunday).

I've noticed that in between her ribs and her hips, where there is usually a "tuck up" and you cannot see the teats that are there while she's standing-- her tuck up is starting to drop a little bit, and those teats are now a bit more visible.

Danni

Hi,

My girls also have a very distinct change in their character. They become much more loving and calm. They don't want to play with the others anymore as if they know they should be careful and look after their babies. Its absolutely amazing that just a few days after mating they somehow seem to know. That is the most obvious thing i go with and its usually a good indicator. Other than that just make sure you are prepared for everything that could happen. I get my car ready with back seats down, lots of bedding and towels and kids packed off to their nans if it looks like pups are going to arrive during the night so i can be with her in the car while hubby drives if we need to get to a vet urgently. Hope it all goes well and good luck. I read the book of the bitch dozens of times with my first litter. Keep us informed.
mel.

Fingers crossed for you that she is.  The books you mentioned are great, lets you know what to ecpect when it gets all messy.

Let everyone know when she has them

Emma

PS - BLTArmyGirl, glad you explained the name otherwise would had a vision in my head you eat nothing but BLT (Bacon,Lettuce,Tomato) sandwiches :-D

Thanks for all the well wishes, I plan to have her palpated in a week or so, hopefully I will get the news I'm hoping for, and I will be sure to let you all know.
Danni

"vision in my head you eat nothing but BLT (Bacon,Lettuce,Tomato) sandwhiches

Haha- I've heard that before, so funny...

Aaaaaw nothing can compare with that feeling ....love and luckto you...x

the book of the bitch is a very good book, and its not in vet language either! its easy to understand.  good luck with the puppies, my bitch had a litter 14 weeks ago, such a wonderful experience, the puppies were beautiful and all went to fantastic homes.  You will endure a few sleepless nights though, its like having a baby, you wont get much housework done ;-)

hi i too am hoping with everything crossed that my little girl is expecting she will be 3 weeks this saturday from second mating. she had two matings and locked both times for 20 and 30 minutes. ive noticed with her that she seems to have a little belly appearing and seems to have filled out elsewhere too. she is very clingy to me at the best of times but seems even more so at the moment. let me know how you get on fingers crossed for you too nikki x