Can anybody tell me how reliable an ultrasound is for detecting early stages of pregnancy. Is 3 weeks from date of mating too soon? Vet says not and no puppies there, but my bitch is behaving very differently to her last 3 seasons.
Jan

My vet can palpate for puppies at 21 days but wont to an ultra sound scan til 28 days as he reckons you cant see them til then. Fingers crossed for you.

4 to 41/2 weeks to scann,i have not gone down that road with brie she 6week in whelp,i could tell that she was from day 10 after she was mated, bye the way she was acting.plus the way other dogs was sniffing her,her mum is looking after her as while,i do know some breeders in flatcoats retrievers that do scan,with good results,but i like to let nature take it course but if there a problam,then i would scann or x ray,this is my only second litter and there far more experience breeders than me that would give you more details on this,

Thanks for your response. How was Brie acting and how were dogs sniffing? Ellie is a Bullmastiff and usually very friendly with other dogs but at the moment is very grumpy if dogs try to sniff at her back end. The only one she allows to sniff at the moment is her best friend - a Mastiff she has known for 2 years, but then she's in love with him, lies on her back with her legs in the air every time she sees him - she's no shame! I keep telling her you've to play harder to get.
The breeder of the stud said to have a scan at 4 1/2 weks but when I rang the vet to book the appointment they said to come in at 3 weeks. I went along because I didn't want to be at the last minute getting everything ready, particularly the whelping box.
This is the first time I've tried breeding although I've been reading up on it for 18months and have had the stud booked for nearly that long. Trouble is, the dogs don't read the book and go by it!
I'll just have to be patient, keep my fingers crossed and hope the scan was wrong, I'll know one way or the other soon enough I guess.
Jan

other dogs were sniffen her back end that was bitches and dogs,but she was ok about it,she, would sleep alot under the office desk,and her nipples were sticking out,instead of laying flat,then there was a white discharge about second week after mating,

what whelping box are you getting i just bougth a nice one from cosy kennels,i looked at snowsilk as well,but like the frimness of the frist one,i will be putting the whepling box up next sunday two week before,but the next two sundays i got people round to come an see mum/dad before the pup are born then not allow anyone round before 5 week to see the puppy that is the new owners,friend and family be there from day one,
i think i got everything ready it me that got to be ready.

I've looked at the Snowsilk and Cosy kennel's websites and am hopefully going to get one from one of the two, but can't decide which. I quite like the idea of the extension on the Snow Silk version but as she is such a big dog I'll need a large box and they are very expensive. Part of the reason I agreed to having her scanned so early was to allow plenty of time to buy and take delivery of the box. I don't want to lay out a large sum of money on a box if it is not going to be used for another 7 or 8 months or maybe never, I suppose there is always the chance that she may never come into whelp. I thought I'd covered all bases this time, she had her Premate test on the Saturday and changes were afoot, the vet said Monday was the day. Off we duly went to the breeder and she stood OK. By Wednesday when we went again she didn't want to know, cried and hid under the table every time the dog came near her rear. It wasn't as if the first time was traumatic, the stud dog was very calm and not a bit aggressive, Ellie was quite happy with the proceedings and didn't appear to suffer any discomfort at all.

Good luck, let me know how Brie does.

go for a cosy kennel whelping box beacuse of the breed you got,you could add a playpen for the extension which i got one from croft and you can add panel later,
luckly rush my stud dog tells me when the girls are readly,so never done premate.
where abouts do you live,
start saving newpaper now,big breed big poo and wees.
i buy a couple of things aweek for the whepling time so it not to much money going out all at once,
good luck

Jan Hi . Bullmastiffs are notorious for fooling you . With mine I was not sure of the puppies untill I was looking at them .:D
I do think 3 weeks is a bit soon for a scan with a bully Iwould be more happy with 5 weeks . I would have another one done .
I hope all goes well for you
Mari