I awaiting news of a bitch that hopefully will be pregnant,after several disappointments im keeping everything crossed but the breeder called me last night to say that normally she has some sign by now and theres nothing,no difference in her waist line,teats etc although just a little quiet she would be 4 weeks today going by first mating or 4 weeks on tues going by second mating.Im not a breeder but after waiting years for the right pup have learnt a thing or 2 and isnt it a little early to tell.can some of the more experienced members tell me the average time they start showing signs,changing shape etc?This will be a sho pup and im starting to lose hope as we have had several misses,slipped matings etc( not all the same bitch) and am hoping this time is different.Thanks

From what I've learnt, it's dependable on each bitch. My own bitch showed to me very early some signs, i.e. being very sleepy and clingy, nipples swelling, and discharge. I'm sorry if it's another miss as it is hard waiting for the right puppy!

No I dont think 4 weeks is too early to be able to tell if your bitch is pregnant or not. When you know your girls you pick up on the subtle changes easily.

For me personally I would say that at 4 weeks today it would be too early to tell, I would usually be having mine scanned at 28/30 days and if I could tell then I would have no reason to scan (except to check for numbers etc..) so I wouldn't get too disheartened, mine wouldn't start to change shape etc till around 5/6 weeks, good luck and hope you do get your longed for puppy!

mine have shown slight changes at 4weeks ie mood food and disscharge but i do scan to make sure its not a false or 1 pup ....fingers crossed you get the pup your waiting for!! x

I was in the breeders neck of the woods today so popped in past for a visit and saw mum hopefully to be and i must say that even being a long haired breed definately didnt show any signs of being pregnant apart from being very lethargic and quiet.can anyone tell me if the first weight gain is around the rib area or the waist just in front of the hind legs because i could put my 2 hands round her waist and my fingers met in the middle,breeder seems to think even her waist should have changed by now but if the pups are under the ribs would the waist still be small at this stage( 4 and half weeks) thanks

My Kizi (rest her) was thinner than ever (she was a picky eater and worse in season) when she was 5 weeks pregnant with her first litter, and i was very surprised that the vet scanning said, definitely pregnant probably with an average size litter. 

She actually had 9 pups 5 days early to first and only mating.  They were all big pups too.

I would definitely not expect to see weight gain after just 4 ½ weeks!

I get an idea that they are pregnant at that stage but not because of any increase in size. Mostly nipple changes and mood but not weight gain...even in a litter of 11 boxers :-)

Yes they can keep them hidden for ages, a friend's terrier wasn't showing anything at day 35, she had 10 pups. This time last week my girl wasn't showing any physical signs on day 33 but now looks wider and hungrier.

They are all different. My bitch is on day 36 from first mating, day 33 from second. She is visibly wider, that is in spite of me not yet increasing her food. With her first litter of 3 pups two years ago, even at 8/9 weeks she didn't look all that pregnant really. Just as women often show sooner with 2nd + pregnancies, I think it is often the case with bitches - abdominal muscles are slacker with subsequent pregnancies and so they show earlier.