I've just got back fron the vets after having my little bitch scanned 54 days after her 1st mating and no puppies whatsoever. She is a healthy lively 3 1/2 year old, never had any illness or problems with her. I spent months looking for a suitable stud. I live in the south and couldn't find a stud anywhere near, eventually I found one in Yorkshire, lovely looking dog, good bloodlines, proven sire, spent lots of time and money getting things organised. I had her mated 3 times on days 11,12,and 13 of her cycle as advised by my vet. This was the first time she had been mated, she was bewildered as to what was happening and the first attempt was unsuccessful,  due to the fact that the stud was about 2" shorter than my bitch. After the first failed attempt we went on to have 3 successful matings. I am so disapointed, I keep racking my brains thinking if I have done something wrong, and was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience to me. I've never had a litter before so I don't know if Bedlingtons have difficulties with their pregnancy's. I don't know wether to wait until her next season and try again, but this has been a very upsetting experience, and its not like Yorkshire is just around the corner from me either! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Getting pregnant following a mating is by no means a forgone conclusion in dogs any more than it is in any animal - mind you if she hopped out of the back gate for two seconds and met the local mongrel she would, undoubtedly, be pregnant, sods law I am afraid. Mind you there is always the chance that the vet is wrong.

I had her mated 3 times on days 11,12,and 13 of her cycle as advised by my vet.

Bitches aren't all ready on the same days, for some the best day to mate may be day 3, for some day 17 or even later, for others somewhere in the middle. Your bitch may have been mated too soon or too late. If you blood test next time you should have a better chance.

better luck next time, it is not uncommon bitches to miss.
Next time, do the progesterone testing as then you will know when she has ovulated so know to time the mating accordingly.
It also means you will travel to stud at the correct time so are likely to get a successful mating so no time wasted in hanging around wondering if you are early or late...

Ditto....I would certainly blood test next time...mine are never ready until at least day 15.

You could also try Vitamin E in the form of Wheatgerm to increase fertility and reduce the chance of absorption.

Also maybe consider having her swabbed at the beginning of her next season to see if an infection is present which may stop her conceiving or carrying full term,

These are the things I would try next time....have never used the Herpes vaccine but others have but Canine Herpes can prevent a bitch carrying full term,

Hope you have better luck next time,

Ali

I had a bitch miss 4 times and had a phantom each time, for 3 of those I travelled 200 miles and stayed B&B for 3 nights, had 2 matings 48 hrs apart, I did learn before the 4th mating she ovulated on day 8, I was mating her on days 12&14 and missing the boat so tried 9&11 and still failed.

On the 5th and final attempt I did bloods etc and used my own stud so I could mate her when she and the male was ready and for as long as she would stand and she went into labour 63 days to first mating.

So don't give up, we have members here who take their bitches abroad for a mating so have the added expense of getting a Pet Passport etc.