Since it's a holiday weekend inthe states, i have several different events that i really should attend wtih my children. My dog is due any day---as far as i can tell LOL. She's enormous. how long is too long to leave her alone and if i do leave her alone--should i crate her or just let her in the room with her whelping pen??
I have been stuck in the house for the better part of a week thinking she was gonna deliver, but alas nothing.
Any advice would be great
Kim

I wouldn't leave her alone to deliver at all Kim. All sorts of things can go wrong :(
Please don't consider it.
Lara x

OK i won't but to explain that to my family. I have ben inthe house non stop since last weekend. I am epileptic and can't drive so if i leave hubby has to leave. Will think of something---Wish there was more of a FOOL proof was that then dang eating and temp( her was 98 this morning but it's been that low 6 times now) and she hasn't like eating much the whole time.
Thanks----
Kim

please don't even consider leaving your dog alone at this crucial time, anything could go wrong.i know the waiting can be frustrating, but she should be top of your priorites at the moment, and for the next few months with the pups as well.good luck:)

I know this now---but try explaining that to my children( and some of my friends) See i don't get to go places much--as i can't drive and have sever health issues--so they think I am getting in a rut of not going place.
I will stay home with my dog til she has the puppies or until I go on vacation--June 7. Then my husband HAS to go to work during the day--So let's pray they are here by then.
Also what about leaving dog and pups home and how do you do this??
I mean hubby has to work( and i will be gone) do we find someone to stay with them all day or wait and see how mom is with the pups and how old they are?
Kim

I've been in 4 weeks now with my 2nd girl, my first girl had her pups on day 60 my second on day 66, so for a week before she was due I stayed in watching and waiting. First girl had eclampsia on day 21 after whelping, girl two is now day 16 so I won't be going out until after day 21 as she is a daughter of my first girl...........if that makes sense to you :-S so a week is nothing yet............lol. I'm diabetic and don't drive and also have 4 children, but you can not risk leaving your pregnant girl at home at all! as you don't know how far she is, she might just be one of these that goes through stage one without many signs and deliver without you there, there could be complications!!

My children understood totally, that my girls may need help, their main concern was that both mum and pups were ok, I'm sure your children will understand!

Also regarding the mum and pups, you shouldn't leave them until they are rehomed around 8 weeks, if you do it should only be for a very short time, a couple of hours at the most! I know you didn't intend having pups yet, but I always plan my holidays for when I know I won't have pups.

Even when the pups are weaned they still need to be cleaned up after and fed 4 times a day, so somebody does need to be there for them.

And i have since changed my plans--and am having the people come over here. Thanks so much for your KIND answer as it appears that most people think i am some kind of idiot based on the emails I am getting in my box.
I also have hired a local breeder woman to come to my home while my husband is working and i am on vacation.

Thanks you so much for being kind. Means the world to me--I won't be leaving them except when i go on vacation and tehn my dear husband and dear friend--who is a breeder--takes care of them for me. She's a god send
Kim

People being people have many agendas, and if you are geting unpleasant private mails, then I wouold block the senders. Cowardly if they can't even make theri comments in front of us all.

Be assured the vast majority on here are ordinary dog lovers, some with a lot of expereince and some new. You have been so good to take this poor girl in.

People are right though, and bitch and pups need pretty well 24/7 atention, for which you have made arrangements.

Speaking personally, got nothing agains people your side of the pond, though our common language occasionally causes more misunderstandings than a foreign one would. :D

HAHA~~ my best friend lives in LONDON and my parents were both born in europe as was my husband.~~
I agree the comments should've been made here but alas some think they are mightier.
As for the language barrier I SO AGREE_--my good friend and I discuss this on the phone quite often--and as soon as i think i have them all understood another shows up and we end up laughing.
Thanks
Kim

Why did you even consider having a litter in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is so UNCALLED FOR!!!!!!!!!!
If you had read or answered other posts you would know that i rescued this dog and was trying to give it a good home. Why is that i get blasted for being AMERICAN on this board.
If you knew what my day was like you might reconsider being so nasty--I didn't post all my issues on here. I just wanted to give this dog a home.
I haev pure bred dogs and haven't bred them yet--but rescued this dog--SEE OTHER POSTING BY ME>
and i was just asking a simple question. I have recommended this board to so many fellow breeders and breedersto be and I might have to reconsider that as all i get is blasted.
Thanks for the tears---and for thinking that rescuing a dog and maybe needing to leave the house for a couple of hours is selfish.
I am epileptic and don't leave the house for weeks on end--as i have daily seizures. So don't judge me unless you know me
KIM

Kim,
Please don't get so upset...I'm sure the last poster didn't realise the great job you are doing for this bitch. I think some posters just get so worried about dogs, they don't realise they sound a bit harsh sometimes. I'm sorry you have problems with your health. My eldest son has epilepsy, mildly for now, but that's bad enough. It's great you've sorted out your care arrangements, and always listen to the advice on this board. Try to relax and only take on the positive stuff...it must be very hard for you at the moment, but hopefully, all will work out and then you'll be able to appreciate how kind you're being to this dog, and that it will all have been worthwhile. Be strong, and keep everyone posted how this all works out.
Beth x

Thanks soooo much for the positive feedback~~it means the world to me
Kim

No ones blasting you for being American Kim :) There's people from all over the world visiting this site - just most people are from the UK.
It's also a really busy site and difficult to keep up with all the threads. I myself only read some of them rather than all of them so things get missed and people can jump to the wrong conclusions.
I do not display my email addy for all to see and if you go into your options menu you can take yours off.
Breeding seems to be a subject that raises strong emotive issues here among a lot of posters and puts a lot of newcomers off :( sometimes it's fair comments and sometimes it's not.
Not everyone is prepared to take on a pregnant rescue and most of us get totally p****d off every now and again with one thing or another. It must be very frustrating for you.
I wish you luck with the pups
Lara x

THank you very much. I keep thinking in my heart I did the right thing. Sacrificing all sorts of things for a dog that wasn't mine. I lost a good friend over this rescue--as i reported her to the authorities over this. She was so irresponsible. I will make sure i explain every detail in every post so as not to confuse people.
Thanks
Kim

I will make sure i explain every detail in every post so as not to confuse people"

General observation:
This is one reason why we ask people to continue posting on active threads and not start another thread with every new thing they may want to say. It is very hard to keep track of 3 or 4 active threads on the same subject and people lose track (and interest) of what is going on. If a thread becomes to long, then we will branch it and add a link thus assuring continuity of the subject.

I don't think anyone blamed you for being American! (I have American relatives, so it's no problem!) And I have an epileptic friend, so that's not an 'issue' either.

Please, these things don't matter. What does matter is that you really can't leave an expectant bitch on her own, no matter what your personal circumstances. I know you didn't plan this, it's landed on your doorstep, but the situation remains the same. Until this bitch whelps, she mustn't be left on her own for more than an hour or so. I know it's a hassle, I know it creates problems, but those are the facts. No-one's criticising you personally, so please don't think that.

Thinking of you. Please keep in touch.
:)

I sit in ere in tears over all this because all I did was ask a question about this dog that i want so badly to do things right for. most was said off board to me and i have permanently blocked those people emails.
I asked the question because i wanted to be postive that i should've leave her. I was brought up better to ask a question then to let it pass and make the mistake.
I wish the people that emailed me would've done it here cuz I think youwould be surprised at some of the names that did it. SOmeone even said i shouldn't have ALLOWED this mix breed to reproduce that i should've had the pregnancies terminated.
It's a life and I can't do that---Because people told that to my mother too---and GOSH look i am here now because she thought otherwise.
Kim

I don't understand why anyone would send you nasty personal emails - it's a horrible thing to do, and I have never done such a thing myself and never would. You are doing the best you can in a difficult situation. Don't give up.
:)

I am trying so hard not to give up. And this porr dogg needs to get these pups out SOON she's gonna burst--and i need some sleep:)
My dr is ticked cuz i am not sleeping over all this---everytime she moves i look at her HAHAH
she's in our room in the corner--which is the place she chose.
Kim

Just a small suggestoin here, and probably too late, when a friend's dog was due to whelp they wouldn't leave her alone, so I used to go and sit with her or check up at hourly intervals if they had to go out, same once the pups were first born.
I do understand that it is unavoudable, you have to go out sometimes, do you have anyone close by who could help you out in this way and give you a bit of freedom.

Ingrid

Hi I'm sorry about my last post if you had read the link from where i had none of the circumstances were mentioned i'e you rescued her etc, american had nothing to do with it. apoligises again and good luck with everything :)

thanks for the apology~~still feel you could've worded it better but accepted
Kim

Hi Kim, I'm an American stationed in England. It's very sad that you received some horrid emails over this. As someone suggested, as I would too, hide your email address dear. Breeding is a VERY touchy subject on this board. Post can get very "hot", tempers flair and people say things. This is why I don't usually even read post in Breeding. Just happened to click on today for the heck of it. I just wanted you to know how sorry I feel that you had to go through such a rough time due to your post. Take care. Shirl :D