hi all
crystal my jrt was bred 4 weeks ago and as from the last couple of days as become obsessed with her chews and toys and merlin my male cant get more than 3 feet of her before goes mad growling and snapping at him,is this a sign of pregnancy or could this be something else she was never ever like this at all before,im very sure she is pregnant as she has changed so much,clinging to me,her belly has started to change size and shape already
any advice would be great
mandy

Hi from what i have read up on at a guess i would say this sounds like she has had a phantom pregnancy and her obsession with her chew toys is a sign of being her puppies that she thinks she has given birth too.
A female going through or that has had a phantom)false) pregnancy can show all signs of being pregnant from milk production and mothering objects like chew toys and teddies.Phantom pregnancies are shorter than a real pregnancy they only last on average 3weeks well so my vet tells me.

A trip to the vet will rule this out as some bitches can become very agressive.

The people on this board are great and i have recommended it to all my friends and people i know that breed dogs and they are very helpful indeed.
Some one is bound to give you some exellent advice on this matter.

Good luck and hope you get some get help and advice.

mike

im very sure she isnt having a false pregnancy as she has had one before,you can feel small lumps in her tummy so fingers crossed,she has only started this with a new chew or toy
mandy

Hi Mike

A phantom *can* last 3 months after seasons, or rather, a bitch can get fat, come into milk and go all through the appearence of labour pains at this time.  Some may last three weeks but I have never had one this short yet, most are real pregnancy length or longer.

Hi Mandy

Stop fiddling!! <consider wrists slapped :D>  If you don't know what you are doing there is the slight risk you could do some harm to your bitch.

Some bitches character does change, before, during and after seasons and during pregnancy.  Some bitches become clingy, others standoffish or distructive or attached to certain objects.  Some carry on as normal and you won't notice any difference.

Why not weigh your bitch and then weigh her again at six or seven weeks if she is putting on much weight this may be a good indication of pregancy.

thanks for your help
crystal was weighed at the vets 6.5kg when she had her health check etc, and now weighs 8kg
so hopefully shes pregnant
i didnt push hard at all when feeling her i slapped my self tho :)
im going to take her to vets in 2 weeks when merlin has his booster just to have her looked at she will be 61/2 weeks since mated and i will see what vet has to say,yes i know they can be wrong but she will have some idea hopefully
many thanks again
mandy