I have never posted before so please bear with me.  I have a bitch which is 7 1/2 weeks pregnant and we were wondering when other people stop excercising their dogs.  She is not quite as lively as she was and we are worried the 3 other loonies we walk her with might damage the babies. 

we keep walking the dogs as it is good for them but somewere quiet and we take them alone and also kep them on the leed a little exercise cant hert her
bye for now fiona

I don't stop exercising them at all! I cut down the length of the walks, and may well take the bitch out on her own rather than with other dogs, but the walks continue until the day of whelping. It is vital that the bitch is fit and in good, hard muscular condition for whelping - it's not called 'labour' for nothing!

I keep on with the excercise as long as the bitch wants it - Am cockers are happy to walk almost right up to whelping day, but the pugs tend to say "no thanks" from week 8 :)  After week 6 the pregnant girls either have steady walk alone, or with one calm friend, as said before, excercise is an important factor in keeping the bitch healthy, and having trouble free whelpings.
bye
Gwen

She is already very muscular as she goes 4 miles a day normally but she is so huge I am frightened she is going to overdo it.  Having had 3 children myself I know the last thing I felt like doing was going for long walks!  Usually when the leads come out she is front of the queue but now she just stands quietly waiting. I have always stopped exercise previously and quite early but have read a few books to keep going until the end.

our girl had a walk about an hour before starting labour! our dogs know what the word walk means, so i would say it and if she wanted to go we would! i like most others, cut the walks quite short, and usually took her alone or with one other so as not to be 'rushed' when walking, on hot days we'd go down to a little stream so she could paddle - which she loved!!

chel

You know I've always worried about them running. Not with me, but running in our backyard. We have one bitch that is half way through her pregnancy and I cringe every time she runs at top speed to chase a squirl or bark along the fence at a neighbor. Any chance this type of running can injure the babies? Or am I just being a worry-wart?

My husband agrees with you.  Purdy still bundles in and out and he is convinced the ones on the outside get damaged which is why we have lost two each litter.  She has had 13 the first 12 the second and judging by her size I am expecting the same again.  I am sure when they chase it cant do them any good but being a dalmatian she doesnt understand the meaning of calm!  This will be her last litter as it is her 5th birthday today and I dont know if it is the heat but she seems to have a lot less energy this time.