LizT

There are also products you can spray (crib bite etc) if it becomes behavoural that taste unpleasant, even the stuff to stop people nail biting sometimes works to break a pattern of behaviour. Sometimes you can 'cure the cause' but they enjoy the learnt behaviour.

Arh nope, sounds like she is going to have babies! ;) Wishing you best of luck. Interesting, definitely stay close and we'll stay tuned on this one! A cervical plug is taking phantom to the extreme!

CONGRATULATIONS! Glad it turned out well, a bit scary thinking about it isn't it. Yes, she certainly has a few 'berths' free hasn't she LOL There may well be someone out there that needs a 'mum'.

I suppose it depends on the breed. My puppies start escaping the whelping box at about 10 days and by 4 weeks are racing around the yard, playing, chasing, digging, climbing, doing lots of interesting stuff. One of my friends has another breed and they just stay in the whelping box eating and sleeping and looking cute until about 5 weeks. The difference between the development of the breeds is quite astounding. The same thing applies with food. By 6 weeks our puppies can tackle a chicken wing, unsoaked puppy kibble and love to gnaw on a hard 2x4 biscuit but I have heard other breeders comment that their 6 week old puppies struggle with puppy kibble unless it is well soaked. So when you have visitors in can also depend on how advanced your puppies are in development. What breed do you have again dancinbcs?

I suppose it depends on the breed. My puppies start escaping the whelping box at about 10 days and by 4 weeks are racing around the yard, playing, chasing, digging, climbing, doing lots of interesting stuff. One of my friends has another breed and they just stay in the whelping box eating and sleeping and looking cute until about 5 weeks. The difference between the development of the breeds is quite astounding. The same thing applies with food. By 6 weeks our puppies can tackle a chicken wing, unsoaked puppy kibble and love to gnaw on a hard 2x4 biscuit but I have heard other breeders comment that their 6 week old puppies struggle with puppy kibble unless it is well soaked. So when you have visitors in can also depend on how advanced your puppies are in development. Ours are on solids by 4 weeks & out & about but size wise we are talking about half the size of a chi . I now when we had our large breed babies that there where certainly more capable at a younger age. That's very interesting, I would have thought that larger breeds take longer to develop as infants, as that is the case for their maturity isn't it?

Yes, that was how I was planning it ...no prospective buyers until 6 weeks as there's no point. But my initial problem stems from 'friends' wanting to share my joy! I let my daughters boyfreind have a peek yesterday as my bitch loves him and I consider him family but don't want a 'parade of visitors' it's bad enough when you have a human baby!! LOL

I allow visitors from 3-4 weeks but it depends on the bitch. If she is really protective I give her a little longer and if she is the sort that wants to show her babies off to everyone, it can be earlier. I also ring the vet to check out the current parvo situation in the area. If there are no cases of parvo around I allow earlier visits. I like puppy buyers to come weekly from 4 or 5 weeks so I can get to know them and decide if I really want to sell them a puppy. I don't like to make a definite decision until they have visited 2 or 3 times at least. Dancinbcs, what do you do if the people live a l o n g way away and are willing/asking to come for a 6 weeks visit to meet you and the puppy, I'd feel bad making them drive 3 hours each way more than twice? They have given me alot of information about themselves so I am getting a 'feel' for the family, so to speak.

Yes exactly, (and he doesn't hold back when 'go-ing at' the scum of society such as child molestors etc.) it's good for him to say Hey, look we bought a dog from a Pet Shop and we didn't realise either! So many people just don't realise. I didn't when I was younger, I bought dogs from Markets. Good people who give Pet Shop Dogs good homes but have no idea of "what circumstances" they came from!! It take high profile people to get the message out there. Recently I've been overwhelmed with people ringing up inquiring and emailing me about my recent litter. Stating that they want to get their dog from a Registered Breeder. There is NO WAY I am going to be able to meet the "demand" with 5 puppies. It worries me that these people may end up going to a BYB or worse! I guess it just depends on the patience and morals of those involved but I can 'see' how the Puppy Mills meet the demand for a popular breed for Pet Shops.

So is 4 weeks okay for "close family friends" and 6 weeks for "strangers"?

I just did that for a friend to show just what "little blobs" they are! Although, my 10 year old daughter , who understands, has just told me she had to be quite firm to classmates who asked if they could come over during the school holidays to "see the puppies".

Well in fairness they are mostly "Horsey people" and we all roar round to see the new foals the next day.....but after telling people the pups have arrived they all politely asked if they can come visit when the pups are a 'bit' older. Yes, of course I said. Didn't realise they thought this weekend was okay. Have had to clarify timeline to them now. Despite having laid down the ground rules and clearly explaining"WHY" before the pups were born I had a stand up arguement with my teenage daughter when she wanted to bring her friend and friends mother in on Tuesday (day 3) and I said "NO". My daughter thought that "look don't touch" was sufficient. Fortunately the mother was a farmer and understood, explaining to her daughter that day old chicks were not allowed visitors etc. I still felt mean though. Also potential 'adoptive parents" have asked when are they able to come visit the puppies. I've said "not before 6 weeks". Apart from the fact that I think my bitch would get upset, is their any further way I can make people understand that it's still "No Visitors" and that the 'puppy room' is quarantine. All the family has been great about removing shoes and washing hands thoroughly.

Ha, that's what I thought last Friday but she had a quiet night and popped out her first pup at 4.50 am without so much a a peep of noise from her or a pant prior! Caught me quite by surprise! How'd you go??

This is very intersting Dancinbcs. As I know of some women who have used Chinese Medicine for Fertility issues with great sucess.

When is she 'due'? Are you taking her temperature? Does it drop even in a "phanton"? Anyone?

I've often wondered about the samonella issue in raw chicken?? Anyone?? Also. I always thought that Chicken Bones were a big "NO NO" ??

A reproduction Vet is an excellent idea. The moult you describe sounds too severe even for a true pregnancy. I have seen bitches that looked like they have been clipped, they moulted so hard, but bald patches are a great concern. Sounds like she has some "hot spots'. Clearly something is going on, hence the two missed matings, the sooner you can find this out the better. Sadly, desexing may be your only option if unable to prevent this from happening again.

Yes, Dancinbsc My vet said it was more common than many realise, often entire litters have it and appear to be suffering from a "failure to thrive" until, as you say post mortom checks are made. When checking a newborn it is unlikely a Vet is going to pry it's delicate jaw open and Stick a light down it. They gently check for the more easily seen hole in the roof of the mouth. I had one breeder just tell me "she's never had one" but really, she has lost puppies that have "failed to thrive' or "struggled" but not had them checked out after they passed on. So who knows. Interestingly, my recent research has shown that it is connected to a "mid-line" congenital deformity, where fissures remain open along the midline of the body, most probably occurring during early cell division of the embryo. Giving you such conditions as Cleft Palate, Spina Bifida and umbilical hernias. Thankfully the girls are all doing well and getting rounder!

Congrats!!

Surely alarm bells go off if someone wants you to deposit funds in the CAMAROONS...it's a known Tax Haven and shisters paradise.

I've known of a Cavalier King Charles who dis this to the point of leaving her white paws looking like they had been dipped in red wine as saliva stains like tears. She was skin sensitive and required a change in diet to address the situation.

Neutral territory is often a good idea but be careful of the proximity when walking. Your boys may resent the intruder being close to you. Bear in mind though that if it's your dogs regulary walking trail it's not really 'neutral'...they own it! Looking after someone elses dog can be a tricky situation. I baby sat a work collegue of my ex husband two dogs a some years ago. He was an American working here and returned home for 6 months. My ex voluntered me to look after them (no wonder he's my ex! ) Actually I really loved having them, and I too felt they would be happier with us than in a kennel for so long. I had three middle to elderly dogs, all small breeds at the time and his two were a beautifully behaved Shetland Sheepdog of about 4 years old and a nightmare 15 months old Kelpie/Border Collie. It took a little while for my crew to understand that there place in the sun was not under threat. While there were no fights but mt my dogs did have their hackles up a few times in the first week. Incidently I did some training with the young dog and the owner couldn't believe what a great fellow he was 6 months later..well dah? More recently I looked after a GAP greyhound for a week while my friends went on holiday. He and my 4 year old GSD meet at a walking trail first and then got to know each other so after the walk, the Greyhound then came over for a cuppa and..... okay we had the coffee the dogs drank water! When the greyhound stayed over he really wasn't interested in doing much but sleeping so the GSD didn't seem to resent his presence. Not so with my daughters boyfriends Staffy/mastiff X who makes a fuss of us and the Shepherd got very jealous and attacked him We have had to keep the two apart for now. I keep telling my daughter they should walk the two of them but she's busy with Year 12, so maybe after the November exams. Just take it slow and reassure your dogs but remember that the visitor may be feeling a bit lost too.

Yes, it was nice to have a positive experience first time. It can help prepare you for the less happier outcomes later on. A bit hard to get a kick in the teeth first up but sadly, in reality it happens. ..and that kick in the teeth came by the way of a cleft palate for the poor little boy.

Thanks everyone

Gee, I hope it's not because she is in any discomfort??

I think you hit the nail on the head when you talk about "continuing testing" at all ages Asal. Even if the bitch is no longer breeding it is important to be able to compare these results if using a continuos bloodline. But I also believe that one must take into account at WHAT AGE and to WHAT DEGREE the level of heart murmer. Many an elderly mammal will have a low level heart murmur. I know of a 15 year old Rottie that has just been diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur. I wouldn't go removing any of her progeny from a breeding program. And my old cat has just been diagnosed with one...not that he's even had the oportunity to breed as he's desexed but my point being that one shouldn't be surprised to find a heart murmur in any breed of elderly mammal.