Help! My Stafford Is Pregnant

[tesslc]

Wow! Each time I check back there's a whole new page of posts! Again, thanks for all the advice and support. I think we will move our boy away and if our girl appears to be fretting (may be difficult to tell as she's probably going to be very stressed anyway) we might think about bringing him back. I think its going to be a 'play-it-by-ear' situation.

How long would you suggest he be away? Until the puppies are a few weeks old? Until they're weaned? The whole time? I should note that I have fostered kittens (bottle-fed kittens) and my boy was fine with them, played with them, slept with them etc. Although I never, ever left him unattended with them, I was comfortable that he wouldn't hurt them on purpose. I know puppies are different, but just an indication that he is very gentle natured.

Are you able to seperate them 100% if you need to?

Yes - we are using one of our spare bedrooms for the 'whelping' room and although both dogs are 'inside' dogs, our boy can spend most of his time outside and sleep in our room at night. BUT I am thinking it might just be better for him to go elsewhere.

[Remarkabull]

I'd have the bitch sleeping in your room if she's close to due. I set up whelping box in my room and it stays there until pups are 2-3 weeks old.

[Nic.B]

Wow! Each time I check back there's a whole new page of posts! Again, thanks for all the advice and support. I think we will move our boy away and if our girl appears to be fretting (may be difficult to tell as she's probably going to be very stressed anyway) we might think about bringing him back. I think its going to be a 'play-it-by-ear' situation.

How long would you suggest he be away? Until the puppies are a few weeks old? Until they're weaned? The whole time? I should note that I have fostered kittens (bottle-fed kittens) and my boy was fine with them, played with them, slept with them etc. Although I never, ever left him unattended with them, I was comfortable that he wouldn't hurt them on purpose. I know puppies are different, but just an indication that he is very gentle natured.

Are you able to seperate them 100% if you need to?

Yes - we are using one of our spare bedrooms for the 'whelping' room and although both dogs are 'inside' dogs, our boy can spend most of his time outside and sleep in our room at night. BUT I am thinking it might just be better for him to go elsewhere.

I think it is going to be much easier for all of you if your male has a holiday from what I have read.

[OSoSwift]

I had my bitch in the laundry - before everyone jumps on me, my whole house is tiles and it was the easiest room to keep warm as it is fully insulated in all the walls and roof and just off my bedroom.

It also meant I could baby gate it off. My male went to sniff the pups one day after I had told him no and he slipped past. He didn't dare go near them for near on 6 weeks after that!!!

I would play it by ear but no rough play.

[Rebanne]

My dogs and cats were only kept away for the first few days then allowed back in the lounge on the couches. Worked for us. And they all tried out the whelping box when first put up :laugh:

[OSoSwift]

Oh the cats were allowed , just not him - I think she held a grudge!

Until they got to 6 weeks then they were his, she wouldn't have anything to do with them!

[Simply Grand]

I had my bitch in the laundry - before everyone jumps on me, my whole house is tiles and it was the easiest room to keep warm as it is fully insulated in all the walls and roof and just off my bedroom.

It also meant I could baby gate it off. My male went to sniff the pups one day after I had told him no and he slipped past. He didn't dare go near them for near on 6 weeks after that!!!

I would play it by ear but no rough play.

My only experience with whelping and newborns is in a kennels (shelter) environment and after experiencing that (4 litters in the last 5 months) I'd love a private, easy clean environment like your laundry if I ever do it myself! I've seen how messy it gets really fast.

Edited May 7, 2014 by Simply Grand

[westiemum]

1399384024[/url]' post='6477899']

Its done now so to be practical

Your dog will probably be fine if she is fit & healthy & well fed.

Make a safe place & nesting box for her somewhere she likes being & start getting her used to the place & box now.

Have lots of bedding, preferably without loopy fabric. I never use towels mum & babes get their claws stuck in it & some newspaper. Line the box with this under bedding as she will want to rip & tear at the bedding to make a nest when labour begins or close to it.

Feed her as much as she wants now.

Wise up & research as much about birth as you can but it doesn't always happen exactly as described by the book or internet.

Keep the male away.

Pups can come out right way up or feet first, either is normal.

Check all placentas either come out or are eaten.

If mum is actively pushing & no pup comes out after an hour phone the vet.

If you are worried about anything phone the vet.

Make sure you have the vets phone number on hand & emergency 24 hour vets too.

Have a pen & paper & clock handy & note things down, like times of birth, how long pushing etc as it can be confusing & it will help if anything goes amiss.

Get some teats, bottles & dog milk substitute in case she needs a hand with feeding.

You may need steralised scissors to help cut cords if mum doesn't do it.

Make a checklist of anything you think you may need & put it all together now.

Try & have someone with you, its scary 1st time. If they have seen pups born before all the better.

Of course things can go wrong & sometimes dogs & pups die but most of the time there are complete idiots & lots of sensible but inexperienced people out there whose dogs do survive having a litter. Some dogs also give birth alone without a person on hand & they are fine too, some stray, some pet & some breeders dogs although as a breeder I don't know how they can leave them to it.

Try & keep calm. learn what you can, be organised & hopefully all will be well & you can desex your dog after the pups have gone to new homes.

Good luck with it all. No one is infallible.

Brilliant post Christina. I'm not a breeder and shudder at the thought of puppies and prefer to leave it to the experts - but even I could follow that. OP - if it was me I'd follow Christina's advice TO THE LETTER. Good luck.

Edited May 7, 2014 by westiemum

[dancinbcs]

It may be a breed difference (is it a terrier thing?) but I have no idea why you would need to remove the male from the premises. I have never heard anyone mention that before in 30 years as a breeder. My bitches would simply tell the others to stay out of whichever room they were in with the litter for the first couple of weeks and they respected that. My foundation male loved babies and would sneak in to look adoringly at them when the mum went out to toilet. He would bolt out of the room when he heard her coming back so he didn't get caught. By the time the puppies were up and about at 3 weeks they socialised with my other dogs and bitch and my male played with them. The next male I had was scared of puppies so he was always separated from them so they couldn't get to him, with a puppy pen or similar once they were up and around.

[Missymoo]

Just wanted to give my support for you and your dogs. Not an easy thing to be going through but even the bullies here have probably made mistakes but they are too proud to tell anyone.

Look forward to hearing about the birth :)

excuse me!

Errr what?

I've been around this forum for awhile now, these types of calls for help always go the same ol' way. The OP is constantly made out to be some crazy dog monster.

Sure, some are mad but I'd say 99% are genuine people who aren't in the know-it-all dog scene.

and where was the OP made out to be some kind of crazy dog monster? Where was the bullying? Did you report it? Yeah right of course not cause there is nothing to report

Same..just calling like I see it really..there are so many variables to this story...but good luck with it all.

[Christina]

I wouldn't walk the dog the last week of the pregnancy. If she starts in labour early you are going to be in a real panic. There is also the issue of any roaming dog causing trouble. You don't want her in a fight at this stage.

Its not going to do her any harm not walking outside in the last week. Play with her friend your boy is fine. You can seperate if she is leaping around like an idiot.

Having bred for many years now I have never needed to send the boys away for anything.

Your girl needs to be in her own room/space until the pups are about 4 weeks old. Most are very protective until then. You may get some who don't care & let other animals near but most don't like it.

After that it is better they are somewhere in the house where they can see daily/usual activities going on around them even if its only for part of the day. Introduce to your boy one at a time with pup on your lap & see how he reacts. If he is fine let him near with a barrier/pen between but I wouldn't let him run with a few pups as they do push the limits while learning.

If he is not fine keep them apart, seperate rooms & alternate outdoors,its only for a few weeks.

Mum may get rough & you may get a few alarming squeals & screams but she won't damage them.

[Rebanne]

Mum may get rough & you may get a few alarming squeals & screams but she won't damage them.

Lots of bitches get rough and kill pups. Odds are much higher if young bitch has to have a c-section.

[Christina]

Mum may get rough & you may get a few alarming squeals & screams but she won't damage them.

Lots of bitches get rough and kill pups. Odds are much higher if young bitch has to have a c-section.

I was actually meaning when they are at the running around playing stage re being with mum as opposed to running with dad.

Of course one has to be super vigilant after a ceasarian, sometimes the bitch, especially 1st timer may not realise they are her pups however generally & overall most bitches don't kill their own pups. Its not the usual or common response to a litter even with young & maiden bitches. Try & check hourly without disturbing but if mum looks relaxed, pups are close to mum, feeding & are quiet then all is well.

[tesslc]

Hi guys

Quick update - I have spoken with my breeder and she was very supportive. She has suggested that if it looks like there are only a couple pups I should discuss an elective caesar with my vet as she may have trouble bringing the actual labour on. I will speak with my vet today about this as an option.

We walk our dogs on a golf course near home and there are really other animals there so I might take her for a short walk tonight to try and use up some of her energy. I'm a little concerned about her jumping onto the bed but I'm having a hard time discouraging her. I'm not sure how firm I should be on this point - if it's not likely to hurt her or the puppies then all I'm doing is confusing her?

Edited May 7, 2014 by tesslc

[DeltaCharlie]

We have never needed to send any dogs away, although we did have a baby gate up initially as Mum used to get agitated with too many around. Once puppies became more mobile they had x-pens round their area as well so always a safe guard in place. I know of plenty of bitches who are more than accommodating of other dogs and are happy to have them close by, you probably won't know until they are born. That isn't to say you may not have a gut feeling already, we knew before the first litter that there were some dogs Link was not going to allow any where near and would likely attack (as opposed to telling off), but they were other bitches that she barely tolerates at the best of times. The old girl of the pack lay on the mattress beside the whelping box throughout both births and watched.

If you think it is going to be easier for you to focus on your girl (and fairer on your boy as he may miss some of your attention initially) then by all means give him a holiday :) The first few days our pack tends to get neglected a little as we are monitoring babies so much (and oohing and ahhing at them lol). Tailwag sleeps on the mattress beside the box for the first few weeks, so the boy who normally sleeps with her misses her at night (and has to contend with sharing my bed instead :laugh: ) He hates puppies though so would never entertain the thought of putting him near them all night.

[DeltaCharlie]

If all she is doing is jumping up to sleep I see no issue with it. If she is using the bed repeatedly as an obstacle in a zoomies race then that might be a different story though :laugh:

[persephone]

walking/doing her normal activities will not hurt her at all ... she is pregnant, not diseased ;) ( no 5 km runs , or racing ...)

Glad you have spoken with the breeder ..and if a caesarian is done , it is possible to spey her at the same time . I have worked with bitches who had this done ..and they had no problems raising large litters (labradors) ....

[Sandra777]

Hi guys

Quick update - I have spoken with my breeder and she was very supportive. She has suggested that if it looks like there are only a couple pups I should discuss an elective caesar with my vet as she may have trouble bringing the actual labour on. I will speak with my vet today about this as an option.

We walk our dogs on a golf course near home and there are really other animals there so I might take her for a short walk tonight to try and use up some of her energy. I'm a little concerned about her jumping onto the bed but I'm having a hard time discouraging her. I'm not sure how firm I should be on this point - if it's not likely to hurt her or the puppies then all I'm doing is confusing her?

See - wasn't so scary was it :)

The best advice is don't panic - dogs have been having puppies for thousands of years and although sometimes things end up in a disaster, most of the time they know far more about it than we do. If in doubt, phone the vet or the bitch's breeder, but if you panic your bitch will too.

[tesslc]

If all she is doing is jumping up to sleep I see no issue with it. If she is using the bed repeatedly as an obstacle in a zoomies race then that might be a different story though :laugh:

It was being used as an obstacle but the last few days she's stopped racing around and is more content doing lay-down wrestling where they just chew on each other's feet.

[Tatelina]

I have spoken to my vet and they have indicated they would be happy to de-sex the pups at about 8 weeks, prior to re-homing, which is great news!

I don't understand... Why is it ok to desex these new puppies at 8 weeks, but it wasn't ok to desex your female dog at 8, 9 or 10 months before she had her first season?