Pockets

Wow she is on the larger side of life, how many are you expecting?

With my last litter, I helped with as most have said getting the sack off from around puppies face and let mum do the rest, also hold the cord to make sure she doesn't chew too short :) This mother is excellent, she usually has the pup don't and cleaned within about 15-20 seconds :) I just might give it a bit of a quick rub and dry, especially as its winter, but the heater will be pumping to keep them warm :) I would prefer the bitch do as much as possible and only intervening of assisting if needed, I think it's the first time the mother and pup start to bond :)

Kirty, perhaps if you are very concerned do not use your gate and have it permanently locked? as I said above, I have no gate to my property and I cope just fine :)

I dont have any gates into the rear of my property, only access is through the garage which is locked and the garage is armed :) so anyone opening the door the alarm will sound. Its quite scary, my facebook too is full of things everyday of pets stolen, let out, properties marked etc....I too am not in a position to leave my dogs inside during the day..but I have some assurance in that the neighbours around me a mostly home, there are no gates to my property... The only thing we can all do is keep our eyes out for anything that we may find even slightly strange, even if its asking your neighbours about people going to their property, just so everyone knows everyone is keeping their eyes open :)

Do you provide hands on assistance during the whelping process? My last litter, I provided assistance with removing the pup from the sac, cleaning the mouth of any fluids and quickly and vigorously drying the puppy etc. I did this even though the bitch has no issues with whelping and also cleaning the pups etc, she is a very attentive mother, cleans up everything, removes the cord etc. I have been watching some whelping videos and seen both people helping their bitches and then people leaving the bitch to do everything themselves. I would be keen to sit back and let the bitch do what comes naturally to her and only assist if there appears need to do so. I would love to hear other peoples opinions, do you allow the bitch to do what comes naturally, how long do you allow the bitch to break through the sac etc before intervening or assisting.

I thought Baby in Show was the GSD??

All the best :)

My boy at home is a bit of a dope...by no means will he ever be used at stud, but his sister is right in and ready to go and he certainly would like to oblige :laugh:

Hello everyone Was looking at investing in some pet insurance, but there are so many these days and not everyone offers the same things or covers all vet costs/emergencies etc. I was just after peoples opinions on pet insurance companies, which ones have found to be better etc. In the recent 12 months I have had a dog with cancer (x rays, blood tests etc), leg amputee, a dog with a broken leg and most recently a dog admitted to emergency for Water Intoxication I think its time I looked at the options of pet insurance :) any advice is greatly appreciated :)

Supercoat is considered a premium food, same as optimum and purina one, Advance, Royal Canin etc are Super a premium foods We are an Advance Active household here, my dogs do vet well on it and never turn their nose up. I hate food debates, feed the dogs what they like and do well on :) everyone will have differing opinions, but at the end of the day you and the dogs need to be happy with what your feeding, not the vet that sees you once a year :)

Wow how exciting, big congrats!!!!!!!!!

How lovely, a very good reminder and a lovely tribute for your boy xx

I wouldn't think an issue at all, most males in most species are always bigger than the females :)

Could only see 1 puppy on my girls ultrasound today, but she is quite large for just 1 puppy....hmmmmmm

very true Christina :) Think I just worry too much, she is healthy and happy and last time pups were born fat and healthy, so I guess I will just let her be and eat when she wants to...all I can do is offer her food :) She has definately turned her nose up at the raw, so have just been feeding her raw beef mince with K9 Puppy Gold and also chicken necks and chicken wings, alternating with brisket etc...

Thanks for the advice guys :) Cheers Mjosa, yes it seems the time, its just that she was very hard to get to eat through the whole of her pregnancy last time, was hoping this time would be different, its quite interesting to see a dog that will do anything for food, suddenly just walk away disinterested....shes funny, gets all excited at dinner time, sits, I put it down she sniffs licks and looks at me and walks off :laugh: ....silly dog...

She gets bones, brisket, chicken wings etc varied, so this is sufficient for a bitch in whelp? I guess since she was fine last time and all the puppies were quite large and chunky when born that she would be ok, but just wanted to check...I just want to make sure I am doing my best for her nutritionally :)

My girl is 4 weeks in whelp, she has now become very fussy in what she eats, but she is hungry. She was the same for her last litter. She is usually a very good eater, loves her food, no matter what it is, so its quite frustrating when in whelp she turns her nose up at her current meals. Her diet consists of Advance Active (he usual dry food) combined with raw beef mince, also has K9 Puppy Gold mixed in. My worry is that because she wont eat the dry food, she is not getting the proper nutrition she needs for the pregnancy etc, or am I being paranoid? She will eat the raw meat and also chicken wings etc, but spits out the dry food. Her last litter she did this aswell, it was hard getting her to eat anything at all for many many weeks, I am not just talking about a few days when her body is adjusting to the hormones etc. Last time I ended up buying her roast chickens, as I couldn't see her go hungry, but still to me thats not adequate enough nutrition. I even swapped her over the Royal Canin mother and baby dog, which she ate a few the first night, but wouldnt touch is for the remainder. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could add or feed her to make sure she is getting the proper nutrition or with the K9 Puppy Gold mixed with meat be sufficient? Last times she whelped 8 very large, strong healthy puppies, who thrived from the get go, she carried good weight and there were no problems whelping etc Just thought this time I may as well ask what others do when they have bitches who go off their food :) any advice is appreciated :)

So rapped for you Sway and the gorgeous little star man Huddy Hudson!!!!!!!!!!!! Go little Monkey dog

Just a question, why would you attempt a mating with a prog of 7.1? She wouldn't have ovulated yet.... Congrats on a successful mating, now fingers crossed for furry little puppy paws :)

The sire of this litter is a recent German Import, Arkon vom Altenberger-Land, only recently out of quarantine. Arkon by pockets2013 The Dam of the litter is my own Multi Best in Show winning girl, Ch Freevale Crazy In Pink "Ava" Ava - Best in Show by pockets2013

Well I miscounted and she is only 22 days in, really too early to see anything on the ultrasound, although could see a few black round blobs, which indicate she is definately in whelp :)

Taking my girl for an Ultrasound tonight, 4 weeks since first mating yesterday, fingers crossed I see some little blobs on the screen :)

I have a litter due around 16 th June German Shepherds :)

Dogs need meat mixed in. I feed mine on Advance Active and it's very good for putting on weight and keeping condition.... 7-8 cups a day of dry is so much, I have heard Black Hark quality has changed too....