I will be truthful and as kind as I possibly can be. To keep me from pulling out my soap box, I will TRY to be brief and to the point.
1) Google supplies needed for whelping, and take notes....the list is a little long.
2) Be sure you have a way to pay for any emergencies that ALWAYS occur in the middle of the night, usually on weekends or holidays....$3000.00-$5000.00 should cover the cost for the momma as well as any emergent care any of the babies need.
3)Google Videos on whelping....you can watch a whelping happen....it would be nice if you will at least have seen one before your little lady entrusts you with her life in this situation.
Just FYI: Dogs have no concept of what is in the future....they exist in the moment. A female does not know anything about puppies and does not long for a litter....no such thing as "a natural mothering instinct". With dogs, it is more like, "What you dont know and never had, you dont miss". Likewise, the concept of "virginity" does not exist in a dog's realm of existance. I really wish I could give the names of books where you could be completly prepared for what is about to happen....it took me ....oh, about 23 years to learn everything I personally felt was crucial to successfully breed for healthy, strong puppies, that at the very least, complied as closley as possible to the breed standard. But that is just me....I dont like getting in the middle of a swamp before I realize there are alligators in there too! Good luck with your litter....get busy researching and reading and watching videos, you are going to need all this information in the event of a problem. If you can find a vet tech you can pay to help you during this, it will be worth your money....may save a life....... |