Does Labor start all of the sudden?

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

Yes we have a whelping box with all our supplies all set up for her in our bedroom as we have other animals. So far she has spent very little time in it. She goes to bed on her doggie bed outside the box (her wish) and then in the middle of the night she whines until I put her in bed with us. She is with us 24/7 as she will not have it any other way and neither will we. We have it worked out for this entire week that my son (18 year old), bf, and I have rotating work shifts and the only time one of us will not be able to be with her is for 2 hours and I have called in my best friend who knows Bella well to come sit. I am able to leave work the SECOND anything looks like labor is pending. I live 7 minutes from work.
I have Nutra-drops, I have beef liver in the freezer, I have Tums, I have goats milk, I have whelping pudding supplies, I have vanilla ice cream, yogurt and cottage cheese. I am in the medical field so I have made a full blown whelping kit and I am not squemish. I read old posts back even years and if anyone suggested it I bought it. I wanted to be WELL prepared for this and do right by my girlie. I have the vets number and UCD on speed dial! I have probably over done everything but better safe then sorry. I just need patience now which I have NEVER had.
Oh and Bella did keep getting under the bed but my bf blocked under the entire bed with wood much to Bella's dismay!

It sounds like you have done your homework. I pray momma has a safe whelping and I hope she has a day whelp for you. You will learn patience when she starts having pups.....you can't rush mother nature.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by bjh

It sounds like a nice whelping area your hubby is making. I always whelp mine on the bed in a big wicker dog bed. I also cover the bed with an old bedspread and until the females starts hard labor I don't try to make her stay in the basket. We just chill out and watch tv. Once the pups are born then I move mom and babies to the whelping box in the x-pen in the spare bedroom. Of course the all night deliveries are the hardest. I am so thankful that my husband helps me with the delivery.

Mine stay in the bedroom until they are old enough to go home or into the puppy room, right outside my bedroom......usually between 12 and 16 weeks. No one goes to sleep until 2 hours after the whelping and we take shifts for the first 72 hours as they are the most crucial. Hubby helps with the whelping or if I'm at a dog show, does the whelping.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by bjh

It sounds like you have done your homework. I pray momma has a safe whelping and I hope she has a day whelp for you. You will learn patience when she starts having pups.....you can't rush mother nature.

Now on the lighter side.
Do you remember your first whelp.....I do, when it was all over, hubby and I looked at each other and laughed. We came to the conclusion that we could have filled in for the Keystone Kops.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Now on the lighter side.
Do you remember your first whelp.....I do, when it was all over, hubby and I looked at each other and laughed. We came to the conclusion that we could have filled in for the Keystone Kops.

Yes, I remember it very well. Depending on which one you count. Not long after I got married my husbands beagle had pups and I was freaking out. Momma kept vomiting so I called the vet. He said to just give her some honey. Then came the water bubble so I called the vet again. Luckily the beagle knew what to do because I sure did not. Now with my first Yorkie litter we were at our friends house that had sold us our Dixie. We had gone out to eat and come back and Dixie had a puppy almost all the way out. Luckily our friends helped with that delivery. I guess that is why I am a bit more understanding when someone comes on in a panic. There is just nothing like experiencing it first hand.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by bjh

Yes, I remember it very well. Depending on which one you count. Not long after I got married my husbands beagle had pups and I was freaking out. Momma kept vomiting so I called the vet. He said to just give her some honey. Then came the water bubble so I called the vet again. Luckily the beagle knew what to do because I sure did not. Now with my first Yorkie litter we were at our friends house that had sold us our Dixie. We had gone out to eat and come back and Dixie had a puppy almost all the way out. Luckily our friends helped with that delivery. I guess that is why I am a bit more understanding when someone comes on in a panic. There is just nothing like experiencing it first hand.

We'd assisted my mentor with several litters and I mean several. As, I've stated before, she didn't allow me to breed a litter until I'd finished 3 Champions...... But, nothing prepares you for the first time, and the next and the next....each one is different.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

We'd assisted my mentor with several litters and I mean several. As, I've stated before, she didn't allow me to breed a litter until I'd finished 3 Champions...... But, nothing prepares you for the first time, and the next and the next....each one is different.

You were so lucky to have a excellent mentor and to get off to such a wonderful start. My mentor was a hobby breeder but she did love her dogs and she did introduce me to yorkies so for that I am very grateful. I have learned so much since then.

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Mine won't go into labor unless in a quiet place, away activity, less stressful. She's checked on once an hour on the hour. They want no one around. My puppy pens have padded floors and tops and covers (my girls like privacy). However, hubby is making a new whelping area out of a baby crib, completely lined with plexi glass and a latched top on it. Floor lined with rubber padding a Pish Pads.... I gate off my bedroom, only hubby and I are allowed into the room. She's kept in pretty sanitary conditions until puppies are weaned, her on potty area, etc. And I don't want to take the chance of her dropping puppies all over the house.........

Wow, a whelping area made from a baby crib! That sounds like it will be awesome. Will it be up off the floor as a baby crib is or will it be made without the legs on the bed so it sit's on the floor? I would love to see pics of it when it is finished.

bjh.......I've seen pics of your whelping/nursery area set up. I like it also and have taken notes. Oh I so hope that Toby & Halle had a successful breeding and will have pups come mid August.

[Princessangela3]

Mardelin and bjh, Thank you both for the wealth of information! You are both wonderful.
Bella would stress if I left her in a room without me so I put the other animals in the bf's daughters room.
Bella seems to want Vit D from the sun. Last outing for potty she insisted on sunning herself for a couple minutes before I freaked that it is too hot for her outside (96 degrees) and I made her come back in which required me picking her up and carrying her because she wasnt ready to come inside
I am glad you both remember what it is like the first time. I will not be alone I have the bf and my son both GREAT supporters and care takers and then bf's daughter 11 who is a great cheerleader but she will not be present for whelp.
Thanks again!

[Princessangela3]

PS her dog food is Chicken Soup for the dog lovers soul and contains no soy of any kind.
While cleaning her belly and nipples I noticed her milk is in. Does that put her any closer ??

[PamBellaJagShy]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

One of my girls is on day 64 today and has no signs at all except as Mary said, that glassy eyed look. her appetite was bad the past couple of days but she is eating well today. First litter for her.

I swear I thought I wrote this post. I'm on day 64, no signs...maybe some nesting. I could have wrote this...lol

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by PamBellaJagShy

I swear I thought I wrote this post. I'm on day 64, no signs...maybe some nesting. I could have wrote this...lol

My Go-Go whelped on her 64th day. I guess she ovulated after her 2nd breeding on her 12th day of showing color. That's why most vets won't do a C-section until the 69-70th day. I go into panic and run to the vets to make sure there is no problems, especially if there are no outward signs of distress.....

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by luckylady

Wow, a whelping area made from a baby crib! That sounds like it will be awesome. Will it be up off the floor as a baby crib is or will it be made without the legs on the bed so it sit's on the floor? I would love to see pics of it when it is finished.

bjh.......I've seen pics of your whelping/nursery area set up. I like it also and have taken notes. Oh I so hope that Toby & Halle had a successful breeding and will have pups come mid August.

Off the floor, with the platform being able to be moved up or down....just so, it's easier on my back when assisting. Saw one in a pet store, $500.00, I thought no way, can do it for cheaper. The most expensive part is the plexi glass.

I just got tired of seeing that ugly puppy pen in my bedroom for 3 or 4 months.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

Mardelin and bjh, Thank you both for the wealth of information! You are both wonderful.
Bella would stress if I left her in a room without me so I put the other animals in the bf's daughters room.
Bella seems to want Vit D from the sun. Last outing for potty she insisted on sunning herself for a couple minutes before I freaked that it is too hot for her outside (96 degrees) and I made her come back in which required me picking her up and carrying her because she wasnt ready to come inside
I am glad you both remember what it is like the first time. I will not be alone I have the bf and my son both GREAT supporters and care takers and then bf's daughter 11 who is a great cheerleader but she will not be present for whelp.
Thanks again!

I know it's hot here in this part of CA too.....the dogs have only been let out for potty breaks and right back in.

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Off the floor, with the platform being able to be moved up or down....just so, it's easier on my back when assisting. Saw one in a pet store, $500.00, I thought no way, can do it for cheaper. The most expensive part is the plexi glass.

I just got tired of seeing that ugly puppy pen in my bedroom for 3 or 4 months.

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking when I read your first post....a crib would be right up there(almost)to your height; I didn't remember about the fact that crib mattresses could be raised and lowered.........VERY handy. Lucky you to have a hubby that can do those kinds of things.

[tammys]

Originally Posted by bjh

This is good advise but it really depends on the bitch and what she is use to. Mine are use to following me everywhere in the house and if I tried to pen one up it would be very stressful for her. I try to avoid any stress as much as possible the last week of pregnancy. You don't what to put a pregnant bitch in a position where she is jumping up and down trying to get out of a pen or room. Of course I watch mine very closely and once the labor starts I move myself and the female into our bedroom where I stay with her until the delivery is complete.

On litter by no means makes me an expert, but my girl did the same thing. If I had put her in a quiet place by herself, she would have been totally stressed out. She literally went into labor on my lap, and had the pups on the sofa in the living room! I didn't have to worry about watching her, b/c she didn't let me out of HER sight! LOL