if she does not get pregnant about day 25 to 27 she should be returning to normal, if she gets pregnant, her vulva and tits will stay slightly swollen if I remember correctly. someone correct me if I am wrong.. but this is chanel second heat and I think I remember me bringing Harry home from my mom's at day 26 of her first heat.I had it marked in the calendar..LOL I missed my boy so much, but I did not want to risk her pregnant so young. and I remember giving her a bath before he got home to get rid of the odor and she looked almost normal to me..;)

I know a lot about breeding i have read everything i can and i have done my homework. but as everything i do in life i only really learn by actually doing. And when your doing something you sometimes forget what you have studied and need guidance. everyone need guidance when first doing something that is with almost everything. everyone starts form somewhere nobody is a pro to begin with. im sure he did his homework he is just unsure and needs some help by people who have done it before.

check out MalteseLuv very very informative love her site.:thumbup:

I agree with what you wrote here. I asked and reasked some questions just to get more input. It is a lot more reassuring for me to hear from the breeders here on YT that I have come to respect. If they tell me the same thing I have read, then I feel pretty secure that I have a good answer. When I lost my female after the last litter, I was devastated. I was suddenly unsure of everything I thought I knew. I felt better getting every little bit of advice direct from breeders here while I cared for the puppies. I was not disappointed either. I was given such wonderful and thorough advice that we made it through without losing any of those 5 precious puppies. I love to study and research online, but there is something about one-to-one communication, even if through online postings that just makes you more secure in the knowledge and learning curve.

We see so many here on YT that do nothing to prepare before breeding and then ask questions while in the middle of mating or birthing, that it is easy to forget that many just want to get confirmation from the experienced folks here. Glad you reminded us.

Thank you so much for posting this. It really made me feel better.

I know I am asking many questions....most of which I researched answers and advice for a year ago already. But, to LIVE it and have the actual tieing and pregnancy and birthing right in front of you is NOTHING like ready it, lol. Pictures sure are helping me get a good visual :)

I'm not completly new cause many years ago my dear dog who is now 12 years old....(love her :)) she very unexpectedly became prego. I literaly had a week to get ready and learn. All went well....puppies placed...momma did great....but I was a wreck! I had never been through that before. I got her fixed right after, lol. But, she is not a 5 pound dog....it's a whole new ball game for me.

I have read and read and read. I ask...though I am often scared to here. Someone posted a link for me to a debbie jensen site and on there is this:

"I have always been confused by any dog breeder that calls a new breeder a backyard breeder.
What they never were young and inexperienced ?
How did they forget ?
Nobody has a right to make you feel small or less because you have chosen to be a dog breeder, especially if they breed themselves. "

That was good to read. So true. Everyone starts somewhere. I just happened to be starting. This may even end up being her only litter....if I go through this and don't feel confident....I won't be doing it again. I love my girl and want her with me always :)

Anyway, thanks so much for that. I really appreciated reading it :)

EDIT: I'm a girl. My name often gets confused with "mark" the way it looks, ha.

Generally speaking, I have NEVER seen anyone on this site criticized just because they were new breeders. Yes, everyone starts somewhere-the difference is, what you do to prepare yourself BEFORE you start. Did you start by researching, working with a mentor and taking the time to select quality, registered stock, or did you just breed your dogs, decide to learn as you go and hide under the excuse that "everyone starts somewhere." See the difference?

Sometimes it's not hard to differentiate between those who have prepared and just want reassurance and those who have done little or no research beforehand. In the latter of the two situations, I am always relieved to see experienced breeders stepping in and speaking up.

Again, I've never seen anyone put down because they were new to breeding, I have however seen many times people post up for advice, flaunting their lack of knowledge and preparation and then told that they still have a lot of learning to do and that they should stop and better prepare. (Or just stop!)

ok guys I don't know what you are talking about( tie) what is that. one holds the male and one holds the felmale?? my yorkie is only 6months.

This explains it all, pictures also.

Breeding - Tie, Male and Female dog breeding tie

Question:

I am having some confusion over the cord cutting thing. Some places I am reading "surgical scissors" and other places I am reading dull childrens scissors. Can the cords be cut with any sharpness?

Also, if mom doesn't push out the placenta....how long should you wait and then get it out yourself....and how is the best way to go about removing it?

My biggest fear is a second puppy exiting while first puppy's placenta is still inside :(

I see why you sent me the link LOLOL thank you lot of stuff on the website.

I used a pair of children's sissors from the dollar store and they worked fine.. about the placentas they came out right after the babies with the next set of contractions and the last one I was very concerned because it did not come out right away, I called my vet and he told me to bring her in the morning for a shot of oxytocin, but my holistic vet told me to give her some Raspberry leaf tea and withing 20 minutes the placenta was out..:D and YES I am a firm beleiver of holistic medicine combine with Normal medicine.:)
hugs,
cArmen in nj

where do you get that tea and how do you make it?

I have whelped many many litters and I can tell you that many times you might not see all the placentas. My husband and I work together delivering the pups and he just cuts the cord with a sharp pair of surgical scissors and he then pinches the cord and we tie it off with dental floss. Many times I have just torn the cord using my finger nails, similar to how the momma would do if she was cutting it with her teeth. Some people like to clamp the cord and then cut it. No matter which way you choose you need to make sure the puppy's cord not bleeding too much. Many times the placenta will not release. You do not want to pull real hard on the placenta cord because it needs to come out naturally. Sometimes I have delivered several pups before a placenta comes out. Once all the pups are born, their nursing will help stimulate the moms uterus so the mom will continue to have contractions and she should eventually expel all the placentas. Many breeders recommend a cleanout shot (oxytocin) after the mom is through.

You're welcome, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. :)

That is interesting about the tea, I need to get some from the Health Food store. How did you prepare it?