First time breeding! She's due next week!
 

Such excitement! Our Bebe is due next week and we are looking forward to the overall experience. Quick question for the group -- as this is our first time breeding, what do we need to buy to prepare ourselve for this event? We do plan to have an expereinced breeder with us. But, what should we go out any buy this weekend?

A large box/crate? Surgical gloves? What else????

Thanks!

Your experienced breeder hopefully will have everything you will need, especially since it is maybe only a week away! I am prayful that she will be around to help with the babies, especially if there are any problems....this is not really something you can take a crash course in! I think it is super you have your experienced breeder , in case of an emergency or issues with the babies! Good thinking! She can help you get through it!

This site has always helped me in the past:

Canine Reproduction Video and Book on Breeding and Whelping dogs by Debbie Jensen for dog breeders and Whelping Supplies needed to deliver puppies.

^^ agree with above post! Debbie Jensens site is very informational. i love it

Good Luck with the whelping! My girl is due on about 2.5 weeks.

best of luck with your girl, when I mentor a newbie breeder I give them a list of MOST have before I get there, like the whelping box setup, at least 2 weeks before due date, also, the calcium supplements for after whelping, the oral cal plus, latex gloves, white towels, whelping drink and pudding ingredients.. I bring all hemostats, KY Jelly, forceps, scissors, alcohol, betadine, for the puppies, I bring Nursemaid ASAP, and some other items that are good to have on hand .
hugs,
Carmen

Out of Practice
 

I'm very excited to be back after being away so long. I did not post a lot while I was active, but this time around I am hoping to connect & reconnect with some of you.
Last year my Cleo had a year off & truth be told I think it was more for me. She missed being a mom last year...
One day last summer I came downstairs & I heard this squeaking, I saw this teesny, weensy little something right in the middle of my kitchen floor. I took a kleenix expecting it to be something that one of the dogs left over. I picked it up carefully, it had a tail but bare naked, making a squeeking sound. My first thought...Did Cleo somehow aborted this, but hold on, don't think that it was a dog. No its a baby mouse. Where did it come from & where's mama?
We live on a 1/4 sect in northern BC. I expect an occassional mouse but our cats are pretty good in taking care of any problems we may have & constantly leave dead gifts of mice on our deck in the morning.
My first thought, flush it down the toilet, throw it in the garbage, do something.
I went to flush it & it made these baby squeaks. Im not a mouse lover but its a baby & it looked cold.
Then a blonde thought hit, "Why not wrap it in kleenix, stuff it into the toilet paper roll & leave it in the middle of the kitchen floor so the mama mouse can retrieve her baby. If she happens to get caught by the cat, so be it."
I then forgot all about it.
The next day I was shaking out Cleo's bedding upstairs in our room when out dropped the baby mouse! Cleo had to have found it & carried it upstairs to her bed & was there licking the mouse. Strangest thing...not sure why, maybe missed not having a litter that year.
Then, a year later, down in the basement I hear this squeaking and I see Haboo licking something, another baby mouse but this one has a bit of hair & the eyes were open. Haboo is Cleo's daughter from 2010. Next year she will be bred & I'm quite sure she will make an excellent mother.:)
Sorry this went so long.
I wish you all the best on your first litter & I'm so pleased that you have a mentor/coach. I checked out that web site mentioned & I will be updating myself as well. Curious if any of you have had your yorkie's adopting mice babies? One last question, does anyone know someone in the Fort St. John, Dawson Creek region of BC who would be willing to be my mentor/coach?
Thanks for all of your patience with me, next time should I blog? Is there a limit to how many words we can use?
Thanks again, Athena9