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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Puppies on the way

28 replies

Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 09:58

So my dog is on day 60 of pregnancy and is now showing signs or her puppies going to make an appearence soon we have got her cosey in her whelping box I don't know if I'm more nervous or excited I know most dogs manage to deliver pups themselfs without any assistance but anyone any advice?

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 24/10/2017 10:04

I'd get a copy of The Mating and Whelping of Dogs pdq!

What breed is she?

I'd also put your hard hat on.

EnidBlighty · 24/10/2017 10:07

Have your vet on speed dial!
Seriously, let your vet know so they can advise if needed.
And yes, prepared to be flamed as the only dogs allowed on MN are rescuce Greyhounds.

TossDaily · 24/10/2017 10:13

Here we go...

Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 10:18

She's a Siberian husky. I phoned vets this morning to make them aware she's in early stages we have plenty towels and blankets waiting on hand

OP posts:
Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 10:20

And i m not worried about the stick I get for her breed its nothing to do with her breed all I was asking is advice on anything else I need to her birth process or advice anyone can give

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 24/10/2017 10:50

Actually the breed is important as certain breeds have particular issues.

The flaming you'll get should be about clueless people breeding dogs. Asking for tips and pointers on an Internet forum as your bitch is about to whelp Hmm

I'd get reading right now if I were you.

MsGameandWatching · 24/10/2017 10:52

as the only dogs allowed on MN are rescuce Greyhounds.

Don’t forget poodles. You’re allowed a poodle if you absolutely cannot get a rescue.

Kind of agree that you sound somewhat unprepared OP, which is worrying.

CredulousThickos · 24/10/2017 10:54

What is with the influx of rubbish and unprepared Husky owners lately?

olliegarchy99 · 24/10/2017 10:56

no-one is flaming the OP Hmm many of us feel that rescue dogs should get priority over puppies - but that is just our opinion.
OP - will you have lots of lovely husky puppies (fingers crossed they are not a poodle cross! Smile)
vet is the best source of info /support

Santawontbelong · 24/10/2017 10:59

Bit like reading a labour manual in the delivery suite. . . .

Soubriquet · 24/10/2017 11:02

Hope she has a complication free labour

gandalfspants · 24/10/2017 11:09

The kennel club website have some good resources on what to expect.

Any idea on how many she’s having so you know when she’s likely to be done?

With ours we knew there were at least four so when she had a very long gap after the first we were getting ready to transfer to the vet. (luckily she started again and I managed to help her with the second - it was sideways). After that she was fine.

I’m not sure on breed specifics, but with ours (cocker spaniel) I had to help her with the cords (she was keen to eat the placenta but couldn’t quite get chewing through the cord right).

Also don’t rely on your vet knowing what to do with puppies unless you know they see a lot, you may can need to know the worming schedule, etc. and tell them.

Bubble2bubble · 24/10/2017 11:36

For the moment I am going to sit on my hands and hope this is a wind up :(

Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 11:39

This is the problem with forums like this people are so quick to judge I have 6 Siberian huskys I have had my oldest husky for 14 years so as for clueless husky owners you are so quick to jump down a throat we have also had a litter of puppies before almost 9 years ago every dog is different when whelping i was simply asking for anyone who had any other pointers

OP posts:
QueenInTheNorth26 · 24/10/2017 11:42

I really don't see everyone's problem?. She's asking for a little advice which is allowed. I have no tips OP but I hope she has a stress free labour.

Bubble2bubble · 24/10/2017 11:44

Agree I am very quick to judge and make no apology. If you have six huskies already you must love the breed and be aware of the huge number there are in rescue, and the number of BYBs selling cute husky puppies on Gumtree.
Sincerely hope you already have perfect homes lined up for your pups.

Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 11:44

Thank you as I say it's been almost 9 years from we have had puppies from of our huskys and ways of which are always changing its my nerves more than anything the worry for my girl even though I know she will do fine with the delivery last time we had a few complications and had to phone vets to the house

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 24/10/2017 11:45

I didn't call you a clueless Husky owner, I said clueless dog owner. I like Huskies actually!

You've had a bitch whelp before, didn't you do any research that time.

The gestation period of a dog is 63 days.

Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 11:46

We are planning on keeping another one puppy the rest will stay in our care until I am completely satisfied with the new homes they will go to I will personnaly be checking homes as well as I know myself how many huskys are rehomed I have 3 rescue ones myself and 3 I have had from 8 weeks old

OP posts:
Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 11:51

Yes I done research it was also 9 years ago I've also done research this time I still as I did last time I worry something will go wrong I think of my dogs as part of my family it would be same as if my child was having a baby I would worry its a natural instinct

OP posts:
CredulousThickos · 24/10/2017 11:54

Why is she having puppies? Are you breeding from her on purpose or was this an accident?

I’m just baffled really that a responsible, loving dog owner would breed a litter of Huskies without firm homes for them, knowing how many are in rescue. And equally baffled (if it wasn’t on purpose) as to why she isn’t spayed.

Original poster
Lyndsay21 · 24/10/2017 11:57

She has been bread of purpose to keep her in the family we are keeping a puppy and the dad of the puppies is keeping one I have currently been looking for homes for puppies but as I say they will stay her until I am satisfied in my case they may all stay I have large land which is all secure for them to Rome free with inside kennels for dogs there's no issue for space for puppies and love as I love the breed of dog

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 24/10/2017 12:42

I really hope all goes well for the Dam and the litter.

Please though, don't do this again. It's all well and good having 2 potential homes but what if you end up with 8 puppies. Who, as each week passes beyond 12 weeks, become less desirable and more difficult and expensive to raise and find good homes for.

October is the month for having a litter for Christmas spends! Just sayingAngry

CornflakeHomunculus · 24/10/2017 14:00

Right.....

If you don't already have it then get yourself The Book of the Bitch, it's no replacement for a proper mentor but it's not known as the "breeder's bible" for nothing.

If you don't already have a waiting list set up then get advertising this litter immediately. Sibes very frequently attract people who aren't really suited for taking on such a specialist breed so you need as much time as possible to sift through potential owner applications. Register on Champdogs and get the litter listed on there straight away, you can put an advert up even before they're born. As soon as you can get them listed on the KC site. I would highly recommend against using free ad sites like Pets4Homes, Gumtree, etc. Champdogs also have a useful article about interviewing puppy buyers which I'd recommend reading. I'd also read their guide to buying a puppy and the accompanying list of questions to ask a breeder as this is the sort of thing you should be expecting from people interested in the litter.

The Puppy Plan has some good information about the basic socialisation/training/active puppy rearing you need to be doing during each stage of their development. If you want to give them the absolute best start in life though I would recommend the Puppy Culture programme. Presuming you're in the UK you can buy the DVD from Positive Animal Solutions but given how imminent the litter is I'd recommend just getting the video on demand straight from the PC shop (which is also cheaper).

The KC have some templates for various documents you may want to put in your puppy packs here which you can tailor specifically for your own use. Make sure you have all necessary paperwork available for people to look at when you can start having potential buyers visit the litter. So KC registrations and pedigrees for both parents and the puppies, health test certificates for both parents, information about the inbreeding coefficient of the litter, etc.

Are both parents health tested at least in line with the breed club recommendations? If they haven't both been hip scored and don't have current BVA eye tests and BVA gonioscopies (as an absolute minimum) then I would be honest and open about this with prospective puppy buyers to minimise the chances it'll come back and bite you on the arse in the future.

CornflakeHomunculus · 24/10/2017 14:03

You also need to start looking at insurance companies so you can provide the puppy owners with four weeks free. It's best to get sorted with which one you want to use now so you can just set it up as quickly and easily as possible once the litter is here.