Pups on the way (:-S)

[nakedsole1]

I think my dog is pregnant. We have a blonde female and a chocolate male lab, and we were planning on breeding them, but I am so new to females (mostly had male dogs) I didn't know when she was in heat. Now her nipples are starting to get bigger and sag a bit. I felt her belly on both sides, but I can't tell how far along she is. We bought a black female from a couple that was already pregnant, we didn't...and they apparently didn't know at the time we got her. She had the pups 4 weeks after we got her. I took her to the vet because I thought she had worms or something. Can anyone give me a rule of thumb on telling how much longer I have to get ready for this? Our dogs are outside as well, what is a good bedding to use? We used cedar chips last time and I had to rescusitate one from our last litter because it has swallowed it.

[BratBoxers]

well from the time of breeding 63 days!

[BratBoxers]

Cedar for the pups? had pups outside?

[nakedsole1]

I listened to my husband...I did some research on the internet...we had a heat lamp in the dog house. Is newpaper or towels a better idea? My husband built a "doggy duplex" as he likes to call it, it was 78 degrees at all times in there, and they did well, other than the one I had to revive.

[BratBoxers]

Im not into letting the bitch have her pups outside. But thats just me.

[BratBoxers]

I would use straw for them not cedar or towels

[nakedsole1]

I didn't know she was having them until I walked out to check on her one morning and she had 9 and one on the way out...kinda freaked me out. I didn't agree with it either, but my husband firmly believed they would be fine...and they were, so I doubt he is going to be different about this litter. I'm not happy about it, but I can't even tell you when she is going to have them.

[melinda&buster]

I would not either let my dog have her puppies outside espcially during winter and there could be any amount of predetors around. I would bring her in the house and make her a place where she can have the pups when you think she is around the time.

Also you should get a vet to check her and make sure she is pregnant and if she is he can make sure everything is going good with the pregnancey and give you tips.

Why did you breed her??? Just wondering

[nakedsole1]

I'll try the straw then.

[nakedsole1]

I was going to do some planning first, but it kinda happened before I was ready. I admit, I was not responsible with it this time, but I will absolutely make sure they are okay. The people that I got Sugar from breed all the time, and they do it outside as well in kennels. I am not irresponsible, please don't think that, just not good at this yet.