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BredaKim · #9 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 10:30 PM

Hi Diane,
I bred my lab (Megan) for the first time this year...she has given me 5 lovely pups.

I started off by speaking to my vet to get their advice and to have Meg checked to make sure she was fit enough for the task in-hand.

I next spoke to the breeder we got her from for more advice and to see if she would recommend a good place for a stud (which she did).

I then read everything I could get hold of on the internet, from friends who had bred their dogs etc...you need all the inormation you can get.

THEN...we sat and thought about it for another 6 months before we did anything to make sure this was what we really wanted to do and to make sure we were prepared to put the work in.

I then contacted the lady who would supply the stud, she had several (breeds labs) and we wanted to make sure we got the right one for Meg.

Had Meg hip scored at the vets...general anesthetic and £275 later she was home with a good hip score (we had to wait about 3 weeks for the actual score to come back).

Then we had her eyes tested...If I remember right this cost about £45

Had Meg wormed atthe vets £15

Changed Megs food to Beta puppy food, higher in protien.

Booked three weeks holiday off work for when I though she would have the pups.

All ready to go and off to the stud for 5 days £400...My first time..I miss calculated and we missed...she didn't catch.

Took the three weeks holiday anyway!

Waited till her next season...worming done again £15

Health check again to make sure she was still ok...she had been a little poorly in-between and I wanted to double check £45

Back to the stud...we got second go free. 5 days boarding £30

Sit back and wait...

6 weeks later...back to the vet for a check and scan £50 PREGNANT!

Sit back and wait...

Got my partner to build a whelping box, big enough for Meg and pups and ME...cos I was gonna be with her when she gave birth.

Removed all furniture from conservatory and installed whelping box...along with comfy chair for me.

Got all the stuff ready for the birth -
Antiseptic wipes
rubber gloves
several dry flannels
two hot water bottles
sissors (just incase I needed to cut the cord...which I didn't)
Scales to weight pups
Paper and pen to write details down
Blankets
Towels
Large laundry Basket to keep pups in while she gave birth to rest.
Washing bowl with warm boiled water to clean Meg up in between pups

Sat back and waited...feeling all prepared LOL

Meg went into labour about 7pm on the wednesday evening...I went into shock...I was a nervous wreck...all that preparation and I was terrified something would go wrong and I would loose her (well I had read up on it and heard some horror stories!)

Meg started getting 'worried' and pacing...heavy breathing....I started heavy breathing too!!

Meg gave birth to the first pup at 2.30 a.m... (little black boy) I had sweated along with her the whole way!! BELIEVE ME!

I was shaking with fear...Meg on the other hand took to it like a bird to water and didn't seem at all fazed!

Around an hour later she gave birth again (little black boy)...

We were told that as Meg was a 'small' lab, she would likely only have three pups.

Around two hours later another pup...little brown girl...

1/2 hour later another pup...another little brown girl...

I AM REALLY SWEATING BY NOW!!

2 hours later another pup...little brown boy...

Meg is tired by this point...I'm concerned about the pups in the basket..they hav been away from her for several hours by this time...

I wait another hour as Meg still seems to be panting...

Nothing happens and I panic...

I decide to put the pups with Meg...I don't want to leave it any longer...

Meg growls and I panic...pup the pups back in the basket...think shes gonna kill one or all of them...think shes not finished and is gonna have another pup...think OMG I'm gonna have to hand rear 5 pups!! think maybe one is trapped or she's having problems!!...

ON THE PHONE TO THE VET...who very kindly spent well over 20 mins talking to me and making sure all was ok.Told me I WOULD HAVE to take the chance of putting the pups back with Meg and let nature take its course...or be prepared to hand rear...

I took the chance...

Meg was lay outside the whelping box by now on the tiled floor...think she wanted to cool down!

I pup the pups in the whelping box...left the conservatory and closed the patio doors...then sat shaking on the settee watching through the window to see what would happen...

Meg after 5 mins slowly got up and had a sniff...then went and sat back on the floor...

Up again and another sniff...then back...

I AM LIKE...O M G!! and willing her to go to them...

Up again and in she goes...sniffing and licking like a dog possessed!! LOL lays down and all is well...pups shuffle over and grab hold of a teat! NATURE WINS!!

Buy more blankets £10

Collars and leads £25

Puppy packs for new owners with food, toy, bowl, and information £25

KC registration £60

Advertising in papers £121

Advertising on kennel club £15

First 1/2 injection for pups £120

One pup becomes lame...off to vet...x-ray...anestetic...consultation (NOTHING WRONG)£153

Same pup develops pnuemonia.

..back to vet...hospitalisation...oxygen...antibiotics etc £265
(BETTER NOW).

9 WEEKS OLD AND THREE PUPS SOLD...GOING THIS WEEK. 2 TOMORROW.

Keeping poorly boy...cos I love him...got one left to sell...very tempted to keep him too!!

It's very expensive...very tiring...you HAVE to be committed and prepared to keep them if they don't sell...but so enjoyable!!

Would definately do it again, so long as Meg is OK...

Hope this helps and gives you a good idea from a novice.

Good luck

Breda xx