I had to smile when reading Breda's first time experience of breeding
It put me in mind of my own first experience many years ago 1976 in fact with a GSD bitch. I had done all the ground work, health tests etc had the whelping box built, all the gear in place, the book in front of me and the phone ready in case I needed the vet and told myself over and over again "you can do this" The book had said 63 days but sadly my bitch could'nt read! Day 56 she started to pant, then stopped, then started again!
So there we were her and me together in the whelping box exhausted after being up all night. We both fell asleep. I woke up........she was not there......panic...........there she was on my bed with 8 beautiful pups all feeding from her. I couldn't believe I had slept through it!!!!! A mistake I never made again! She and the pups were non the worse for their experience but I can't say the same for my bed
Some of my old friends still rib me about this.