Hi everyone,

It's taken a while to pluck up the courage to actually post anything - so here goes....

I have 2 of the most wonderful, gorgeous Red Boxers - Max is 5 & half and Molly is 4 in June. They are both pedigree and KC registered. For the past 2 years I have thought long and hard about mating them, researching their pedigrees, getting the necessary health checks - to which the both scored wonderfully. Read everything I could.

On Molly's last heat, they did actually mate once and tied. Since that day I have been a nervous wreck; visiting my vet and watching Molly's every move. She is 45 days and was scanned yesterday and we saw 4 beautiful little pups; through my tears Although deep down I already knew my baby was going to be a mum.

I have ordered my whelping box & kit, read every book I can lay my hands on; Book of the Bitch being a godsend. I have changed her diet as advised and am trying to do everything I am supposed to.

I have read so much wonderful threads on here and am totally amazed at how nice & helpful people are too each other. I have so many questions and basically would love some friendly advice as I am becoming so nervous and just want to do right by my girl.

Molly's Mum x

Welcome to the forum.

I would recommend reading Candysmum thread on the jouney of a first time ltter.

It is epic but probably really useful for you. There are some wonderful experienced breeders on here who will be happy to answer any questions i am sure

Hi, thank you for replying.

I have read all 300+ pages and it was so lovely and have picked up some useful info, that was why I finally plucked up the courage to post something, people were so lovely

Hi and welcome!

It sounds like you are doing the right things, getting all the info, doing your research and getting your dogs tested!

Looking forward to reading the countdown threads

xxx

Thanks

There are 2 things I'm a little confused about; length of pregnancy and diet.
I was 1st told 64 days then my vet said yesterday 63 and the book of the bitch says about 60??
Also I have been giving Molly rice pudding everyday on top of her normal diet and am now considering changing her to puppy food - is that a good idea?

x

Attached Images

Molly 2.jpg (129.5 KB, 141 views)

I'm not a breeder, so i'm not really qualified to comment but:

a dogs pregnancy can last from 60-65 days i think, with 63 being the average.

No idea about the rice pudding, but i know its reccomended to switch to a good quality puppy diet whilst pregnant. HTH xx

edit: she's gorgeous

HIya...welcome to the forum

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Yea I think she's gorgeous too, although I am a little biased.
I introduced the rice pudding as I was told it would do her and do the pups a world of good and she is loving it!! Max it too, as he can't be left out. She is tending to eat little and often now as her tummy is growing rapidly. Max is a little bemused by it all; as she doesn't want to play as much which is unheard of, all she wants is to be cuddle my me at the moment and lots of attention.

I think you can start feeding them puppy food when she gets into the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, that's when her appetite will start changing. I only know that from college though, someone else will be able to expand later if she's into the 'little and often' eating pattern then it sounds like you're around the right time to start giving her the puppy food

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Thanks for that, I was thinking of mixing it to begin with - half & half as I don't want to upset her tummy.

Any advice about her excercise; she is used to 2 walks a day, running through the fields with Max, for the past couple of weeks I have kept her on her lead and reduced the distance as she is getting tired easily.

Sorry I have so many questions; by the end of this I think I will of aged 10 years; god knows what I am going to be like when she actually whelps x