Puppy birth record

[Goofy]

My bitch is due to have puppies in 3 weeks.
All the birth record forms I have seen have weight, time of birth etc. - all very logical. But they also have 'position'. What does this refer to please?

[woofgang]

breech or head first.

[tinkerbell23]

Is it nose or tail first xx

[lankeela]

I have been breeding for over twenty years and have never yet weighed a newborn puppy, or worried about what time it was born. I know what time the last one was born and know if she is taking too long to have the next one, to know whether or not to call the vet. What are you going to do if they are 'underweight' or 'overweight' - fed them up or put them on diet? You can tell if they are feeding well or not - a hungry puppy will soon let you know! My bitches get very unsettled if I have to handle the puppies for any reason in the first two or three days -then they are quite happy to let me do whatever I want with them. Each litter is different too, so knowing how long between puppies they were last time means nothing. I was called in to help someone whelp a Shih Tzu litter last year and she would not leave the puppies alone - she kept moving them onto a teat whenever they rolled off the bitch. The bitch had not chewed off the umbilical cord on one and she had tried to pull it off for her and I ended up taking the poor little thing to the vet to be put down as she had virtually pulled its insides out. Unless they have actually got a puppy stuck and you need to intervene then I feel the more you let them do it themselves the better. Good luck with your litter hope it all goes well for you.

[Goofy]

Thanks all. I thought it meant whether breech or not, but really who cares if its OK!

Also thanks Lankeela. My first thoughts were to let her get on with it, and only intervene if she's struggling. Glad to have it confimed that nature is the best.
Seriously pulling the umbilical cord? I wonder how she'd like it if the doctor did that to her!

[lankeela]

One word of caution, if she starts to show signs of whelping or has one or two puppies then stops trying, she may be suffering from inertia, and might have to have either a jab or even a C section at the vet to get the rest of the puppies out. Do you know someone you can call on (breeder friend or acquaintance) who could be on standby in case there are difficulties? Tell your vet as well when she is due, in case you need to call them out during the night (vast majority of bitches whelp during the night when vets are only on call!). A bit of warning puts them on alert for the call. What breed is she?

[tonyav]

Position = conceived doggy fashion lol.

[lankeela]

Naughty! lol

[chaptazbru]

More pups brought into an already overcrowded dog population with not enough homes to go round (sigh). And please don't say all your pups will go to good homes, those homes could have been used for dogs or puppies already living in pushed to the limit animal charities !!

[ladybirder]

Why oh why do people keep doing it? It's so depressing and I just fear for the animals.

[lankeela]

Not everyone wants or is capable of taking on an older rescued dog, many of which have behavioural problems. Many people want a puppy of their chosen breed to bring up how they want them. Blame the people who breed without care for where there puppies go and blame the people who buy the puppies then get rid when they find out they don't come ready trained and actually need looking after and exercising.

[wolf63]

Goofy - what breed of puppies are you expecting? Is this your first? Remember and come back with all the details.

[Goofy]

She's a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
Vet knows we are having puppies and knows their due date. We think 5 puppies from the scan (plus or minus 3!).
Her (and mine) first litter.

[wolf63]

I am not sure if you the proud grandfather or grandmother but I am sure that it will be fine.

Last time I had to take my sabre tooth tiger to the vet there was a guy in there waiting for his bitch, she was having a caesarian due to birthing problems due to her breed - bulldog. The guy was pacing around as if he was in a maternity ward.

I find puppies and kittens to be much cuter than human babies. :-)

[lankeela]

Lovely breed. There have only been around 400 or so SCWTs bred for the past few years, and I know breeders who have waiting lists for puppies so there should be no problem finding them suitable homes. When you consider there have been over 7,000 Staffordshire Bull Terriers bred a year in the same period it puts it into perspective and thats without all the unregistered ones. Doubt you will find any Wheatens in rescue homes or unregistered, and unlike the majority of Staffs no doubt they will have been health tested too.

[chaptazbru]

Thank you ladybirder, glad I'm not the only one. I KNOW I'm right ..... It just makes sense.

[wolf63]

There is no 'right' and 'wrong' when it comes to the pedigree dogs versus rescue dogs issue.

[woofgang]

I met a Japanese Chin at the vets today, a lovely dainty dog.
Best wishes to the new Mum and family.

[chaptazbru]

Don't get your point wolf - pedigree dogs end up in rescue too ! It's simple really, you breed more dogs, you add to the dog overpopulation with not enough homes to go around. I stand by this 100%.

[wolf63]

But most dogs that are bred and sold are healthy and go to homes where they live out their life happily.

There are unscrupulous breeders, irresponsible owners etc but they are in the minority.

My last dog was a rescue dog - my first dog was one that we got as a puppy. I don't see that there is only one option.

[jules77]

Why does it make sense? I can understanding your thinking about breeding when there are so many dogs needing homes in Rescue. However, we have a waiting list as long as your arm for Rough Collies in Rescue, and there are none in our official Rescue needing homes at the moment. Many people just want a particular breed, and if they cant have what they want, they wait until something comes up, get a puppy or simply dont have a dog at all.

I am looking for a new puppy, and as much as I would love all the dogs in the dogs homes to have a nice home, I cant rehome them all, and I am after a particular breed for a particular job, and I am willing to wait until the right puppy comes up.