Glad I could help!

One other thing I forgot to mention that's important. Right after delivery, especially if it's a big litter, we give the mom 1 to 2 pieces of cheese a day while they are nursing to keep the calcium level up. If they get a calcium deficiency (called eclampsia, forgive my spelling), the mom can be dead in 3 hours. While this is rare, we just don't want to take a chance; it happened to a friend's dog and she had to bring the puppies to another breeder to be nursed. The signs are shivering for no apparent reason and looking like she is "out of it"; that's where really knowing your girl comes in handy.

Let us know how everything goes. Let me know if you have any other questions; if I don't know the answer, I know a lot of breeders who will. BTW, I breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Web site is <MysticKnightCavaliers.com> Bear with me, my wife and I did our own web site!

Bruce

As a breeder myself, I can tell you that the 1st day of her bleeding is not the day to begin breeding. That is the 1st day of her heat. You need to wait until the 10-14th day to breed her. Until she is fertile, the stud won't mount her. He knows this by the chemical changes in her discharges...which usually occurs around the 10-14th timeframe. Also, when she is ready to be bred, she will back up into the studs face and flag her tail at him.

On my bitches, I know if it's taken within days. Their temperaments change almost immediately. You might also notice she gets a case of morning sickness around the 2nd week of breeding.

Around days 26-32 of the 1st time she's been bred, you can feel walnut sized shapes in her abdomen area...these are the pups. The bitch needs to be in a relaxed state and you need to palpate with your hands on both the top and bottom of the area. Be gentle, the fetuses are very vulnerable until the 7th week. After that time, they are fairly resistant to interference with development.

As for the calcium supplements, you need to be careful in what you're administering. Too much calcium can also be deadly, both in utereo and after birth. Check with your vet and let them know the brand of food you're feeding (amount of calcium, if any in it) as well as any supplements your giving her.

You'll also want to be on the look out for any discharges that may occur. Clear discharge is normal around the 4th week of pregnancy, however any time it becomes colored, bloody or foul smelling you'll want to get her to the vet asap.

I hope this helps you out some more.

Thanks country side & all!
as of today...4-14, the breeder says she hasn't stood for him yet. But, they are getting along great....ya might just say, she's in love.......ahhhhhhhh!!!
So, I think this is gonna work out. And according to all of your advice..things sound hopeful.
If I don't bore you out of your minds...I will post more later...

first comes love, then the puppies

Sugar's home, she's bred, and due June 18th ish
Thanks for all of your help & advice!!!!!