Good Dog Day 1 Diestrus Your Litter A to Z Calendar Events

Your Name*

First NameLast Name

Email*

example@example.com

Your bitch's name*

If you have more than one bitch, fill in this info for bitch 1, click submit, then fill in bitch 2.

Important: Do not click the ENTER/RETURN key after adding your date below. Doing so will submit the form immediately and you will not see the display here of your calendar reminders.

Insert Date of Day 1 of Diestrus

Date mm-dd-yyyy

This form is equipped with LIVE LINKS. Click that link to be taken to the exact place in Your Litter A to Z where that reminder is discussed further.

With a mouse: You can hover over a reminder and the link will show on the right side of the reminder. Click the link to be directed to that information. (phone/table instructions below)

See picture below for using a mouse:

On a phone/table: You can click the words of the reminder and the link will show on the right side. Click the link to be directed to that information.

See picture below for using phone/tablet:

Week 1 Reading:

Pregnancy and the First Trimester

Week 1 Resources:

Pregnancy and the First Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, First Trimester

Fit to Be Tied, Lesson 5

Exercise Throughout the Breeding Cycle

Keep her away from other male dogs until she is completely out of season, at least two days after diestrus begins.

This is the second most fertile day for breeding but her cervix may be closing so TCIs and naturals may not be as effective.

Reduce her daily food ration to her maintenance amount but keep her on a repro diet.

FIRST TRIMESTER STARTED WITH OVULATION; Go through the First Trimester module in A2Z

The eggs should be fertilized now and your puppies are called a zygote.

There are usually few, if any, signs of pregnancy at this point.

The zygote is undergoing cell division and is now known as a blastocyst.

Keep her on a maintenance amount of a reproduction diet with the correct amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins.

The blastocysts are still in the oviduct, undergoing the process of cell division.

Embryonic puppies are very sensitive to toxins during this trimester.

Be EXTREMELY cautious of giving any medications, OTC or prescribed, during pregnancy. Use only pregnancy-safe tick, flea and heartworm treatments.

Do not vaccinate while pregnant except for the Canine Herpes Vaccine.

Keep her stress low! She and the embryos are very sensitive to stress during this trimester.

The blastocysts move into the uterus but are still free floating.

Track your girl's first trimester in your First Trimester Checklist.

Make pregnancy ultrasound appointment for Day 28-31 post ovulation.

Pyometra is a risk for the next 6 weeks. Head to the vet if your bitch goes off her food, is lethargic, or is drinking and peeing more than normal.

Follow Fit To Be Tied's First Trimester exercise guidance with strength, balance, proprioception, flexibility and Good For The Soul exercises. Do no High Risk skill training this trimester.

Groom and cuddle a lot, if your bitch enjoys it.

Train, do tricks, go visiting--anything to keep her life enriched and brain active.

The blastocysts are arranging themselves evenly along the uterine horns.

Keeping your bitch's stress low is essential to healthy implantation. Resorption is common during this trimester.

Week 2 Reading:

Pregnancy and the First Trimester

Week 2 Resources:

A2Z, Module 3

Pregnancy and the First Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, First Trimester

Be cautious showing your bitch so she does not pick up any diseases or parasites.

Get your bitch's back-up food in preparation for morning sickness

Embryos are implanting in the uterus and each embryo's placenta is forming.

It's not unusual for bitches to get morning sickness during implantation. This may be your first indication that your girl is pregnant.

Your bitch may have a clear, jelly-like discharge from her vulva. Your bitch may also spot a small amount of blood during this period. These are normal. Any other discharge is not normal and she should be seen by a vet.

If your bitch has morning sickness, use your back-up food.

Morning sickness and pyometra can be hard to tell apart. If your bitch is also lethargic, and drinking/peeing more, or if she has a colored discharge, take her to your vet for an exam.

Give your girl lots of cuddling these days--it's good for her and her pups!

SECOND TRIMESTER BEGINS (days 16 through 36) Go through the Second Trimester module in A2Z.

Week 3 Reading:

Pregnancy and the Second Trimester

Week 3 Resources:

A2Z, Module 4

Fit to Be Tied, 2nd Trimester

Second Trimester Checklist

The Second Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, Second Trimester

Exercise Throughout the Breeding Cycle

Track your girl's second trimester in your Second Trimester Checklist.

Your pups' organs and nervous system are developing. They are now about 1/3rd inch long. They are highly sensitive to toxins, disease and stress for the next several days. Continues from days 16 through 19.

Canine placentas are complete. They are known as zonary and they form a band around each individual embryo, attaching it to one place in the uterus.

You can use the Relaxin test to confirm pregnancy now but it works best if you wait another week.

You can palpate to confirm pregnancy from now until 30 days after ovulation. Days 16 through 24.

Keep her on a reproduction diet but increase her food amount 50 to 80% more than maintenance.

Your pups' heartbeats are visible on ultrasound (but hold off on your ultrasound for a bit longer).

Use only pregnancy-safe medications and chemicals during the second trimester.

Follow Fit To Be Tied's Second Trimester exercise guidance with strength, balance, proprioception, flexibility and Good For The Soul exercises. Do no High Risk skill training this trimester.

Continue your enrichment program with grooming, cuddling, play, work and training that she enjoys.

Best days to palpate for pups, if that is your method of choice (days 20 - 26).

Ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and estimate litter size (days 22-24).

Your pup is the size of a walnut and is starting to look like a puppy.

Your puppies are developing organs, whisker buds, toes, and toenails. Fetal pups are relatively resistant to external pressures and toxins at this point.

Adjust your bitch's food amount based on the number of pups identified on the ultrasound.

Take reservations and even deposits for puppies. The time to sell your pups is now.

Palpation is NOW difficult due to increased fluid in the uterus.

Arrange for whelping and puppy sitting help.

Week 4 Reading:

Pregnancy and the Second Trimester

Week 4 Resources:

Keep Your Pups Safer Use Canine Nomographs to Better Time Puppy Vaccinations

A2Z, Module 4

Fit to Be Tied, Pregnancy Stages

Second Trimester Checklist

The Second Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, Second Trimester

Exercise Throughout the Breeding Cycle

Make appointment for to draw blood for a nomograph between now and 2 weeks out from whelping.

Your bitch's mammary glands may be developing now.

Sexual differentiation in the puppies begins with testicular development.

You might notice your girl's abdomen is becoming rounder.

Week 5 Reading:

Deworming Dams & Puppies

Pregnancy and the Second Trimester

Week 5 Resources:

A2Z, Module 4

Second Trimester Checklist

The Second Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, Second Trimester

Exercise Throughout the Breeding Cycle

Deworm your bitch daily with fenbendazole if she has ever had round, hook or whipworms from birth on. Deworm on the date below and then for the next 21 days after.

THIRD TRIMESTER BEGINS (Day 37 to Whelping)

Third Trimester Reading:

Deworming Dams & Puppies

Pregnancy and the Third Trimester

Supplementing Newborns

Preparing the Nursery/Setting Up Whelping Area

C-Section Document

Third Trimester Resources:

A2Z, Module 6 - The Third Trimester

A2Z, Module 7 - Labor & Whelping

Temperature Chart

Whelping Equipment and Supplies

Things to Take to the Vets During Whelping or for a C-Section

Checking Pups with a Doppler

Third Trimester Checklist

The Third Trimester Video

Nutrition for Breeding, Third Trimester

The 3rd trimester is when the pups do most of their growing so expect your girl to put most her weight gain in the next 3 weeks.

Go through the Third Trimester module, Module 6, in A2Z.

Track your girl's third trimester in your Third Trimester Checklist.

Stop all strength and skill training, focusing solely on flexibility, balance, proprioception and Good For The Soul exercises that she enjoys.

Continue deworming her daily with fenbendazole, if she has ever had round, hook or whipworms from birth on.

Be SUPER cautious of giving any medication or chemical during the 3rd trimester.

Keep her on a reproduction diet with the correct amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins.

Do not supplement with calcium or calcium-rich foods until whelping has begun.

Your pups have now hair and toenails.

Sexual differentiation in the puppies begins with testicular development.

Make final coordination with your vet (phone numbers, c-sections, etc). Get oxytocin and calcium, if your vet will give it to you.

Draw blood for vaccine antibody titer for nomograph through CAVIDS.

You may notice the hair on your bitch's abdomen thinning.

Inventory or gather your whelping and possible c-section supplies. Get anything you need.

Your pups' bones are mineralized now.

You should be able to feel your pups move when your bitch is resting.

We suggest x-raying ONLY for medical reasons, not routine counting of pups

Limit rough play between her and other dogs from now on.

Fetal brain development begins in earnest. Keep your bitch's stress low.

Pack your go-bag for a possible vet visit/c-section during whelping.

Give her a final bath and shave her abdomen, if you intend to.

Listen to puppies' heartbeats with Doppler.

Go through the Labor and Whelping module, module 7.

Feed one meal a day in the whelping box, if she is still enjoying eating. Continue for the next week or so.

Set up whelping area.

Take her temperature twice today to determine her baseline

Take and record her temperature four times a day, approximately every 6-8 hours. Starting on day 52, then continue for 3 days.

Spend time in the whelping box with her each day, cuddling, relaxing, sleeping, etc.

Pups whelped now can survive, though will be premature and very fragile. Days 52 through 55.

Make and freeze liver water. Read Supplementing Newborns for recipe.

Make and freeze Myra's puppy formula. Read Supplementing Newborns for recipe.

Buy good chocolate, get some light videos, and stock up on magazines for 1st stage labor.

Get lots of rest, no matter how nervous or excited you are!

Your bitch's whelping window begins today.

Print and complete your Whelping Rules. Post them in your whelping area.

She can go for short walks now but do no other exercise with her. (Days 55 through 58)

Take and record her temperature four times a day, approximately every 6-8 hours. (Days 55 - 58)

Got a temperature drop? Coordinate with your whelping help. You want to see pups within 48 hours, ideally within 36 hours. A temp drop is 2 consecutive temps below 99F 6 hours apart. (Days 55 - 58)

First stage labor (nesting, digging, panting)? Go take a nap! Tether her to you, if you are worried. (Days 55 - 58)

Review your Whelping Rules. Commit to them!

Give your vet a head's up when first-stage labor starts. (Days 56 - 58)

Rest up EVEN MORE, if your bitch isn't in labor.

Your bitch's whelping window ends today! The pups' placentas are deteriorating rapidly. If they haven't been born yet, schedule a c-section TODAY!

Once you have whelped your puppies, click here to get new to do's and dates for your Dam and Puppies: Your Litter A to Z Calendar

Important - if you would like these dates saved in our system, you must click Submit below.

The dates will also be emailed to you after clicking submit.

Your Litter A to Z Calendar Events

GET YOUR CALENDAR