This is Ginger's birth story...

Ginger is a 6 year JRT. She has had 9 puppies before our current litter, the birth's went well and all the pups were born with minimal complications (she retained a few placenta's which meant an injection from the vet). The was 4 years ago, and we had always intended to breed her again. I take my responsibilities very seriously, and had attended 4 births previous to breeding Ginger. I also had a great mentor, so I wasn’t alone or inexperienced. I always put money away in case of complications. Luckily!

This time round we chose a new stud for her, again a dog we know very well. History etc. Although a young guy, we know his parents and they were just perfect for what we were looking for. After their check ups and the vets go ahead we mated them in December 08. They adore each other so it went without a hitch and Ginger was pregnant.

A very easy unproblematic pregnancy, just like last time. I knew she had close to the same number as she was very large by 5-6 weeks. The labour started on Wednesday 28th January at 8 pm, she started panting and shivering - the usual. Something just didn’t feel right to me as by the morning she'd calmed down and had stopped her labour. Which was new to me, bearing in mind this was my 5th birth. I stayed up all night with her just in case. So we are now on Thursday morning, by 11 pm the panting had started again and I could see a few pushes. All of her other puppies has only taken maybe 3 or 4 contractions and they were out, this went on for a while. Not right.

At about 11.30 I decided she had until 12.30 and then it was off to the vet. She pushed some more and then luckily I saw the sack. She pushed and pushed but she could only get the puppies head out. I had to deliver the puppy myself in the end, which was a bit scary but it went ok and the puppy was very healthy. The next puppy was even bigger, and came out in the breach position. All that came out was her back legs, and again I had to deliver this puppy but quickly before it drowned. The first has its head out so was able to breath. Puppy two, although a whopper was again very healthy.

The next pups were a lot smaller and she delivered them, herself. After puppy 7 had been born at about 7 pm - cant remember the exact time - I could still feel a pup inside. Well I was 75% sure as sometimes the uterus can feel like another pup. So we waited and waited, nothing. She settled down fed the pups and carried on as normal so I thought perhaps I was wrong. I stayed up all night again and by the morning had noticed several little contractions.

Off we went to the vet, were Friday afternoon/evening by now. Vet had a feel, another vet had a feel and sure enough there was a pup inside still. Horror. They said that bitches can delay between pups for 24 hours sometimes, so to give her another night. I honestly wish I had gone with my gut instincts and made them operate there and then. I knew it wasn’t right, but they are the vets. I sort of felt reassured leaving there. She had been booked in for a emergency caesarean the next morning, giving her a chance to do it herself.

That night was one of the worst nights of my life. It got to about 2pm and she pushed and pushed and pushed and nothing. I couldn’t stop crying or apologising to her, Ginger faded in front of our eyes. The life was sucked out of her and by the morning, how I will never know but the little star had half pushed the puppy out. This was my third night awake and I think id drifted off because she was quiet in the den feeding the pups. Anyway I delivered the puppy and it absolutely stunk. After that she spent hours squatting, in the "going number two's" position. She'd strained herself so much. We went back to the vet and she was awake but not moving by then. Didnt tend to the pups anymore, couldn’t eat, drink, go to the toilet. Couldn’t even sit up let alone stand. She had some jabs and we got some pills for her and took her home.

Once home she just laid there on the couch, no milk for the pups to drink. I cant put into words how it feels when your baby is laying there like that looking at you with sad eyes. So for the next 36 hours I syringe fed her water which she was so grateful for, I made her all manner of food but she couldn’t eat it. A relative came round with some raw steak and that was the first thing she ate in 24 hours. I was also tube feeding her lacto mixed at a puppy rate which I'm sure helped. We had to feed, clean and be there for the puppies. They were still with her but I don't think she even knew they were there. By Saturday night we took them off her completely. Night number 4 with no sleep was hard.

After Ginger was able to walk we gave her the 4 little puppies back (Sunday evening) and I carried on bottle feeding the 3 big ones for a night. We were going to give them all back at once but it would have been too much. Come the morning (Monday) she had all 7 back. And I’m pleased to say she has made a 100% recovery. As an owner, I’m not sure I will ever get over this. I knew what I was doing but it still went very wrong. After this I will never breed another dog again. For one reason, I love them too much.

I hope Gingers story makes people think long and hard about breeding, and attending births first, having money put away before any mating happens. Breeding isn't about making money, I always thought it was mainly about love, but I don't anymore. You don't do that to someone you love. I'm sad about the little puppy who died, but I am so grateful that Ginger is still here.