A Litter 2026

31/07/2026
Jytte is in season! This evening, we noticed the first signs of bleeding. As it had been more than six months since her last season, I had been checking her every morning and evening for the past two weeks so we wouldn't miss the start.

05/08/2026
Jytte had her first progesterone test today. Her level was 0.14 ng/ml, which means we are still very early in the process. She also had a vaginal swab taken for bacterial culture to check for any potentially harmful bacteria that might need treatment before mating and pregnancy. Jytte also had a full reproductive examination, and everything looked perfectly normal. She received her herpes vaccination as well.

07/08/2026
Jytte had her second progesterone test today, which measured 0.42 ng/ml. She was also dewormed as we are planning to travel to Norway this weekend.

10/08/2026
We arrived in Norway yesterday, and today Jytte had her third progesterone test. Her level was 6.3 ng/ml, indicating that ovulation was happening around now or had very recently taken place. We also received the results from Jytte's bacterial culture, which came back clear with no concerning bacteria detected.

11/08/2026
Today we had our first mating. Jytte was very receptive, and the dogs enjoyed spending some time together and playing beforehand.

12/08/2026
Today we had our second mating, and Jytte was still very interested and receptive.

14/08/2026
Today we had our third and final mating. By this point, Jytte was no longer interested.

Pregnancy week 1
The first cell divisions begin as the tiny embryos travel towards the uterus. Jytte is very tired after our trip and is enjoying plenty of rest and relaxation.

Pregnancy week 2
The embryos continue to divide as they reach the uterus. At this stage, they have not yet become firmly implanted as they will later in the pregnancy. Jytte has started getting out of breath more quickly on our walks and is walking at a slower pace than usual. She is also still sleeping a lot.

Pregnancy week 3
The embryos implant into the lining of the uterus, and the placentas begin to develop. The foundations of the nervous system, head and major organs are now being formed. Jytte's mammary glands have started to swell slightly, and her previously less visible nipples have become more prominent. She is still very tired and seems to feel warm wherever she is. She spends a lot of time lying on her back on the cool floor.

Pregnancy week 4
This is a week of incredible development. The hearts are beating, while the eyes, ears, spine and limbs continue to develop. The embryos are beginning to look much more like tiny puppies. Jytte experienced a little nausea on Monday and initially didn't want to eat her breakfast. She did, however, eat small amounts at a time and eventually finished her meal. That evening, she was once again unsure whether she wanted to eat. Wednesday was the moment of truth for us: our long-awaited pregnancy ultrasound! Thankfully, the scan confirmed 5+ puppies. Jytte's mammary glands are also becoming noticeably larger.

Pregnancy week 5
They are now officially referred to as fetuses. Toes, claws, eyelids and reproductive organs are developing, and the bones are beginning to mineralise. The basic body structure of each individual puppy is now established. Jytte still experiences a little nausea in the mornings but continues to eat happily. Her belly is beginning to grow, and we can tell that she is starting to feel the extra weight. 

Pregnancy week 6
The puppies are growing rapidly. Their coats and pigmentation begin to develop, and they increasingly take on the characteristic appearance of tiny dogs. Their skeletons also continue to mineralise and become more defined. 

Pregnancy week 7
At this stage, the focus is largely on growth and maturation. The puppies develop their coats, their bones become stronger, and they take up considerably more space inside the uterus. Towards the end of this period, it may be possible to feel or even see the puppies moving through the abdominal wall. Jytte has started producing milk in some of her mammary glands and has become more restless at night. We have also started feeding her food specifically formulated for pregnant and nursing dogs. 

Pregnancy week 8
The puppies now look very much like fully formed newborn puppies. They are gaining weight rapidly, their organs continue to mature, and space inside the uterus is becoming increasingly limited. We can now feel the puppies moving inside Jytte's belly, and she doesn't always seem to appreciate their little kicks and movements! Jytte is waking earlier and earlier during the night and finds it difficult to sleep for long periods, even though she is clearly tired. Her X-ray showed eight puppies, although our veterinarian said there could possibly be a ninth puppy hiding in there! 

Pregnancy week 9
The final stage of development. The lungs and other organ systems are preparing for life outside the womb. The puppies are gaining their final grams, and birth is approaching. The puppy room is ready, and we have spent a lot of time there over the past few weeks to make sure Jytte feels safe and comfortable in her surroundings.

The birth
Jytte entered the first stage of labour on Friday, October 9th, around midday. She was digging in her whelping box, panting heavily, and becoming increasingly restless. On Saturday, October 10th, at 7 PM, active labour began, and shortly afterwards, the first puppy was born, followed by a second. Jytte then took a break and lovingly cared for her newborn puppies.

As Jytte became increasingly exhausted, we decided to head to the vet. On the way, she gave birth to her third puppy with a little assistance.

At the veterinary clinic, an ultrasound confirmed that all the remaining puppies had strong heartbeats. However, after nearly two days of labour and an exhausting delivery, I decided that a C-section was the safest option for Jytte.

It turned out to be absolutely the right decision, as there were still six big puppies waiting to be born! 

Jytte has recovered well from her C-section and has lovingly accepted all nine of her puppies. All puppies are doing well and have been checked for cleft palates, normal anal openings, and tail kinks. Everything looks just as it should! Now it's time to enjoy our little puppy bubble!