becoming a new mom

Question
I just bred a 2 year old female Lhasa Apso . How long does it take for her to show signs of pregnancy and what do I look for?

Answer
Hi Sandra:

One of the earliest signs you may (or may not) notice is an increased frequency in urination; if noticed this usually occurs anywhere from a few days to two weeks after breeding. Obviously that also occurs later in the pregnancy as well, much like in pregnant women. All dogs vary somewhat as to what signs they'll display & when but in general, she'll likely show a marked change in personality, becoming more "clingy" & seeking more attention from you than usual. Often around week 3 or 4 of gestation she may experience a few bouts of "morning sickness" also much like in pregnant women but this shouldn't last for more than a few days. She will probably around this time begin to display some nesting behavior & seek out an area where she feels safe & secure. The more obvious, physical signs usually occur around week 4 or 5 with her abdomen becoming rounder & her teats becoming more prominent & darker in color. However, this change depends on her current body type & the litter size. Be sure to keep her exercising adequately throughout the pregnancy as good muscle tone will greatly benefit her during whelping. Begin switching her over gradually to a high quality puppy food around 45 days gestation as she'll need the additional nutrition. I'd advise you to have your vet examine her & take an Xray when she's at 50+ days gestation so he'll be familiar with her current state of progress & the Xray will usually provide a good estimate of the number of puppies to expect.
I'm including a large number of links to sites that go into greater detail of what occurs from the fetal stance as well as some helpful tips. You may find some more helpful than others but it's good to have the time to read through as much as possible so you'll be better prepared. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I wish you & your girl the very best & hope all goes smoothly.

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm

http://www.gocco.co.za/whelpingchart.htm

http://lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/pregnancy.htm

http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_living/Life_Tips/pregnancy_in_dogs.as...

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dogpregnant.htm

http://lowchensaustralia.com/breeding.htm

http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/dogs-faq/medical-info/whelping.html

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/whelping.htm