Cavalier 7 weeks pregnant

Question
My daughter bought a Cavalier as a family pet 2 years ago, she was one of eight pups. The breeder asked her if at 2 years old she could mate her with another of her male dogs (no relation to either parent) and we agreed. She is currently 7 weeks pregnant and all is good we think. We were asked to get an ultrasound which we did at 21 days pregnant and were told from the vet that she was healthy and definitely had 3 pups but could have 4 or more. I have been doing a lot of reading and watching videos on pregnancy and birthing, and have read that an ultrasound should be done at 7 weeks, not 3 and we should check whether her pelvis is big enough to deliver these pups. Do you think this is a good idea, or is there no guarantee that there will be no problems? Our breeder has said she will help us if we need. We also read we should be feeding her little bits of food several times a day, which we are doing, but sometimes she seems to eat all day one day and only a couple of meals the next, is this common. My daughter (and us) have allowed her to sleep in my daughter's bed since the day she arrived home (she is very spoilt), but we don't want her to have the pups there so we have made her a whelping box, which currently is in the lounge room, but we will move it to the family room (which has floorboards) when she starts to deliver. We can entice her in the box by sitting beside it patting her, but she doesn't seem to want to stay in it. Do you have any suggestions on how we can make sure she will go there to have her pups as I am a bit scared she will have them in the bed. We have never locked her outside and will never consider doing this, she has a doggie door and comes and goes as she pleases. She has been very clingy to all of us and in the last couple of days she seems to be unsettled, she used to jump on our laps as soon as someone sat down, but now she will sit for a little while and then up she gets and is forever moving from one spot to another - is there anything we can do to make her more comfortable. We walk her twice a day, once off her lead so she can run around and explore, but I have read that we should not walk her 10 before she delivers, is this right?

Answer
Hi Nicole

My method of choice to "see" pups is x-rays.  They show skeletal structure and can determine number of pups.  But it must be done after day 50 in the pregnancy as that's when bones calcify. It will also tell the vet where the placement of the pups are and determine your dam's likely hood of complications.

I can guarantee you that your female will prefer the bed to whelp.  In the whelping box, place old towels and sheets so she can nest.  You may have to put a cage around the box to keep her in. Outside is not the place for her and she should be monitored when she goes outside, especially if she has the ability to do so on her own.  I have heard more horror stories of dogs whelping the flower beds or under the porch or just having them in the grass and coming back inside with no one the wiser.

Exercise is very important. A physically fit dog can have a easier time in whelp.  She will tell you when she's had enough. But if she wants to walk and run, let her.

Good luck.