Primrose's birthing partner

Primrose tries out the whelping box

The Whelping box is in situ for Primrose. This is her fourth and last ever litter. I had said I had not planned to breed again from Primrose, but in the back of my mind I was disappointed with not having any offspring from her. Last year we bred from Primrose a pure Cavalier litter (We have not bred a pure Cavalier litter since we bred Primrose, now nearly 6 years ago) and hoped to retain from that. Unfortunately the 3 pups in the litter had a slight umbilical hernia. 

So it looked like it would be the end of that line. Come this Spring, Primrose was looking well and I wondered about breeding one more litter from her and to see if a mating with Henry our Brittany was possible. So just over 7 weeks ago things did happen and now we have a heavily pregnant Primrose looking like she is carrying a good size litter. She was scanned and at least four pups could be seen, but palpating her abdominal area and the amount of movement of the pups I think and hope that we are looking at a good chance of around six pups. Although more pups obviously means more revenue from a litter, it also gives me an indication that this coupling is a good one. A high conception rate is a good indicator of health in the male and female. Fertility should never be ignored, it is a very good indicator of overall health in a breed or species.
So I'm mixed with excitement waiting for the arrival of this litter along with concern as I have with each litter to get the bitch through it safe and sound. I have a very close relationship with all our bitches, which really helps when it comes to them giving birth. They seem to have no concern with my presence when whelping or if a little assistance is needed. 
Primrose from her first mating is due on the 21st July, but with her record of producing a few days early and her size, I would not be surprised to be on around the clock watch from next weekend.