Ask them here. There are a ton of dog experts on this site, and Shazzy is one of them. Her mother has been a breeder for decades. Bella is another expert in that area. If they don't have the answers they'll tell you, or they'll find the answer for you. I can be of help in that area as well.

Since this is her first ( and only) litter should I let her do it alone and sit in the distance and watch? Or stay close and give her love?
Should I cut the cords? Or let her?
Should I let her eat all the placentas? Or just a couple?
Should I put her whelping box in our mud room in the basement so no one will bother her? Her keep her upstairs in a spare bedroom?
Should I not let my other two dogs around her after the pups are born? Like no short socializing time without the pups?

I'm getting mixed things. The joint breeder helps get the pups out, cleans them cuts the cords then gives the pups to mom. My mother in law lets her dogs do everything on their own, she claims it makes them better mothers. And different sites I have read say that they mother eating the placentas will just give the mothers sticky, runny black poop. The other say its helps contractions and milk production.

Also the vet said its nothing to worry about, but Raven has been getting kind of jumpy when you touch her back end if she's not looking at you and even a few times when she is. It's kind of like she's startled and has a muscle twitch at the same time. A few of the pups are in her ribs and that why they prob didn't show up on the second US. However as of right now they look good in the X-ray.

I suggest you let her do most of it herself; you watch from the sidelines. Would not worry about the placenta. Having her in the spare bedroom is a good idea, would not let the other dogs near the whelping box after birth; she will not appreciate this and only worry. She will know you love her, even from a distance.

What I meant about letting her socialize with the other dogs is... When I go to let her outside or just give her some time away from the pups should I kennel my other dogs up first before getting Raven out? I won't be letting the pups around the other dogs till they are at least 6 weeks old. My pit has very strong mothers instints and would prob try to steal a pup for herself. She's been spayed before she even had her first heat but she has helped me foster puppies and kittens from the Humane Society. And my lab isn't the brightest bulb and would prob hurt a pup by accident.
I do have knowledge of what I should do and shouldn't do, I guess I'm looking for reassurance.

Yes, you sound pretty savvy, I would say kennel the other dogs when you let mom out, but I guess you know she will be holding her pee for a long time, not wanting to leave the babies!

I'm with Tickle. I'd let her do most of it herself, but be on the sidelines ready to step in in case something goes wrong, or in case she doesn't know what to do. You could also contact your vet and ask if she'd be willing to do a house call when Raven goes into labor. Many vets will do this for their patients, much easier than bringing a great dane in while she's laboring. Or talk to another breeder who's been through this, and ask if they'd be willing to come help while Raven is birthing.

She's going to be protective of her pups, and she won't want to leave them too often. So I'd say it's best to let her potty alone. The other dogs may be too curious, knowing something is going on, or just wanting to play. She'll want to go out, do her thing, and come back in to her pups.

I think all of the main questions you had, things you were getting mixed reviews on, are all things that are the breeders choice. Go with your gut, you have great instincts, you've done all the research, you have everything ready. Don't doubt yourself. But, also don't feel you can't reach out for help when you need it. :)

How the heck did we get from Pregnancy to what vets cost? Give it a break or start a new thread.

I'm so excited. My husband wants a whole litter of males. But I want a mixture. And we are hoping for some great colors. I also can't wait to see what they weight! That's also another mixed thing that I have read. Some said 1-1 1/2 and others say 2 lbs. I bought some KY for her today just in case one is a little big I can help her out a little. I'll have all kinds of pics of the babies. I'm going to enjoy this since it'll be my only time doing it. They will be spoiled brats when they go to their forever homes :) Also just to add, I will be having them all micro chipped so that if they are lost or taken to the pound I'll be able to rescue them.

I did start a new thread, you should have seen the link to that. But I'm guessing you stopped reading after that and didn't realize that the discussion is back on track, and has been for quite a while now. This is why it's important to read the whole thread. :)

You might want to talk to the vet about microchipping. I don't remember who posted it, but I do know one of the dog experts posted that she couldn't get her dog microchipped until he was at least 6 months old. I do know we had Jasper, our rescue (RIP) microchipped when we got him, and he was 4 months of age. But I do think they have to be a certain age (what that age is, I don't know, I'd have to research) before they can be chipped. I can research that for you if you'd like. One less thing for you to do. :)

I'm so excited for you. I wish I could be there, since I never have, and never will breed my dogs. I just know I'm not cut out for it. Heck, I'm having trouble with my birds.

I can't wait to see the pictures. Hubby could video tape, or would that be a bit much?

I'll prob video a couple of them coming out. But my fear is I'll have to tape a puke bag to my face while she's eating the yucky stuff. Lol we got Raven at 11 weeks and she already had a micro chip. And I know at the Humane Society we micro all the pups as early as 8 weeks before they go to new homes. (Btw that is a horrible thing to do to a poor puppy, the first time I did I cried)

The first time I did I wasn't in the room, thankfully, otherwise I probably would have said no. Then I worked for a microchip company for a few months, and actually had to see it being done. It is horrible. I have to turn away when my dogs get their yearly vaccines. I'll hold them, but I can't watch the needle going in.

I'm with you on the puking thing. I don't know if I could watch a dog delivering. I saw a horse deliver a calf once, I passed out. Of course I was 4 at the time, but every time since then, if I even see a video of a horse giving birth, I get light headed, and feel like I'm going to pass out.

I have two children, my youngest is my daughter. My cousin was in the room and videotaped the birth. That I have no problem watching. In fact, I love to watch it, it's my daughter being born. I wish I had a video of my son being born too, but we didn't have a video camera then.

But horses, no, and cats. Saw that once too, and it ended badly.

I would too. Horses deliver foals. ;)

I wasn't able to see either of my children born due to having c-sections. But my son used to get nose bleeds if you looked at him funny and I would gag every time. I don't do puke or blood. That's why I'm not a nurses aid :) I watched maybe 10 videos of Great Danes whelping and all I can say is WOW! It's nothing like a Maltese or a cat!

Oops. I'm blaming that typo on the cold meds. :)

Yes, it was a foal. A very bloody, looked like the horses guts were falling out of her body, foal. We had just come to Canada, my parents were working as janitors at an office building because that's the only work they could find until my dad upgraded his education. The office was right beside a horse ranch. It was boring, so I went outside, and saw the horse give birth. My parents found me passed out by the fence. The second time was at a trailer show, I was a teen then. There was a booth about horses, dude ranches, and they showed a video of a horse giving birth. I remember feeling light headed, and suddenly I'm sitting down, with my head between my knees being told to breathe.

The cat was a neighbors, I was 7. We were watching the cat for her while she went away. She didn't know the cat was pregnant. My friend and I were playing with the cat, and suddenly I noticed something coming out of her bum (I was 7!) I ran in to tell my parents I thought she was dying.

She had 8 kittens. I got one of them, a little grey and white cat I named Whiskers which I got for a pair of used boots and skates (they had a daughter a few years younger than me). I have tons of pictures, and video (I'd have to find a way to get it on the computer since it was the old style video, no sound, on a spool) of whiskers, and his brother that was given to another neighbor.

Blood I can handle. Puke, only if it's my kids, anyone else, and they better move over because I'm joining them. Just hearing someone puke makes me puke. Heck, just talking about it is making me want to puke. ;)

Here's the funny thing. I can't watch a needle go in, not in my kids, or my pets, or even myself, but I can give a shot no problem. If I'm the one holding the needle, it's all good. I had to give my dad vitamin K shots for a week, and it didn't bother me at all. But watching someone get a shot, can't do it.

My daughter gets nose bleeds too. Severe ones. Looks like a murder scene afterwards. She's 11 and still gets them. :(

My son had his nose cauterized and now he rarely gets them and if he does it hardly anything at all. Another thing that helps is having them sip cold milk threw a straw. The blood clots faster.
I'm the same as you with all the other stuff. I can do micros on animals, give them vaccinations, gave my grandmother vitamin K shots... But someone pulls a needle out on me they better be able to run faster than I can.
And my puking "fear" that's exactly why I don't drink or hang out with drunk people. Lol
I now an repeating in my head, " you will make it through this, you will make it through this" I have to put on a poker face for Raven. My daughter gets pneumonia very easily and Raven is always the one that has told us that her breathing was off by constantly putting her nose to Anna's nose. She also won't leave Anna sleep more than 10 minutes without checking on her and freaks is the door is closed and she can't get to her. So I can't let her know that I'm not enjoying it or feeling well.
When I had knee surgery Raven was just 3 months old and wouldn't leave my side. She would sit next to my bed with her head on my lap and just stare at me. Come to find out that the doctor left a bone fragment in there and my knee was filling with fluids. She's very in tune to our body's and someone always knows when something's wrong with one of us.
That's why she's our baby. She always will be. I just hope that her own puppies won't change how she reacts to us.

OMG! I'm beginning to think we were separated at birth, or at least our dogs were.

My lab (RIP) Indy, was 3 when we had our son Jared. Jared's room was around 8 feet from ours. Indy would sleep under the crib. Whenever Jared so much as made a peep, Indy would come running to our room to wake me. Who needs a baby monitor when you have a lab like Indy?

Jared learned to walk pulling up on Indy. Most times he got more fur than anything. Indy never so much as growled. I did see him flinch once, and stopped Jared at that time, but Indy would go to Jared, knowing what Jared would do. It's like he wanted to help. He wanted to teach the hairless dog to walk. :)

The neighbor kids used to come by all the time to play with Indy. Two of our neighbors got dogs just because of Indy. They wanted one just like him. He was a once in a lifetime dog.

When I was pregnant, and not feeling so well, he would lie down with me in bed. I actually have a picture of Indy and me. I'm completed knocked out, he's awake, but won't move because I'm using him as a pillow. My husband came home to that picture and took it. He wondered why Indy hadn't greeted him at the door.

After my dad died, and my mom, who also had cancer and was dying as well, moved in with us, Indy treated her with special care. He normally jumped on everyone to stay hi. With her he would gently climb up on her bed, or put his head on her lap. My mom often commented on it. He knew. Same with the kids, only healthy adults got the Indy hug.

Raven sounds like a natural mother. Having a litter won't change her, I'd bet on it. She'll mother her own, and likely accept you mothering them too. From what you've written, I don't think you'll have any problems with her personality, she's one in a million, like Indy.

Raven has officially turned into a beached whale...

Welcome to Flickr!

:( I must be doing something wrong. I don't get a picture, I just get a black screen. :(

I'll try again

I don't know why Alty saw a blank screen. The picture came up for me (yesterday and today.)

She is a beautiful animal. Though I wouldn't say beached whale. Smokey Mountains, maybe. :)