Just out of interest and to compare -Kaiah went from 4.9 to 15 in 48 hrs and Sammi went from 8.2 to 23.6 in 48hrs, so Siska has taken more of a jump. Kaiah was mated about 30hrs after the 15 test, Sammi was mated twice, the afternoon of the 23.6 test and 24 hrs later. Whilst Fransisco mated Sammi twice he would not mate Kaiah a second time. 
Day 14 - 19/3/23 - A very disappointing day. Vesco is stunning, not a huge dog but beautifully put together with a great character. Sadly we had a slip mating, which plainly means that the dog ejaculated inside the bitch but came out before the wash that pushes the sperm up to the eggs. Slip matings can have success but pregnancy is less likely as half the sperm is lost as they come apart. So we go back tomorrow, theoretically the eggs should still be viable tomorrow, even Tuesday morning, let's hope she doesn't do a Kaiah!
Day 15 - 20/3/23 - After another near miss plan two was then set into force and we visited a vet specialising in fertility. He did a progesterone test on Siska and it was great news, after almost doubling every 24 hrs between day 11 and 13 (6.6 - 23) she had only risen to 50 by 5pm last night, so she was still within the optimal stage for mating and at the correct time for Artificial insemination. The males sperm was tested and found to be in good order (82 million per 1ml) and the vet went on to perform AI on Siska. It was a very easy procedure and though she didn't want to stand still she was excellent throughout. When natural mating occurs the sperm reaches the eggs within a maximum of 6 hrs, with AI it is basically dropped onto the eggs. 
Day 17 -22/3/23 - Orin is still pretty wound up, but following her natural pattern, we should now be coming to the end of the period where she is fertile and within days it should all be over .... Siska's normal belly measurement is 27.5cms, I'll measure again at 28 days.
Day 18 -23/3/23 - Orin has eaten this morning and the house is silent. I'll keep them apart for about another 4 days I think.
I feel so negative about this that I've entered Siska at WELKS at the end of April. If she happens to surprise us all and is pregnant then she'll stay home, but if not, at least we'll have a show to go to!
Day 20 -25/3/23 - All quiet at Blanik.
Day 21 - 26/3/23 - Siska is back with Orin, he has no interest whatsoever in her. Is that a good sign? Seriously, I can't imagine for one minute that this bitch is pregnant. I just can't be optimistic after such a poor mating, if only they had tied or been held together for 10 mins or so on day 14, at least then I'd feel there was a chance. I know it can happen, my friend Barbara who also breeds GSD had a litter of 6 from a slip mating, but success is few and far between. I guess AI is used a lot in other breeds, I was told by a breeder of Frenchies and Bull Mastiffs that they never do natural matings and have great success with AI ... ah well, that is encouraging.
28/3/23 - I've passed on one of my puppy buyers from my list to Ann, she still had a L/C female out of Orin and Pepsi and it was what my buyer wanted. I felt that as Lyra was there and available, it was better she went than they wait for a puppy from a litter that may not happen and even if it does who can guarantee a L/C female? The buyers always have "Blaniks" - but she's still half Blanik being a baby O.
2/4/23 - Day 15 (Just for clarity I'll consider the day of the Slip mating as day 1) - Nothing to report really, well there shouldn't be one way or the other. I checked back Kaiah got moody from about day 18, not sure when Sammi did, but she did, though I don't recall that Asha and Ziva ever did. Is Siska more cuddly? Maybe. Is Siska annoying her mother less on a walk? Possibly. Are the others sniffing around her bits and pieces more than normal? Well yeah, but hormonal changes occur after season with or without pregnancy. Sammi didn't eat for a few days from day 21, Kaiah went off her food at day 24, Asha never did! lol. The pendulum is spinning like crazy, but as ever I'm very, very sceptical, particularly since I've been told by a believer that it can be influenced by the user's wishes. Of course, I'll continue to give it a go, but as I have no optimism that there is a pregnancy then equally, though I'm absolutely fascinated by it, I have little optimism in this spiritual guidance either.
At the beginning of the walk this morning I decided to look at Siska nipples, I thought if I look today, (It was the first time I'd looked) then I can compare again next Sunday and the following Sunday (Days 22 and 29). When bitches are pregnant, their nipples become pink and point ... OMG they are already pink ... but I have fallen for that one before too! I hoped Ian would be walking so he could look today, then weekly too - but he wasn't there .. damn.
8/4/23 - Day 21 - Siska only ate half her breakfast and her nipples are still quite pink - it's promising, but I'm still quite guarded, hormonal changes can affect the bitch in the same way as if they were pregnant. It's far too early to see any abdominal enlargement, if present the foetus are still less than a CM so there is a way to go before those kinds of changes. Anyway, the pendulum is still spinning like crazy for a small litter, here's hoping. If she messes about with food for a few more days now, then I'll sure feel more optimistic. Belly measurement is pushing 28.5cms today so about the same as her mother at the same stage and I'd say pretty normal.
9/4/23 - Day 22 - She didn't eat, but poo after looking back she didn't eat three weeks after her last season either.
11/4/23 - Day 24 - ate yesterday, but they all had lamb stew added. She hasn't eaten today, all but the back nipples are quite pink and the pendulum is still spinning. I have to do it when Steve is out of the room as he laughs at me!
12/4/23 - Day 25 - She hasn't eaten this morning, and I had to add sardines to get her to eat tonight. No other changes, dogs still sniffing around her bottom and most, but not all of her nipples are now pink - it's still quite hard to find them under that "lovely skirt" though!!!!! Tish visited yesterday and was quiet optimistic, I'll believe it if I ever see it!
16/4/23 - Day 29 - No changes - still messing with her food - if she is pregnant she should now start to eat much more enthusiastically. No discharge, her nipples are slightly pink but not the deep pink that they were, belly measurement is the same as 7 days ago - 28.5 inches - the only bit of positivity is the spinning pendulum.
19/4/23 - Day 32 - No changes - gutted
24/4/23 - Day 37 - No changes, I won't bother scanning, it would be a waste of money! Though I never believed she would be pregnant, honestly I'm beyond disappointed. I was too invested in this, it was the positivity I'd focused on during the last heartbreaking 12 months. It was the light at the end of the tunnel, now somehow I have to get it together, replan and focus on Summer shows to get me through to her next season in mid to late Autumn! With everything I've been very emotional and tearful but I have to accept it, keep my big girl pants on and move on ....
