I am beginning to wonder how my first litter ever made it. I had never seen anything born, had no books, no dog people close by. She just did it on her own and I watched all 11 of them be born Of course she was my $50 silver German shepherd. Now that I have "show" dogs I have a whole operating room handy and the vet on call. Some how it was more fun then - not nearly as much stress or worry sally