Page 348 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CARE AND TRAINING | BREEDING

Breeding

Making the decision to breed from your dog should not be taken lightly.
Not only is it an expensive and time-consuming process, but it can also result
in adding to the enormous surplus of dogs without homes.

CONSIDER THE REASONS WHELPING her whelping box—you can provide her with
Before you breed from your dog, it is Long before your dog is due to have her paper to rip up. Your bitch will be visibly
important to think long and hard about your puppies, set up a whelping area. The location calm just before the arrival of the first puppy
reasons for wanting to have a litter of puppies. of this is vital. It should be in the house so and you should see the muscles around her
It is easy to get carried away with thoughts of that your dog feels comfortable and the abdomen contract as she makes efforts to
cute puppies playing around your home, but puppies get used to everyday household push the first puppy out. The time to wait
the reality is that rearing a litter is extremely noises. However, it also needs to be in an until the next puppy is passed can vary
hard work. Do lots of research and plan out-of-the-way place where few people will greatly. During that time the newborn
everything carefully, and speak to a reputable need to walk once the puppies are born. It puppies should be encouraged to suckle and
professional breeder. If you decide that you should be warm, dry, quiet, and draft-free. your bitch urged to tend to them. If some
don’t want to breed from your dog, it is best The whelping box itself can be either shop time has passed and the bitch appears
to have it neutered. bought or homemade. relaxed and is attentive to her puppies, the
Whelping can be a daunting prospect; whelping process is over.
PREGNANCY AND PRENATAL CARE however, it normally occurs without any
Dogs are pregnant for 63 days, but puppies problems. The key to a smooth whelping is POSTNATAL CARE
can be born a few days on either side of this. preparation so you know what to expect and With the worries of the whelping process
Let your vet know early on that you have had what to do if things start to go wrong. now behind you, all your focus must
your bitch mated. The vet will be an Individual bitches vary drastically in their switch to making sure that your bitch has
invaluable source of advice throughout your behavior, but there are some telltale signs everything she needs and that her puppies
bitch’s pregnancy and will advise on measures that whelping is imminent. Approximately get the best possible start in life.
to keep your bitch parasite-free so that she 24 hours before whelping she may become
doesn’t pass infestations on to her puppies. restless because of the discomfort she will
Natural birth
There is no need to increase the amount feel as her uterus prepares to expel the After giving birth your bitch will strip off the membrane
of food your bitch eats in the early stages of puppies. She may also refuse food, pant very from the amniotic sac and sever the umbilical cord with
her teeth. You should only intervene if she appears to be
pregnancy. However, from around six weeks deeply, and scratch and dig at the bedding of biting the cord too closely or pulling too vigorously.
the food needs to be increased by about
10 percent each week. At this time your
dog’s exercise requirements are also likely to
change. Shorter, more frequent walks that
avoid very energetic activities are best.

Whelping area
Spend time making sure that your dog feels relaxed in
the whelping area and get her used to you going in with
her. Keep her favorite toys or blanket in the box to make
it more inviting.

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