I don’t mind getting these phone calls; in fact, I am glad to know when I become a grandmother, even when it is 4:00 in the morning. People bring their females to breed to our stud dogs and we feel our experience whelping litters is a little added something we offer to the expectant parents.

This month we will talk about preparing the female for breeding and the special day.

Prior to breeding, your female should be brought up to date on her vaccinations, for her health and that of the future puppies. This is to ensure that protective immunity to certain diseases is passed on to the pups. She should be tested for intestinal parasites, and any present should be treated. Many medications cannot be given to the female once she is carrying the pups.

Many females carry vaginal infections that do not show up until she is in her heat cycle. It is very important for the female to get a vaginal culture before she is bred so that no problems arise. A brucellosis test and a thyroid test should also be performed.

She should exercise every day and not be overweight. If she is overweight, she could have problems conceiving or have trouble delivering puppies. I remember a female out of an excellent bloodline that came in for breeding. We picked her up at the airport, all excited to see her, looked in the crate and our jaws dropped. This female was as wide as she was long! While she was in for breeding we nicknamed her the Guernsey cow.

Breeding her was definitely a chore. I remember the look on our stud dog’s face when he saw her. He looked up at us, and we knew what he was thinking.

After breeding, your female should continue to exercise well and eat a good quality dog food supplemented with protein and a balanced vitamin-mineral preparation. You should increase her food intake slowly, so by the time she is 2 weeks before her due date, she eats twice a day and twice the amount she usually eats. She should now be eating puppy food. Feeding some liver once or twice a week tends to minimize hemmhorage problems in the bitch.

A bitch will carry her pups on the average of 58~66 days, which is the period of gestation. Most of my bitches will carry their pups until the 62nd day. Older bitches will carry their puppies a few days longer.

Your female needs to be in a quiet place. She should be introduced to her whelping box and adequate bedding should be available for her to be comfortable. It should also be in a clean area. Keep her relaxed and prepare for the delivery day. We will cover that day next month.