Breeding Dogs
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Breeding Dogs Articles

Bringing Your New Puppy Home

Alright, the big day is finally here. If you’re like most new dog owners you have been counting down the days since you have made the big decision to bring a new puppy into your home. Are you ready? Rest assured, if you’re not, you’re not alone.

Canine Vaccinations

A routine vaccination regiment will significantly increase your dog’s chances of living a normal, healthy life. Some, once life threatening, canine diseases have all but been eliminated due to scientific advances and medical research. Keeping your dog’s vaccinations current and following your veterinarian’s advice can help to eliminate the risk of contracting most canine diseases.

Postpartum Care

In the last two columns we covered a lot of ground, from the days leading up to pregnancy to the delivery itself. This issue, I would like to cover postpartum care of your dam and the warning signs to watch for during the first few weeks after whelping. Common reproductive problems after delivery include: metritis, eclampsia, mastitis, and agalactia. We will address each one of these in turn.

Whelping a Litter -- It’s time!

Well, it’s that time… and if you are like me, it is the time you have been waiting anxiously for and a time that is sure to change your life… at least for the next 8 weeks. If this is the first litter you have whelped it’s a good idea to consult your vet a week or two before the expected litter. This will do two things, first, it will ease your mind knowing that you have discussed and understand how you should handle an emergency, if one should present itself. Second, visiting with your vet gives you an opportunity to discuss with him/her any areas of the whelping process you are uncertain about before the big day.

Canine Pregnancy - What to Expect!

The gestation period for dogs is typically between 58 to 68 days from the day of ovulation, with most pregnant bitches giving birth on or around the 63rd day. Many breeders use the day of the first witnessed “knot” to determine when they can expect puppies. This is typically a good “rule of thumb”, however, a bitch may not ovulate on the first day she stands for a male, causing the puppies to arrive later than the date calculated.

Field vs. Show – What’s the Difference?

This past winter I attended a number of Sportsman Shows throughout the northeast where David Krassler (Pro Staff Advisor and Spaniel Editor for GundogsOnline.com) and I performed numerous waterdog retrieving demonstrations, showing the versatility of the English springer spaniel and Labrador Retriever. What amazed me while speaking to the average outdoorsmen was not the fact that they were unaware of a spaniel or the Labrador Retrievers’ versatility, but rather that they were unaware that there was a difference between show and field gundogs.

Chocolate Lovers -- Read This!!!

I love chocolate! It’s a weakness of mine. I seem to always have an endless supply within arm’s reach, especially around the holidays. Sometimes my wife teases me that I could not live a day without some kind of chocolate fix. I am not sure whether it’s the instant boost I get from the caffeine or the satisfaction I crave from a ’sweet tooth’ I have had since I was a child.

Crate Training

As the owner of Woodland Kennel I am often clients ask, "What do you think about crate training?" My standard answer, "Crate training is the most misunderstood training technique a new dog owner faces today. Like most things in life, people often criticize what they don’t understand. Personally, I crate train all my dogs that live in the house. Many people have a misconception about what crate training is or what it is not." In this month’s article I will attempt to dispel some of the myths about crate training and give you some simple techniques that you can begin using today to make the process of crate training easy and create a "domestic den" for your dog.

Breeding World Class Gundogs

I am often reminded of how much time and effort goes into building a successful breeding program when examining the pedigrees of the top performing dogs at local and national field trials. Field trials have been and will continue to be a place breeders turn to evaluate and prove their breeding program and bloodlines. I am often reminded of how much time and effort goes into building a successful breeding program when examining the pedigrees of the top performing dogs at local and national field trials. Field trials have been and will continue to be a place breeders turn to evaluate and prove their breeding program and bloodlines.