Your Litter A to Z, Introduction Module

A2Z Quick Links

• A2Z Calendar and Reminders
• Deworming Info
• Ca:Ph Ratio Calculator
• Safe Drugs, Pregnancy & Lactation
• Post-Natal Calcium Calculator
• A2Z Master Supplies List

What’s In This Module

• What is Transformational Puppy Rearing?
• Epigenetics
• Parent Selection and Nutrition
• Parental Age, Stress and Fears
• Canine Development
• Puppy Rearing Goals
• A2Z Calendar and Reminders
• A2Z Master Supplies List
• Additional Resources

What is Your Litter A to Z Based On

Your Litter A to Z is based on a program called Transformational Puppy Rearing, a science and experience-based breeding- and puppy-raising program that transform puppies’ bodies and brains so they are the healthiest, most stable, longest-lived dogs possible. Learn more in this video.

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The Power of Epigenetics

Most dog breeders know the importance of genetics but epigenetics is equally important. Epigenetics captures the influence of the environment on how our dogs’ genes are expressed. These influences range from our dogs’ nutrition and the care we give them, to their internal environment, like stress. Not only do these influences affect our dogs but some will be passed on to their pups and grandpups. Learn more in this video.

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Effects of Parent Selection and Nutrition on Puppies

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How Do Parental Age, Stress and Fears Affect Puppies

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What Happens When In Puppyhood — How Do Dogs Develop

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What Should We Do When With Our Pups

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Your Litter A to Z Calendar and Reminders

One of the most popular features of this course is the A2Z Calendar and Reminders through which you can get a tailored list of key developmental dates, reminders and tasks to do up until your pups are 35 days old. The calendar dates and reminders will display on the screen below your entries and/or you can enter your email address and have it emailed to you.

In the A2Z calendar, you can:

– Enter one of your bitch’s dates say ovulation, and ¡Voila! your calendar dates and tips will appear.

– Update those dates as you get more reliable information, say once you know when she ovulated or Day 1 of diestrus.

– Get schedules for as many bitches as you like. Simply, enter another bitches name and dates.

– “Play” with the calendar by testing out dates to see what might happen when if she’s comes in season this date or ovulates on that.

To get your reminders, go through this list, from 1 to 7, selecting the top event you have a date for. The events higher in our list are more reliable and predictive than those lower down.

1. Do you have your Whelping Date?  If yes, click here.

2. Do you have Day 1 of Diestrus?  If yes, click here.

3. Do you have LH Peak with LH testing?  If yes, click here.

4. Do you have date of Ovulation? If yes, click here.

5. Has your girl already Been Bred? If yes, click here.

6. Is your girl In Season now?  If yes, click here.

7. Is your girl Due In Season Soon? If yes, click here.

A2Z Master Supplies List

The A2Z Master Supplies List has items that you may need or want for your breeding from before being bred and everything in between until your pups go home. The live links are blue and underlined.

• A2Z Master Supplies List

Additional Resources

We have collected these additional resources in case you are interested in finding out more about topics discussed in this module.

What is Synaptic Pruning?

This video walks you through synaptic pruning in human beings.  The process is the same in dogs although the timing is compressed.

Books and Articles

By far, Scott and Fuller’s classic book provides the best overview of the stages of canine development.  It’s an oldie but goody! Scott’s article, “Critical Periods in the Development of Social Behavior in Puppies,” can be downloaded for free.  And Dr Water’s article, “Longevity in Pet Dogs: Understanding What is Missing” helps us think about using a life course perspective to better raise our dogs.

• Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, by John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller
• Critical Periods in the Development of Social Behavior in Puppies
• The Dog: Its Domestication and Behavior, by Michael Fox
• The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People by James Serpell
• Longevity in pet dogs: Understanding what’s missing
• Body size, inbreeding, and lifespan in domestic dogs
• Lifespan of companion dogs seen in three independent primary care veterinary clinics in the United States
• How Old Is My Dog? Identification of Rational Age Groupings in Pet Dogs Based Upon Normative Age-Linked Processes
• Genetically speaking, mammals are more like their fathers

Websites

• Dog Development (Embryology)
• Old Grey Muzzle Tour website
• Dr. Waters Old Grey Muzzle Tour Journal
• Dog Aging Project

Your Litter A to Z Table of Contents

Section 1: Pre-Breeding

• Intro to Your Litter A to Z
• Module 1: Preparing Your Dogs For the Breeding
• Module 2: She’s In Season

Section 2: Pregnancy & Whelping

• Module 3: The First Trimester (From ovulation to Day 21)
• Module 4: The Second Trimester (Day 22-42)
• Module 5: Placing Your Puppies
• Module 6: The Third Trimester (Day 43-whelping)
• Module 7: Labor & Whelping

Section 3: Litter Management: Month 1

• Module 8: The First 48 Hours (Birth to 48 hours)
• Module 9: Your Litter’s First Week (Birth to Day 7)
• Module 10: Your Litter’s Second Week (Day 8-14)
• Module 11: Your Litter’s Third Week (Day 15-21)
• Module 12: Your Litter’s Fourth Week (Day 22-28)

Section 4: Litter Management: Month 2

• Module 13: Your Litter’s Fifth Week (Day 29-35)
• Module 14: Your Litter’s Sixth Week (Day 36-42)
• Module 15: Your Litter’s Seventh Week (Day 43-49)
• Module 16: Sending Puppies Home
• Module 17: Your Litter’s Eighth Week (Day 50-56)
• Module 18: After the Eighth Week (Day 57 and beyond)

Past Coaching Call Recordings