Breeding Bitch Management
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Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
How often to breed a bitch
Q: I am new to breeding. How often should you breed your female? I heard two different theories about it.
A: Ultimately, the decision of how often your girl should be bred has to be made between you and your Veterinarian, taking into account the health and wellbeing of your dog. There is no ‘formula’ or ‘rule’ other than that. You want to make sure your girl has had all of the required clearances for your breed and that she is mentally mature too. Science tells us that the uterus goes through the same hormonal changes whether your girl is bred or not. This explains why we have false pregnancies, as the hormones are all at work, and the body responds to them. It also explains why reproductive veterinarians tell us that a healthy girl who bounces back easily after a litter can be a candidate for a ‘back-to-back’ breeding scenario. Again, this is a decision best made between you and your vet.
Bitch too aggressive to breed
Q: I have a first time female being pretty vicious with a stud, snapping at him. What should I do?
A: This is a hard situation to handle, but not abnormal. This is why we need to have the tools to help us do a breeding. The first is running progesterone so that we have the right numbers and know exactly when the best time is to breed our girls. One of the reasons we do this is that there are times that the progesterone (which signals ovulation) and the estrogen (which makes the girls receptive) are not in sync. When the hormones are not in sync, we can experience the girls being rather nasty to the amorous boys. So, once we know the numbers are right for breeding, we can use a muzzle on our girls, and help the boys be successful, OR we can collect the boys and do an AI to ensure a successful breeding and pregnancy.
Accidental young breeding
Q: I raise Boston Terriers and had an accidental breeding of my 8 month old. She had 3 puppies and is not thrilled about being a Mama. She will reluctantly feed them but will not clean them or clean up after them. Thankfully, I had another Mama just done with nursing that jumped in and helped. My question is, do I breed her again, hoping maturity will change her outlook on motherhood? Or is this an inherent thing that just come naturally, no matter what the age. I do not want to breed her if she truly does not enjoy it.
A:It is so tough when an accidental breeding happens and our girls are just not mentally ready to be good moms. I am so glad that you had another dog who was thrilled to jump in and help; that makes all the difference. I would give her another chance when she is older; maturity changes everyone’s outlook, and it may improve hers. If she is still a less than stellar mother you will have to make some tough choices with her moving forward.
