BREEDING YOUR BITCH
PLANNING
Puppies are lovely, and it can be a joy to have a litter in the house. However there is plenty
of room for complications and there are several important points to consider before you
take the plunge.
1. Do you have the time to take care of the bitch in late pregnancy and then her and
the puppies once they have arrived – bearing in mind that if you need to help the
bitch feed the puppies you may be doing this every 2 hours day and night for the first
few days.
2. Is your bitch old/young enough? First litters should not be planned for until the
bitch reaches 2 years of age to allow her to grow to full maturity before she becomes
pregnant. Bitches over the age of 8 should not be bred because the physical stress
and risks are significantly increased with increasing age.
3. Is your bitch healthy? This may seem like an obvious question, but underlying
problems such as hip dysplasia and skin allergies can be passed onto the puppies.
4. If you want to have specific breed accredited puppies what tests does the bitch need
to have before her puppies can be registered? This can include hip and elbow x-rays
and eye tests for some breeds.
5. Can you afford the potential veterinary fees including a caesarean section if your
bitch has problems with her whelping?
6. Can you find good homes for the puppies once they are ready to go, and would you
be able to take them back if the new owner had problems?
7. Can you find a good dad? Personality is an inheritable trait as much as good looks!
8. Is your bitch up to date with her vaccinations and flea treatment.
Dairy Flat Veterinary Clinic
09 4269535 24 hours
THE OESTRUS CYCLE
The bitch comes into oestrus (heat/season) approximately every 6 months, the first
season can be seen between 6 and 18 months of age. The first sign of oestrus is swelling of
the vulva, followed by some blood spotting. This is called pro-oestrus and normally lasts for
6 – 9 days, at this stage the bitch is not ready to mate although she will tolerate some
interest from the dog. The next stage is oestrus when the bitch becomes receptive to the
dog and ovulates, the ideal time for conception is usually between days 11 and 13 of the
season. If the bitch does not conceive she passes into dioestrus as her progesterone levels
fall – it is during this stage that false pregnancies can occur – and eventually into the quiet
phase of anoestrus. The visible part of her season, pro-oestrus and oestrus last for 3 – 4
weeks in the average bitch
PLANNING MATING
1. Choosing the stud dog
There many factors to consider when choosing the
stud dog. If you wish to produce pedigree pups is
the stud dog tested in all the areas required by the
breed society and is he a good example of the
breed? Also consider the temperament of the stud
not only from the point of view of the puppies but
whether your bitch will be comfortable with him.
Will the owners of the stud dog charge a fee or will
they have first refusal for one of the puppies? For
cross breeding (including designer dogs!) are the
dog and bitch size compatible and are the puppies
likely to be saleable?
2. Preparing the bitch
If you are planning a pedigree litter make sure that your bitch has had all the required
checks for her breed (eyes/hips/elbows are the most common tests required). It is also
important to make sure her vaccinations are up to date; this will ensure that she passes
some immunity to the common diseases (hepatitis, parvovirus etc) both across the placenta
and in her milk. Regular worming is also important as roundworms can be transmitted to
the pups both via the placenta and the mother’s milk.
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09 4269535 24 hours
3. Choosing the timing
It can be difficult to tell exactly when the most fertile point of the bitch’s season is just by
looking at her, and unless the stud dog lives very close by it is helpful to know when her
fertility is at its peak. There are 3 different ways to pick the best time;
1. Once she shows external signs of being in oestrus let her run with the dog and she
may let him know when the right time is – this is fairly haphazard and relies on the
dog and bitch being “compatible” in height and temperament.
2. Taking cervical swabs and examining the cytology (shape and type of cells) found in
the smear – this is fairly labour intensive and has an increased risk of introducing
infection into the bitch’s reproductive tract.
3. Blood sampling for progesterone levels – this is the most accurate indicator of
fertility; a sample taken in the morning should be tested and reported by midafternoon.
4. Choosing the method
The most common method is natural mating, allowing the dog and bitch to do as nature
intended – under supervision. It is important to stay in supervision as first timers (dog, bitch
or owner) won’t necessarily know exactly what goes where. The alternative is to use
artificial insemination, which still requires both dog and bitch in the same room but the
semen is extracted from the male and inseminated into the female once it has been
checked for quality. Artificial insemination is carried out by a veterinarian experienced in
this field.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The bitch will show a willingness to be bred by "flagging", this means she will raise her tail
and move it to the side when the area right above her tail is scratched.
Once she has shown a willingness to be bred, it is time to place the two dogs together. Do
not just throw them in the back yard together, ideally her owner should hold the head of
the bitch to reassure her and protect the stud from any change of heart while the breeding
is taking place. The actual act of breeding can take anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes.
Once the male has entered the bitch her vagina makes a tight ring around the penis, and any
attempt to stop the breeding at this point can injure both animals. The stud will slowly move
so that both front paws are on the same side of the female. One hind leg will come up and
over the back of the female and they will be standing tail to tail. This is considered the tie.
Eventually, the penis will shrink back to its normal size, the tie is broken and both dogs will
walk away. When this occurs, once again separate the two dogs. For optimal breeding
results, repeat the process every other day until the female will no longer accept the male.
Dairy Flat Veterinary Clinic
09 4269535 24 hours
SUCCESS!
Success is not guaranteed in any breeding cycle, pregnancy in your bitch can be confirmed
from 28 days from the last tie by ultrasound examination. This will only confirm the
presence of a pregnancy but will not give you an exact number of puppies (or the sex!).
.
Dairy Flat Veterinary Clinic
09 4269535 24 hours