Dog Breeding

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 Puppies are exciting. However, any experienced breeder will tell you they’re also a lot of work. A responsible breeder prepares long in advance—to identify the purpose of the breeding; to carefully plan and research the breed, the standard, the health history, and available healthy males of good temperament; to form partnerships with their veterinarians and build relationships with breed mentors—in order to have the best  chance of producing beautiful, healthy puppies of great temperament and  maintain the health of the dam.

Whether you are new to breeding or awaiting the birth of a reserved puppy from a breeder’s litter, the  wait can seem eternal. Thank goodness, a bitch’s cycle and the gestation  period in dogs is much shorter than in humans.

“A female dog enters puberty when she begins the estrous cycle by having her first season (a.k.a. heat),” explains Dr. Katherine Hollinger, veterinarian and breeder of Lagotti Romagnoli.  Timing can vary, but most dogs begin coming into season between 6-to-18  months of age. A bitch can become pregnant as early as this first  cycle, however, there is a lot a responsible breeder should do before breeding a dog:

• Complete health testing pertinent to the breed
• Consider showing or titling the dog in conformation or other activities and sports to compare them to other members of their breed
• Select a suitable healthy male of excellent temperament for breeding
• Prepare a safe, nurturing environment for mother and pups

Hormonally driven estrous cycles recur every 6-to-12 months  throughout the life of the dog, varying depending upon the dog,  environmental factors, nutrition, age, and breed. There are also some  breeds that may go into heat only once a year, such as the Tibetan Mastiff and the Basenji.

“Successfully achieving a pregnancy involves correctly timing  ovulation during estrus and breeding within a specific timeframe,  depending upon the type of semen and mode of insemination that will be used to produce a litter (i.e., live cover, artificial insemination using fresh, fresh chilled or frozen sperm).  This requires working closely with your reproductive veterinarian to  pinpoint the ovulation date with progesterone tests or by using an  intact male to gauge his interest in mating and the receptivity of the  female,” says Dr. Hollinger.

 The dog has a unique cycle among mammals, explains Dr. Hollinger. Upon ovulation,  the eggs are not fully mature. They must divide, which can take  24-to-72 hours post-ovulation, before they are fully mature and can be  fertilized by sperm. Healthy sperm, on the other hand, can fertilize a  mature egg and can live 5–11 days in the reproductive tract of a female.

“Understanding the estrous cycle plays an important role in  determining when to seek care, when to schedule testing and pregnancy  examinations, and when to prepare for delivery of a litter. The  ovulation date or best estimate of the ovulation date is often used to  determine the best time to breed a bitch,” she says.

The dog has a unique cycle among mammals, explains Dr. Hollinger. Upon ovulation,  the eggs are not fully mature. They must divide, which can take  24-to-72 hours post-ovulation, before they are fully mature and can be  fertilized by sperm. Healthy sperm, on the other hand, can fertilize a  mature egg and can live 5–11 days in the reproductive tract of a female.

“Understanding the estrous cycle plays an important role in  determining when to seek care, when to schedule testing and pregnancy  examinations, and when to prepare for delivery of a litter. The  ovulation date or best estimate of the ovulation date is often used to  determine the best time to breed a bitch,” she says.

Proestrus lasts 6-to-11 days and is the first stage of the  reproductive cycle when estrogen levels increase. Females start to  attract males, although they are likely to reject their advances until  estrus. The signs of proestrus are swelling of the vulva, bloody  discharge, and standing or mounting behavior with other dogs. However, Dr. Fran Smith, DVM, a board-certified theriogenologist (a specialty dedicated to animal reproduction) and AKC Breeder of Merit, points out that the timescales for both the proestrus and estrus stages are highly variable— both can range from 3 to 21 days.

Estrus is the time when the female is receptive to breeding, usually  lasting 5-to-9 days but may vary between 10-to-20 days. A surge in  luteinizing hormone (LH) occurs that triggers ovulation with concomitant  decrease in estrogen and increasing progesterone levels. These hormonal  changes are what influence the female’s receptivity to breeding. The  signs of estrus are a soft and enlarged vulva and vaginal discharge that  may become straw-colored, although many color variations exist between  individual dogs.

Diestrus is characterized by the elevation of progesterone.  Progesterone peaks 2–3 weeks after ovulation and plateaus for 1–2 weeks  before slowly decreasing over 10–30 days. Progesterone, the pregnancy  maintenance hormone, increases throughout this post-estrus stage whether  a dog is pregnant or not. Diestrus ends when the dam delivers a litter  or progesterone concentrations return to baseline. During diestrus, the  bitch’s discharge tapers; she no longer permits mating; and the vulva  slowly returns to normal.

Anestrus is the name of the timeframe between one heat cycle and the  next. During this period, the uterus repairs and returns to a period of  normal inactivity. This generally takes 4 months but is variable and can  last as long as 6-to-12 months.

 “Hopefully, a breeder has been working with the veterinarian to  pinpoint the ovulation date for a successful breeding. The ovulation  date or LH surge are the best predictors of the due date. The ovulation  date is also critically important for scheduling pregnancy exams. These  exams may include palpation or ultrasound to confirm a pregnancy or radiographs to identify the number of puppies performed after [around] day 55 of gestation. While there may be  commercial pregnancy tests for dogs, these do not help with identifying  important milestone dates such as ovulation date, best insemination  date, pregnancy stage, or due date,” says Dr. Hollinger. A vet may also  perform a relaxin test,  a blood test which can be useful in evaluation if a bitch is pregnant  at the time of the test, performed approximately 27–30 days after  breeding.

Another test that may be helpful, according to Dr. Hollinger is a nomograph,  a blood titer performed on the bitch to identify distemper and parvo  antibodies to gauge the level of antibodies that will be transferred to  the puppies in colostrum. This allows a breeder to plan a puppy  vaccination protocol when maternal-derived immunity has adequately  waned.

The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days as  measured from ovulation, although this can vary slightly by several  days. Calculation of a litter due date varies depending upon what  parameter is used to begin counting, for example the due date is:

• 65–66 days from LH surge (day 0) and 63 days on average from ovulation (2 days after LH surge)
• 64–66 days from the initial significant rise in progesterone, or
• 58–72 days from the first time the bitch allowed breeding

Calculations of due dates based upon a breeding date have a wider  range since the bitch may have bred several days prior to the LH surge  and ovulation.

“Pregnancy in dogs is relatively short compared to humans, about 9  weeks total, and each day matters. Knowing the due date is important for  the health of the pregnant bitch and the puppies and is used by the  breeder to adapt changing nutritional demands and schedule veterinary  care during pregnancy,” reports Dr. Hollinger.

Every canine pregnancy is unique, but here is the timeline of the reproductive cycle for dogs:

A canine egg, once ovulated, will mature within 24-to-72 hours. The  mature egg is viable and can be fertilized for up to 2-to-3 days after  maturation. Spermatozoa present in the uterine horns may be capable of  fertilization for 5-to-11 days. A fertilized egg takes from 18 to 23  days to implant in the dam’s uterus.

“Many dogs don’t show any symptoms during the first three weeks of  their pregnancy. The fetus begins to take shape by day 22, and by day 28  or 30 a veterinarian using ultrasound can see signs of pregnancy in the  dam’s uterus and may be able to detect fetal heartbeats. Around day  20-28 the embryos may be identified using gentle abdominal palpation,”  Dr. Hollinger says.

Some symptoms to watch for during the first month are:

• “Pinking up” having enlarged and pink tipped nipples
• More affectionate behavior
• Decreased physical activity
• “Morning sickness” occurring post implantation

Fetal development moves quickly during the second month. Eyelids form  by day 32 and toes are visible by day 35. The nails form by day 40, and  the coat and skeleton follow a few days later (day 45). By day 55, an  X-ray can reveal the number of puppies in the litter, and a bitch may  start looking for a place to nest around day 58 to 62.

Signs of pregnancy in the bitch are much more obvious during the second month:

• Noticeably increased appetite
• Weight gain
• Increased urination
• Behavioral changes
• Clear, odorless vaginal discharge
• Enlarged, firm abdomen (days 45 to 50)
• Decreased appetite (day 45)
• Visible puppy movement in abdomen (day 50)

The bitch is ready to whelp at nine weeks. Puppy development is  almost complete around day 58, which means the puppies will begin to  move into whelping position in the birth canal over the last few days of  the bitch’s pregnancy.

Symptoms include:

• Waist may trim as puppies move into the birth canal
• Appetite loss around day 61 or 62
• Drop in body temperature 12-to-24 hours before labor
• Restless and extreme nesting behavior
• Pacing, panting, shivering, or digging 

  Since you want your dog to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible  during labor, she should be in a familiar, warm, dark, quiet area that’s  not accessible to other household pets. You’ll also want to have a  veterinarian you trust on call in case there are complications or  dystocia. “At this point, the onset of labor is controlled by a complex  interplay of hormones,” Dr. Hollinger says. 

Stage One

The first stage lasts 12-to-24 hours and is often not outwardly  noticeable. Contractions in the muscular wall of the uterus increase  throughout stage one, both in strength and frequency, and the cervix  dilates. You may observe:

• Change in disposition and behavior including restlessness, nesting, and desire to be alone
• Refusal to eat
• Vomiting
• Panting
• Clear vaginal discharge

Puppies are delivered during stage two. The birth of each puppy is  close when you see a sac protrude from the bitch’s vulva. This stage can  take anywhere from 1-to-24 hours, and bitches deliver one puppy at a  time. Each delivery should not last more than 1-to-2 hours and normally  occurs every 30-to-60 minutes. Pups may safely present head-first or  tail-first. If there’s a green discharge, the placenta may have  separated and the puppy must immediately be delivered. Knowing the total  number of expected puppies will allow you to recognize when the bitch  is finished with stage two.

The placenta is delivered in stage three. Stage two and stage three  occur simultaneously, and stage three is complete when all placentas are  delivered. You should contact your veterinarian if your dog’s labor  takes more than 24 hours, or if more than 2 hours pass in between  puppies. Dogs may deliver two fetuses at a time and then deliver two  placentas because they may come from two uterine horns.

Dystocia,  or difficulty during birth, can occur due to many factors affecting the  bitch or the puppy. The most common cause in dogs is called uterine  inertia, which can be inherited, age-related, or result from nutritional  imbalance, disease, or an obstruction in the birth canal. Other causes  of dystocia include stress, pain, abnormal position of the fetus, abnormally long gestation or whelping periods. There are situations when a Cesarean-section may be called for.

Canine dystocia is estimated to occur in less than 5% of deliveries, although research found it may be considerably higher in certain breeds such as the Chihuahua, Pug, Boston Terrier, and French Bulldog.  It’s critical for all breeders to discuss the signs and causes of  dystocia with their veterinarian and to call for veterinary help  immediately if it’s needed. An experienced breeder will have made an  action plan with their veterinarian in advance of the due date for  getting the bitch care should she have difficulty in delivering. 

After your dog gives birth, you’ll want to monitor her temperature,  vaginal discharge, mammary glands, and milk supply. “Sanitation,  including frequent handwashing and maintenance of a clean whelping box are important during the early life of the puppies to reduce risk of infection for puppies and dam,” says Dr. Hollinger.

You may observe the following changes following whelping:

• A discharge called lochia, varying in color from green to red or  brown lasting from 3-to-8 weeks. If the lochia has a foul odor or  increases in flow, it could be a sign of infection and requires  veterinary attention.
• Some dogs may suffer from inflammation/infection of the breasts called mastitis or of the uterus, called metritis, may occur. It’s a good idea to  monitor the dam’s mammary glands for heat, redness, or hard nodules and  if noted to take her temperature and contact your veterinarian.
• It’s rare for a dog not to produce enough milk for the puppies (agalactia) but can occur if there are underlying  conditions. Making adequate fluids available by offering water and  supplementation with calcium and calcium-rich foods postpartum will  help.
• The mother dog may experience heavy shedding of her coat while nursing. This is temporary.
• At first, she may be reluctant to leave the pups, requiring you to bring nutritious food and fresh water to her.
• For the first few days after whelping, stools may be soft
• The nursing bitch is under physical and emotional stress and may  become easily annoyed and even aggressive, most commonly 2-to-3 weeks  after whelping.

As time goes on, even the most dedicated mother will be ready for  short breaks from her pups. Allow her to get some exercise and alone  time. All parents deserve a break. The puppies will grow quickly. Good  breeders, the pups’ first teacher, realize they have much to learn  during the first 8-to-10 weeks. Soon they’ll be ready for their new families and forever homes.

Have questions about the adoption process or our puppies? Check out our frequently asked questions page for answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

 Is this a whelping emergency?  Am I jumping the gun? Am I waiting too long? Are the puppies in danger?  Is the dam in danger? What should I do? Does she need a C-section?  There’s not a breeder alive who hasn’t agonized over these same  questions during a whelping. But take a deep breath, calm down, and take  the time to make an informed decision.

Luckily, you can prepare for the case of an emergency Cesarean  section, better known as a C-section. Planning ahead can actually start  before you even breed your bitch by talking to your veterinarian about  what to do. And if you’re still unsure, then call your veterinarian or  an emergency clinic.

 As your bitch’s due date approaches, not only should you gather your whelping supplies, but also  make plans just in case she needs an emergency C-section:

Determine her due date: Ideally, you performed progesterone testing during her heat cycle in order to pinpoint the exact date of ovulation.  Whelping should occur between 62 and 64 days post-ovulation. Because  bitches will mate for several days before and after ovulation, and sperm  can live up to a week in her reproductive tract, if you don’t know the  ovulation date then you can’t know definitely if your bitch is overdue  until 72 days post-breeding. An alternative is to collect blood during  her season and have your veterinarian save it without running  progesterone tests to determine her actual ovulation date only when she  seems late whelping.

Establish a veterinary relationship: Make your  veterinarian part of your team by discussing pre-breeding tests and  vaccinations, prenatal care, and what you should do should a whelping  emergency occur either during or after regular office hours. Don’t  expect a veterinarian who doesn’t know you or your bitch to rush in  after hours or even squeeze you in between appointments.

Arrange for an after-hours emergency clinic: Your  regular veterinarian may not be available after hours. Ask your  veterinarian or other local breeders for suggestions for  breeder-friendly emergency clinics. Then find out if they perform  emergency C-sections and if they insist upon a mandatory spay along with  the C-section.

Get pre-whelping X-rays: X-rays that were taken the  week before her due date can determine the number of puppies, whether  any are abnormally large, and whether they are full-term and thus likely  to survive if delivered. A very small (one or two puppy) litter or a  very large litter may be more likely to need a C-section. The puppies  themselves elicit labor by producing hormones that affect the dam and  with a very small litter, they may not produce enough hormones to induce  labor. With a very large litter, the number of puppies may exhaust the  dam before she can deliver all of them. You might consider a planned C-section in either case.

Use a whelping service: Consider using a monitoring service such as Whelpwise that supplies an external monitor that transmits information to a  technician trained to interpret results. The results can indicate fetal  distress, impending labor, or whelping problems such as uterine inertia,  all of which would call for a C-section.

Know your breed: Be aware of any breed  predispositions that could impact whelping. Breeds with a large head and  narrow pelvis often have difficulty whelping naturally. Such breeds  include the Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, and Pekingese, among others. It may be preferable to schedule a planned C-section for these breeds.

Enlist the help of experienced breeders: Especially if you’re a novice breeder,  having an experienced breeder by your side is one of the best  precautions you can take. Perhaps your dog’s breeder is available, a  member of a local kennel club, or a veterinary technician. You might offer to pay somebody to be on call or come to your home and help.

Be prepared in general: Don’t forget practical  considerations, such as enough gas in your car to reach the  veterinarian. Have friends who can accompany you or meet you at the  veterinary clinic after hours in case extra hands are needed to revive  puppies as one person per every one or two puppies is needed. Make sure  to have a box to place the puppies in for the ride home, a blanket to keep the puppies and the dam warm on the ride home, and a tube-feeding or bottle-feeding equipment and formula ready in case the dam doesn’t accept the puppies immediately.

Time everything: Record the date of her ovulation,  first and last breedings, temperature drop, the time she started labor,  the time she started hard contractions, the time of each puppy’s birth,  and the time between puppies. You and your veterinarian will likely need  this information when deciding whether you have an emergency.

If you’re experiencing any of the below concerns, call your vet  immediately to ask about helping you with a safe birth or the potential  of an emergency C-section. Anytime you aren’t sure, it’s better to err  on the side of caution and get an informed opinion.

Is there a pus-like or bloody discharge? All vaginal  discharge prior to giving birth should be clear, with one exception: a  whitish stringy discharge may simply be the mucus plug shedding in the  days or hours before whelping. This is normal and no cause for alarm.  However, if the discharge is pus-like, the bitch may have a serious  infection such as pyometra.  Especially if she has an accompanying fever, this is a medical  emergency requiring immediate after-hours veterinary attention whether  she is pregnant or not. If the discharge is made up of large amounts of  bright red blood, this is also a medical emergency that requires  immediate veterinary attention. Some bloody discharge is normal during  and after whelping, but if it is bright red and seems like too much, it  may be an emergency.

Is there a green or greenish-black discharge? All  vaginal discharge prior to giving birth should be clear. If the  discharge is green it means that a placenta has separated from the  uterine wall. If a greenish or greenish-black discharge occurs before  the bitch is in labor, it could indicate one or more fetuses are dead.  The bitch should be examined by your veterinarian to determine if the  rest of the puppies are viable, but generally, a green discharge doesn’t  warrant a C-section, especially if it is before her due date. If she  has a greenish discharge during whelping, it is not a cause for alarm.  While it is possible that one puppy could die, the rest of the litter is  not in danger.

Has she been in Stage 1 labor for more than 12 hours? Stage 1 labor is the period preceding hard labor, usually indicated by  restlessness, panting, digging, nesting, and shaking. Encouraging the  dam to walk may help stimulate contractions. The veterinarian can feel  for a puppy in the birth canal and take X-rays to determine if a puppy  is too large or in the wrong position. Bloodwork can determine if  calcium and glucose levels are off in the dam; if so, they may be  supplemented to help labor.

Has she been in mild Stage 2 labor for more than 4 hours? Mild Stage 2 follows Stage 1 and is defined as intermittent hard  straining. Your veterinarian can perform the same evaluation and  treatment as for prolonged Stage 1 labor, and if that does not yield  results, a C-section is indicated.

Have more than two hours passed between puppies being born? She may have whelped all her puppies, or she may be exhausted and  unable to continue. If she is through whelping, she will generally  settle with the puppies and nurse them. If she still has some left, she  may continue to be restless. Walking the dam around the yard can help  stimulate contractions and letting her eat something like ice cream,  cottage cheese or whipped cream can help energize her. If a radiograph  determines there are still many puppies to be delivered, and the bitch  appears already fatigued, a C-section is needed.

Is the puppy in the wrong position? Normal birth  presentation for dogs is either head or tail first, with front legs  extended in front of the puppy, and rear legs presented stretched out  behind the puppy. Abnormal positions include head first with front legs  backward along the chest walls, or bent in different positions; rear  first with hind legs facing toward the puppy’s head or in different  positions; front first with the head bent to the side or backward, or  side first. Because of the limited space, it is difficult to manipulate  the puppy’s position, but you may be able to try using one or two  fingers or a tiny tube to pass it beyond the puppy. The puppy will be  very slippery, so using gauze will help you get traction. Warning: Do  not use instruments, and do not pull on the puppy too hard, as it can  separate joints, pull skin off, and even pull appendages such as the  tail off.  If gentle manipulation is unsuccessful, a C-section is needed. 

 Be aware of any breed predispositions that could impact whelping. Breeds  with a large head and narrow pelvis often have difficulty whelping  naturally. Such breeds include the Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, and Pekingese, among others. It may be preferable to schedule a planned C-section for these breeds. 

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Have questions about the adoption process or our puppies? Check out our frequently asked questions page for answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact us.