first time breeder... doing my research

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Breny

Great info!!! Thanks! I got my Brodie from a great breeder and he had it too. Took him to the vet and they gave me albon and it cleared right up I know I hate reading how people think it makes the breeder bad, but in realality anyone can get it.

Is this the same as the vet gives?

Basically, yes. Albon is Sulfadimethoxine and it comes in different forms. The vets I think mix it with something to make it more flavorful. It is very bitter. It is also sold in powder form but to me the liquid is easier to use.

[lilstar63100]

thank you all for all of your help so far!
i just have a few more questions. today was day 9 of pebbles heat and we brought her and the male together for the first time. at first he really wanted nothing to do with her so i figured it was still too soon. however, she would not leave him alone, constantly flagging. the male belongs to my boyfriend so he was here from about 6:30pm till about 9pm. at about 8:00pm Little Man started seeming really interested and began to mount. it took about a half hour of off and on before there was finally a tie, but it did happen.
so my questions are:

how many times do you let your male and female tie and how often?
i read in a book 3 times, once every other day. but what has your experience been?

also, the tie seemed like a tramatic experience for both of them. i made sure to hold them still as to not hurt eachother, but pebbles whined a little bit at first and little man seemed stressed out and panting. once they released they wanted nothing to do with eachother. it may sound stupid but will they not want anything do do with eachother from now on?



again thank you everyone for all your help!

[Lyssie]

How many times to tie often depends on the breeders preferences and the bitch in question. Some breeders don't do three every other day just in case the bitch takes on the first and the last ties, which means that a puppy from the second tie may have four or five days less development.

Often a breeder can tell from the bitch's behaviour that she's ready, and if they've bred her before a more likely to do one or two ties. Or they may have had tests done, so they can tell when she's ready and breed her accordingly.

It sounds as if your girl was ready, so there's certainly a chance she took on the first tie, but if you want to be sure you could do another tie in two days, and then see how her behaviour is in the days after that. I certainly wouldn't breed her too long after the first one.

Boys often pant during a tie, depending on how much effort they have to put into mounting the bitch and achieving a tie. I wouldn't worry too much if both of them are okay afterwards. If the boy in question is an inexperienced stud he's more likely to lose interest. One of my mother's bitches went out to a stud who had never been used, and he had absolutely no interest in her. She was sent back and my boy thought she was ready.

I wouldn't worry right now. If you want to do another tie try again, if the boy isn't interested then you can just hope for the best from the first tie. My boy Tom has been used twice by a breeder with only one tie. The first litter had four pups, and the second bitch is confirmed to be pregnant.

I'm sure other experienced breeders on the forum can give you more help than I, most of my experience is from my mother's litters, and from the sire's side of the equation.

[bjh]

I alway breed my females 3 times. I would recommend you breed them at least one more time because day 9 may be a little early. Even though the bitch is standing the eggs may not have dropped yet and once the eggs have dropped the sperm will fertilize the eggs and the fertile eggs will migrate down the two uterine horns looking for a favorable area to attach to the lining of the uterine wall. I have read but not sure if it is true that female sperm can live up to 5 days and male sperm can live 3 days. I like to breed on the 9th day if the female is standing, then skip 2 days and breed again and then skip 1 day and breed. So I breed on the 9th, 12th and 14th day, or you could just breed 3 times every other day. I have had some that I just bred one time and they had puppies. It all has to do with timing. Many people use vaginal smears to tell when the bitches eggs have dropped. That is one thing I have never done but would like to learn more about.

Don't worry about the male not liking your female after this. They will probably be best friends but also keep in mind that because of the hormone changes, your female will not be her normal self until after she has her puppies and they are weaned.

[lilstar63100]

thank you guys so much.

just a couple more questions! i swear! (for now at least)

do u have any tips or tricks on how determine if the female is pregnant. i know its pretty much a waiting game... but anything that would be able to give me a hint?

and also... when should i put her on puppy food? should i wait till i know for sure that theres puppies, or should i go ahead and start her right away?

[bjh]

It is pretty much just a waiting game to see if they are pregnant. Usually you can tell by 5 weeks into the pregnancy. She may get a little morning sickness and go off her food a little but that is normal.

I would start her on a good quality puppy food now. What have you been feeding her? I feed mine Chicken Soup For The Puppy Lovers Soul.

I wish you the best of luck and I pray that all goes well for you and the momma to be.

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by bjh

It is pretty much just a waiting game to see if they are pregnant. Usually you can tell by 5 weeks into the pregnancy. She may get a little morning sickness and go off her food a little but that is normal.

I would start her on a good quality puppy food now. What have you been feeding her? I feed mine Chicken Soup For The Puppy Lovers Soul.

I wish you the best of luck and I pray that all goes well for you and the momma to be.

I know that this question was for the OP, but I also had a question anout food during pregnancy. My Livi is on Canidae kibble and also wet (in the morning). Is canned food okay during pregnancy or does it depend on each dog?

(side note...Livi is not pregnant and won't be until next year, I am just gathering all info.)

Tammy

[bjh]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I know that this question was for the OP, but I also had a question anout food during pregnancy. My Livi is on Canidae kibble and also wet (in the morning). Is canned food okay during pregnancy or does it depend on each dog?

(side note...Livi is not pregnant and won't be until next year, I am just gathering all info.)

Tammy

I always mix canned Pedigree Lamb and Rice Puppy food in with my dogs food. Also, canned Pedigree Traditional Ground Chicken and Rice is good (found at Petsmart). Those are the only two canned foods I use because it never upsets their tummies.

[lilstar63100]

i feed her royalcanin right now. i have been thinking about changing her food so i guess now would be a good time since ill be switching her to puppy food anyway.

[lilstar63100]

we breed again today. the tie happened much quicker. within 5 minutes of them seeing eachother. it also seemed to last longer? im not sure y or what that means, but they both much mroe calm this time and it seemed alot less stressful for them.

pebbles will start eating puppy food in the morning... and well be counting down the days till we find out if theres babies!

thank you all for all the great help so far! im sure ill be back on here for tons more questions as i find out if there are puppies and around whelping time! thanx again for all your patience with a first time breeder!

[bjh]

Thanks for the update.....it sound like they enjoyed it this time...hehe. We will be looking forward to updates. Best of luck.

[lilstar63100]

btw! heres a picture of my little girl. all the ones in my avatar are from when she was a puppy!

i just gave her a hair cut myself... so excuse the fact that it doesnt look all that great... lol

iphone 022.JPG

[Breny]

Originally Posted by lilstar63100

we breed again today. the tie happened much quicker. within 5 minutes of them seeing eachother. it also seemed to last longer? im not sure y or what that means, but they both much mroe calm this time and it seemed alot less stressful for them.

pebbles will start eating puppy food in the morning... and well be counting down the days till we find out if theres babies!

thank you all for all the great help so far! im sure ill be back on here for tons more questions as i find out if there are puppies and around whelping time! thanx again for all your patience with a first time breeder!

How many times have they tied so far and on what days? Good luck on your upcoming litter!

[lilstar63100]

Originally Posted by Breny

How many times have they tied so far and on what days? Good luck on your upcoming litter!

there were two ties, one on sunday and one yesterday. that will be it because we wouldnt be able to get them back together until friday and im afraid of that being too far past the other ties and dont want any problems with under developed puppies. so hopefully at least one fo them took! she sure seemed ready! ( not to mention she was driving my FIXED male pointer crazy all day yesterday... he and his banket have become very close... lol)

[bjh]

Originally Posted by lilstar63100

btw! heres a picture of my little girl. all the ones in my avatar are from when she was a puppy!

i just gave her a hair cut myself... so excuse the fact that it doesnt look all that great... lol

Attachment 195655

She looks like a sweet girl. I know you must be proud of her. She has nice color. What does the dad look like?