Your momma and babies need to be away from other dogs but within an ears distance of you. I keep my mommas and babies in our spare bedroom. I have a whelping box setup inside an x-pen. I check on them frequently and at night I am able to hear if any babies should start to cry.

Where does your baby girl feel most comfortable in your home? Where does she hide when something bothers her? My little girl (just 10 months)will hide under my bed usually, and thats her favorite place to chew on my son's toys. I have my nursery (due in 4 weeks) as my place for my girl when I breed her, it gives her a room that will be closed off from other pets and kids (I babysit so I have a gate the goes in the doorway).

From everything I have researched and read on this forum is to start getting her used to a whelping box a couple of weeks before her whelping date. I would suggest putting her in a place like washroom (gives her some room and lots of privacy). When she starts to whelp the litter you will be with her constantly and for the next few weeks so she won't be so lonely. But what do I really know. I'm a newbie to. I'm just giving you my opinion of what I would do. Hope this helps.

We put the playpen we use for the mom and puppies in our room. I want to be able to hear the little ones nurse in the night and cry if they need anything. We have one mom that is protective so we keep her separate till the puppies are older. The others don't want to be bothered for a few days but after about a week or so they are ready to be out where everyone else is. Then we move them right out into the living room. If you put her somewhere she isn't happy with I think you'll be able to tell right away.

Sorry this took so long in getting back with you. But I have noticed she (Bella) goes into our closet it has blankets/pillows/ all over the place and she hides in there. So does that mean when it is time (which it is not yet) I should put her bed in there?

don't want you to think my closet is a mess but IT Is. (ha)

Thanks
Cheryl

:yelrotflmMy closet is the same way. I clean and then a week later it looks like a tornado went through it. I would say that would probably be the best place for her then. Clean it out as best as possible giving enough room to put a whelping box in there. You can add an x-pen around the doors to give momma more room when she wants to get away from the pups. This way she feels safe and secure without a whole lot of disturbances. Good luck!

Breeding
 

Ha, That sounds good to me. I have not thought of a x-pen in there but its big enough for one. I will let you know.


Thanks
Cheryl

p.s. here is a picture of Bella at Christmas:)

I was just wondering if any other breeders would like to post a few of their trial and errors to help newbies on their journey of becoming good breeders.

I have been in talks with Cathy from Ron Del Kennels to buy a show quality female puppy (husand doesn't know yet) that is sired from Kaboom (sired by Nitro) or Nitro (with mom and dad champions). I feel this is a good start to a showing dog prospect, as well as a possible foundation bitch for my breeding program. I like Nitro more because he is darker steele, but both seem like great sires. Here is a link to thir show room where you can view their pedigree's Ron-Del Kennels: Champions.

Let me know what you think. She said she would keep me updated on if she sees a show quality pup coming out of her new litters or her next few, per what I am looking for. She isn't even taking a deposit until she finds one I would be interested in. (That blew me away!)

I thoroughly enjoyed that post...I am still learning and still need to get in the show ring with my Sire. Still waiting a bit to make sure his coat is going to clear. I am lucky to have great mentor (she knows who she is). My male has Ron-Del back in his pedigree on his father's side. I like the Ron-Del's, Prestigeous, Rothby's. I am still having trouble on Ceasar's Dam's side. Has anyone heard of Smallwood?

Do the research and learn genetics is all I have to add to that. I am by no means experienced, so I defer to the experts for sure. I am just always thirsty for more knowledge.

LOL, everyone who has their first litter under the belt feels like an expert, but is very far from it. :wink:

How do you start researching genetics?

I have read everything online that I can find about different breeders. But is there something more technical I am missing?

Its all about High School Science 101. Just Kidding. But remember those dominant and recessive genes. Thats what we are getting at here. Say you breed a dam with an excellent top line, to a sire that has a sub-standard top line. If they pups come out with the excellent top line that gene was dominant over that of the sire' sub-standard top line gene. It gets more complicated than that as well. From what I have learned so far is it is a lot of trial and error till you find two breeding capable dogs that carry both the dominant traits that you want to breed so as to have that dominant trait continue. Its still a 1 in 4 chance that one of the puppies will carry that recessive gene that both dogs carry. So once you find a dog that carries all the traits you want, with great genetics (comes from dom/rec genes as well) you then can look for another that compliments those or can even improve those of your foundation dog. Do some research on dogs your interested in, and then do background checks on past generations before you decide.

I'm no expert, just giving you what I have learned to look for so far. I'm still researching the lines of Ron-Del's dogs, the dominant traits I see that are consistant in each dog, and the recessive ones I also see.

Thanks! Any good books you can recommend?

I don't know any by name that I could recommend. Try going to amazon.com and trying their search for dog breeding and dog genetics and see what you get. My library doesn't offer any help here, so I have to use amazon.com as well.

I recommend: The ABCs of DOg Breeding as a genetics primer. It has a workbook to complete as well. You can find it via: Home Navigation

Thanks that site looks great. I have it pulled up and am going to go through it now! Thanks again WildCard