A hobby can easily turn into a passion once one feels that he’s not only getting better at something, but also when he devotes more and more time and energy for it.
The same thing can happen when caring for dogs. Some can start simply as a regular owner of a pooch. Then later, as he knows more about his pet, he develops an interest in other aspects of dog ownership other than regular things like proper feeding or pet hygiene. He now decides he can actually breed canines.
The same thing can happen when caring for dogs. Some can start simply as a regular owner of a pooch. Then later, as he knows more about his pet, he develops an interest in other aspects of dog ownership other than regular things like proper feeding or pet hygiene. He now decides he can actually breed canines.
Image credit: Mike Ray (flickr.com)
Are you going towards the same path? Well, worry not if you’re breeding for the first time, as the tips below can get you started on your dog-breeding endeavor:
Know the right time to breed – Female dogs usually begin to come into heat at around six months of age. Keep in mind, though, that this time can also vary from one dog to another. After about 6 months, she will come into heat again. Usually, breeders wait until the third time a dog comes into heat before breeding. That’s a total of about 1 and ½ years when a dog becomes an adult and all prepped for mating.
Health matters – Prior to breeding, it is really important that both the male and the female are in their best health possible. Since you’re not an expert to determine that, take the pair to a veterinarian so he can check if they’re in the pink of health. The vet may also recommend a particular diet for the canine pair. Be sure that all their vaccinations are up to date.
Signs that they’re nearing breeding time – The first sign that a female dog is ready to breed is when her vulva swells, which may not be noticeable a week before the bleeding begins. If you have a plan of artificially inseminating the female or you have to take her to the male, call your vet to assist you with it. Another sign that she’s ready to breed is getting disinterested or less interested with food.
Supervise them properly – When the time comes to breed, you have to know how to supervise the male and female together. If you’ve seen mating dogs, you won’t be surprised to see them in a ‘tie’ position for a while. If you’re breeding for the first time, watch an expert doing it before doing it yourself. And when you do get to it, have an experienced breeder standing by so he can provide assistance if need be.
These are the basic things you need to know if you’ve decided to elevate your dog ownership to breeding. Always consult people in the know before attempting to do something. This helps ensure that every step in the breeding process is done successfully. (Got a noisy pooch that barks uncontrollably? You can get him a barking collar at dogmaster.com.au.)
Know the right time to breed – Female dogs usually begin to come into heat at around six months of age. Keep in mind, though, that this time can also vary from one dog to another. After about 6 months, she will come into heat again. Usually, breeders wait until the third time a dog comes into heat before breeding. That’s a total of about 1 and ½ years when a dog becomes an adult and all prepped for mating.
Health matters – Prior to breeding, it is really important that both the male and the female are in their best health possible. Since you’re not an expert to determine that, take the pair to a veterinarian so he can check if they’re in the pink of health. The vet may also recommend a particular diet for the canine pair. Be sure that all their vaccinations are up to date.
Signs that they’re nearing breeding time – The first sign that a female dog is ready to breed is when her vulva swells, which may not be noticeable a week before the bleeding begins. If you have a plan of artificially inseminating the female or you have to take her to the male, call your vet to assist you with it. Another sign that she’s ready to breed is getting disinterested or less interested with food.
Supervise them properly – When the time comes to breed, you have to know how to supervise the male and female together. If you’ve seen mating dogs, you won’t be surprised to see them in a ‘tie’ position for a while. If you’re breeding for the first time, watch an expert doing it before doing it yourself. And when you do get to it, have an experienced breeder standing by so he can provide assistance if need be.
These are the basic things you need to know if you’ve decided to elevate your dog ownership to breeding. Always consult people in the know before attempting to do something. This helps ensure that every step in the breeding process is done successfully. (Got a noisy pooch that barks uncontrollably? You can get him a barking collar at dogmaster.com.au.)
Liked this article? Here a few posts you may also find helpful:
Reproduction – The Heat Cycle (dogbreedinfo.com)
Dog Breeding for Beginners (dogbreedingbeginners.com)
Dog Breed Selector Quiz (selectsmart.com)
Reproduction – The Heat Cycle (dogbreedinfo.com)
Dog Breeding for Beginners (dogbreedingbeginners.com)
Dog Breed Selector Quiz (selectsmart.com)