This is a thread to advise people who intend on ethically breeding their dog. It is not to be taken as bible, but purely as a GUIDE!
I should also draw your attention to Thinking about breeding from your Bitch? and the possibilities of using a mismate injection (Thread on Mismate Injections to follow)

Day 0- Day of mating.
Be prepared to hand over money (Cash).
Take KC Reg docs
Copy Of pedigree
Copy of health tests

Ring the vet to order in the Canine Herpes Vaccine for 10 days time

Day 2- Repeat mating if you did not have progesterone testing prior to mating. If you did have progesterone testing but a tie wasn't achieved, try again now.

Day 3- Bleeding may start again, if it stopped. Keep your eye out for the next few weeks for smelly discharge. She may have acquired an infection and requires veterinary attention.

Day 10- Canine herpes Vaccine.
Make sure the vet has enough in stock to cover both vaccines, one today and one on day 53.

Day 15- Stop looking for signs
She may start to experience morning sickness but this is NOT a conclusive sign. Most dogs going through a phantom or false pregnancy also have this.

Day 28-32- The optimum time for scanning and palpation. Most accurate time for getting a head count.
Once you have confirmation of pregnancy you should change her onto a good quality puppy food. Do it over the period of a week to prevent the squits.She should be kept on this food until the puppies are about 12 weeks, or until she has put condition back on after the puppies leave for their home.

If your breed needs dew claw removal you should ring around for vets that do it. MANY VETS WON'T. Don't assume yours will.

Order all your whelping supplies and get the whelping box up to allow bitch to get used to it.

Day 35- You may start seeing signs of pregnancy, Nipples enlarging, sides thickening- but again often occur in phantoms too.
Order Panacur 10% solution from hyperdrug.co.uk or most Manor Pharmacies stock it also.
Panacur is the ONLY LICENSED WORMER FOR PREGNANT BITCHES. It works differently to other wormers. It is the ONLY wormer that prevent dormant larvae in the bitch transferring to puppies.

Continue with exercise but avoid hard exercise like agility.

Day 40- Begin worming with Panacur 10%. It should be done daily from day 40 to 2 days AFTER whelping

Day 53- Second Canine Herpes Vaccine

Day 56- You should be off work and with the bitch constantly now. You should also start taking temperature twice a day, 12 hours apart and keep a clear record.

Day 59- Temperature should be taken 4 times a day, 6 hours apart. The minute you notice a considerable drop in temperature (more than 0.5 C) the temp should be taken ever hour. Labour usually occurs within 24 hours.

Day 63/ Day 0- (assuming text book bitch) The puppies are born

Day 0-7 Weigh Daily and record clearly

Day 1- Vet to check puppies and mum to prevent retained placentas. Puppies checked for cleft palate etc

Day 2- Stop worming mum

Day 3- Dew claws should be removed if necessary.

Day 8-14- Weigh alternate Days

Day 14- Puppies should be wormed/ start worming course

Once eyes are open leave a small cup of water available for the puppies to explore and drink. Change frequently

This is when I register them with the Kennel Club

Day 18- Begin weaning if medium large or giant breed. Toys are slightly more complex and don't usually start for about another week.

Within 4 days of beginning weaning they ahould be on 5 or 6 meals a day, spread out evenly, but access to mums milk bar whenever.

Day 28- People can start to visit the puppies but be strict with cleaning and disinfecting the visitors

Move the whelping box and puppies to a higher traffic area of the house and begin to introduce them to noises like the washing machine, hoover etc.

Day 35- Worm again

Day 48- Permanent ID of puppies either microchip or tattoo

Last vet check to ensure puppies are healthy enough for rehoming.

Day 56- Worm again

Puppies can leave any day now

There are bits I'm bound to have missed out. Please add to it x

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

Good post hun

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Thanks add to it if you can think of anything

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

Excellent post tanya, this would have been brilliant when i bred my girl for the first time, im sure it will be very helpful to first time breeders.

It seems that there are many who don't realise the amount of preparation is needed after mating the bitch.... never mind before lol. A little bit of education goes a long way

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

good post, will be very useful to alot of people!

very interesting reading, thank you for posting it.

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bumping for kiara

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

Hope you don't mind me making this a sticky Tanya...Jill

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(Justice was not served for Lyle)(Value of a Human life by the Canadian Justice system 835 days)

No problem xxx

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL