Dog Breeding – Frequency

When is the best time to start breeding a female dog?  Studies have shown that for the sake of the mother’s health, and that of her puppies, breeding should not start until she is two years old.  Breeding can then be repeated in alternate years.  Just as in humans, your female dog needs a period of rest and recuperation after giving birth to protect her health and wellbeing.  Certain breeds have a tendency to develop hip dysplasia, and in order to be certified clear of this condition your dog needs to be at least two years old before breeding starts.  For peace of mind you can send the vet’s x-ray of your dog’s hips to the OFA for an evaluation.  If the OFA confirms there are no problems with the x-rays you can start the breeding program.  Your local vet’s report is not sufficient for the purposes of certification which can only be obtained through the OFA.  You may have already heard about vets producing ‘wonderful x-rays’ for dogs suffering from dysplasia which then compromise the health of female dogs and their pups.

Breeding frequency should be kept at a low level.  Even if you intend to produce the maximum number of pups possible you will need to allow for suitable resting periods between pregnancies.  By doing so you are allowing your female dog to fully regain her strength.  If you breed her too often the puppies may be born with defects, and they may even die shortly after birth.  As you can see, frequent pregnancy can be very damaging to a female dog’s health. 

You should obtain all the necessary certification before breeding any dogs.  Female dogs have to meet a lot of requirements, and will need certification before they can be bred.  Male dogs don’t have a specific ‘maturing time’ and can be bred at any time.  Nevertheless, the stud should be checked regularly to eliminate the possibility of any underlying health conditions or problems.  Frequency of breeding is less of an issue for the male dog, unless you intend to breed him every day.  Try to establish a suitable interval in order to prevent problems with sperm production.  If you intend to subject your stud to frequent breeding you will need to provide him with the highest quality food available.

Once the female becomes pregnant you will need to take extra care; and this includes extra vaccinations and medication.  You will need to make sure she receives all the necessary shots as well as dietary supplements.  Close veterinary attention is also needed at this time because of the risk of miscarriage.  During pregnancy the female can encounter problems with illnesses, diseases, and infestations.  You will need a vet you can call in the event of emergencies.

Look out for mummy puppies and water puppies.  The first, as the name suggests, has a mummified appearance.  This occurs when the pup is unable to develop properly, and once born it appears to be rotten.  The condition is caused by over-breeding and inadequate care.  A water puppy is undeveloped and is born with a gelatin-like appearance.  This condition has been linked to viral exposure.

Before you start any dog breeding program you will need to consider the issue of frequency.  The health of both parents needs to be taken into account to ensure the production of strong and healthy pups.