After breeding and before whelping, a time to sit back and wait?

After the breeding is complete, there's a waiting period before the excitement of a new litter arrives. The entire process spans four months: two months of pregnancy and two months of raising the puppies. Once the breeding occurs, ample preparation is necessary to ensure a smooth whelping and nurturing of the newborn pups.

I begin by revisiting the comprehensive veterinary textbook "Canine Reproduction and Neonatology" by Marhina L. Greer. This invaluable resource covers everything you need to know. However, I also review several other books to supplement my knowledge, including (note that some of these are veterinary textbooks and are priced accordingly):

• Canine Reproduction and Neonatology by Marthina L. Greer

• Breeding a Litter: The Complete Book of Prenatal and Postnatal Care by Beth J. Finder Harris

• The Complete Book of Dog Breeding by Dan Rice

• Puppy Intensive Care A Breeder's Guide to Care of Newborn Puppies – Myar Savant-Harris

• Veterinary Reproduction & Obstetrics by David E. Noakes

• BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Reproduction and Neonatology by Gary England and Angelika von Heimendahl

Another excellent educational resource is www.revivalanimal.com, where you can find free webinars on YouTube by Dr. Marty Greer of Revival Animal. 

If I'm confident that the breeding will result in a pregnancy (based on the dam and sire's previous litter experiences), I start marketing the upcoming litter immediately after the mating. While the pregnancy is not assured, and the puppy count and genders are unknown, the reputation of Spiegel Bird Dogs and the quality of the dam and sire pairing typically generate excited buyers before the puppies arrive.

The first sign of pregnancy can be morning sickness between the 3rd and 5th weeks, where the dam may refuse breakfast or even vomit. Thankfully, I've never encountered a case severe enough to require veterinary support. After the 5th week, the dam's appetite will increase.

As the pregnancy progresses, the dam's abdomen will visibly enlarge, and weight gain will occur. Around the 45th day, you can feel the puppies moving inside her. This is a truly captivating moment for me. There's something inexplicably special about feeling those tiny lives pushing and wiggling within their mother.

Between days 55 and 61, puppy count x-rays are taken to determine fetal maturation, size, position, and numbers. If the ovulation date is known from progesterone testing, the precise day for the x-ray is easy to determine. Without knowing the ovulation date, it's a bit of guesswork.

Preparing for the whelping date involves ensuring you have all the necessary supplies on hand. Some of the items on my list include:

Breeder’s Edge Oxy Mate prenatal supplement	I start the prenatal supplement on the first day of the bitch’s heat. Care must be taken with supplements, and I trust Breeder's Edge.
Magnabox Whelping box	A professional whelping box with rails that is impervious to liquids and easily sanitized.
Drymate Whelping Box Liner Mat
Kane Heating Pad	Digitally temperature-controlled heating pad  (within +/- 1 degree F) that is impervious to liquids easily sanitized.
G-floor for pets	Protective floor covering with grip for puppy paws.
Govee Wi-Fi Thermomemter	Wi-Fi thermometer for the whelping box
Govee Bluetooth Thermometer Wireless	Bluetooth wireless thermometer for warming box.
IP camera for puppy cam
Redmon Dog scale
Puppy scale
Warming box with a heating pad and puppy bed
EverFlo Oxygen concentrator
FXW Playpen
MDF Stethoscope
Hemostats
25 gauge needle for acupuncture	GV26 acupuncture to stimulate breathing if needed.
Breeder’s Edge Oral Cal Plus	Calcium supplement for whelping.
Vanilla ice cream	For the dam while waiting to whelp the next puppy, and for the breeder during the waiting periods.
Argyle DeLee Mucus Trap
Wax-free dental floss
GERMA Decolorized Iodine Tincture 2%	For umbilical cords
Infrared thermometer
Exam gloves
Hand towels
Chlorhexidine	Disinfectant before three weeks old
KennelSol	Disinfectant after three weeks old
Diposalbe absorbant pads
Puppy feeding bowl
Oxy Momma supplements – postnatal
PetAg Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer	There is no time to wait and buy it if you need it.
Feeding bottle
Feeding tube with 8 fr  for neonates
Cotton balls
Baby shampoo

At Spiegel Bird Dogs, we believe in extensive preparation, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of the dogs and puppies we care for. With thorough preparation and careful attention to detail, the waiting period after breeding can be a time of anticipation and readiness for the arrival of a new litter of healthy, vibrant puppies.