Next Litter Spring, 2025

PREPARING FOR BREEDING
Before any breeding is set up, before the  mother-to-be is even in heat, a lot of research goes into finding just  the right match. To be selected to breed one of our females, studs are  analyzed for temperament, conformation, clear hips-elbows-eyes-heart and  absence of any genetic conditions that can be tested. An international  database of Golden Retrievers is used to calculate the degree to which  the two dogs may be related. All these factors add up to ensuring we  produce the best quality dogs with the best chance of long and happy  lives. 

BREEDING
Once the stud is selected and an agreement is  made, we wait for the next heat cycle.  At that time, the “straws” of  collected semen are sent to a vet who specializes in dog breeding.  The  female has two straws surgically placed in her uterus.  In a week, the  vet checks hormone levels to determine if the breeding has been  successful.

PREGNANCY
During the next 60 days, our  mother-to-be (MTB) is given special vitamins to help her system cope  with the new lives growing inside her. She continues all normal  activities, but as time goes on playing is reduced to less stressful  activities. Not much changes for the MTB except for extra belly rubs and  massages as she gets near to her due date.  A fit and active dog has an  easier time giving birth and we feel a happy dog is essential for  successful outcomes.

Around day 55, an X-ray is taken to  determine how many pups there are. This is a fairly accurate  determination, but there are sometimes pups that “hide” behind others,  so it is not an exact number. Knowing the number of pups to expect +/-  1) is essential to a smooth birthing process.

PREPARING FOR BIRTH
The week before the puppies are due is busy with set up:
Towels (LOTS of towels) are washed and stacked so they can be easily grabbed during birthing
Calcium supplements, Nuti-Cal and a variety of emergency medications are obtained
The oxygen machine and incubator are set up and tested
The whelping box is set up, including a heating pad, heat lamps and a thermometer to measure air temp
Many  waterproof liners, fleece carpeting and absorbent pads are readied for  use.  More baby wipes than you would believe are stocked up
Goats’ milk, calcium supplements and ice cream are obtained for the birthing process and beyond
Scissors and hemostats are sterilized and set up next to the whelping box

And then we wait…..
At  day 60, the MTB is never left unattended.  She has her temperature  taken twice daily and is given lots of belly massgaes, as she is big now  and can be a bit uncomfortable (just like a human mom).  When her  temperature starts to drop, we know its almost time and all preparations  are double checked for readiness.  Cots for the humans are set up near  the box and we prepare for several days of little to no sleep as we  anxiously await the signal that “IT’S TIME!”.

BIRTHING
When  the MTB’s temperature drops below 100 degrees, monitoring is moved up to  every 4 hours.  The next drop in temperature alerts us that labor is  beginning.  This is the hardest part for the impatient humans who are  now watching MTB’s every move, especially if it’s her first litter.   Just like humans, labor varies greatly from dog to dog. Some can be in  the initial stages for a few days. Others go from nothing to the first  pup being born in just hours. Typically, the day after the temperature  drop is when contractions begin. 

Like the initial signs of  labor, contractions can last for just a few minutes to several hours. If  strong and consistent contractions occur for more than 3 hours, it’s  time to go to the vet and get some help. This is rarely necessary, as  the MTB is given calcium to assist in the birthing process and keep her  strength up and combat the loss of calcium in her system as milk is  being produced.

When the first puppy is delivered, things get pretty hectic.  The process for each pup is:
One  person takes the  pup from mom, breaks the sack (each pup has its own  sack and placenta) if it has not opened during birth, and starts rubbing  the pup with its head pointing down. This dries the pup off and  stimulates it to cry. This helps clear any liquid from the lungs and  gets the pup breathing strong.  Sometimes pups do not breath right away  on their own and this gets them to start breathing
At the same time, the other person puts a clamp on the umbilical cord and cuts it so the placenta can be removed.
Suction is used in the nose and mouth to get any remaining fluid out of the airways
Oxygen is given and you can visibly watch the pup turn from greyish to pink
After  a few minutes of nursing and being licked by the new mom, the pup has  the umbilical clamp removed, gets weighed, gets a colored collar and is  moved to the 90 degree incubator with oxygen pumped in
Births are  normally around 30 minutes apart, which gives time to clean up any  fluids, give mom calcium, and a small drink and prepare for the next  arrival.  It’s not really much time and the whole process can become  somewhat of a blur, which is why it’s important to note the time of each  birth and weight of each pup as they are delivered. If anything goes  wrong, this data becomes critical in determining how to proceed

FINISHING THE BIRTHING PROCESS
When  the expected number of puppies have been born, the mom is watched  carefully to see if there is another one that may have been missed on  the initial count; to be sure the mom is not in any distress; to allow   her to pass any placentas that did not come out with the puppy and to  allow her a short time to rest. 

Once the birthing process is  complete, all the puppies are given to the mom to nurse and care for. At  this point, the oxygen and incubator should no longer be needed.

As humans, our job is to keep mom and pups safe, which requires 24/7 supervision.  
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