The Breeding Process Explained
The waiting room
Healthy mama and pups
From selection through going home...
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.