All About Dogs by LowchensAustralia.com

BEFORE
YOU BREED

GENETICS &
REPRODUCTION

THE SIRE & DAM -
PREPARATION

PREPARING THE
WHELPING AREA

THE BIG EVENT!
WHELPING TIME

NEWBORNS
- PROBLEMS & CARE

THE PUPPIES &
THEIR CARE

BUILDING A
WHELPING BOX

COMPUTER
SOFTWARE

BEFORE YOU BREED!

• BREEDING HORROR STORIES
  This is a MUST READ! Read these stories, and think twice before breeding!

• RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS

• FINDING THE RIGHT PUPPY OR DOG
  Well worth the visit to the above three links from Debra Downs.

• FIRST TIME BREEDERS
  A well written article by Ralph Carson.
• SO WHAT IS A GOOD BREEDER ANYWAY?
  Contrary to what you might have heard, there are good and bad breeders!
• 10 RULES OF ETHICAL BREEDING
  Details that need to be addressed - serious ethical issues.
• KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE BREEDING YOUR DOG
  Important reading!
• GETTING STARTED AS A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
  From the A.K.C. site.
• THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BREEDING YOUR DOG!
  All the questions to ask yourself!
• THE COST OF WHELPING A LITTER
  Why responsible breeders cost more!
• SO YOU WANT TO BREED DOGS?
  True experiences from fellow breeders.
• BREEDING COSTS
  The real truth, by Jane Johnson.
• SEVEN FOUNDATIONS OF A SUCCESSFUL DOG BREEDER
  Reflections of the temptations we face on a daily basis as a breeder.
• VIRTUAL BREEDING PARTS 1 & 2
  By Jane M Johnson of Australia. Simply excellent!
• DOG BREEDING BOOKS
  Every book you need is here.
• BREEDING & REARING A LITTER OF PUPPIES
  Breeding from a bitch is not a task to be undertaken lightly!
• BREEDING & WHELPING A LITTER OF PUPPIES
  Read everything before you do.
• CORRELATION OF SERUM PROGESTERONE LEVELS
  With reproductive events and actions.
• A CHECK LIST FOR BREEDING YOUR DOG
  What to look for before you breed.
• ESTRUS CHART
  Showing peak fertility times
• WHELPING CHEAT SHEET
  Listing vital signs, emergency drugs, supplies etc.
• CANINE OVULATION TIMING
  A "must read" for the serious breeder
• WHAT IS A BREED?
  Read before you breed!
• BREEDING
  What that means to me as a hobby breeder - by Laurel Tofflemire
• THE REALITY OF BREEDING DOGS
  More by Jane Johnson. Excellent reading!
• DEVELOPING A HEALTHY BREEDING PATTERN
  Excellent! By Jerold S. Bell, DVM
• PEDIGREE DOES NOT MEAN WARRANTY!
  A fabulous article by Gary Wilkes.
• BREEDING FOR PROPER SIZE
  Important reading for any breed!
• BREEDING MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS
  Protocols for management of the dog, the bitch, pregnancy and lactation, and newborns
• PLANNED BREEDING
  A compilation of the articles Lloyd C. Brackett wrote for Dog World Magazine and which won for him the Dog Writers’ Association Award as the best non-professional work in the dog press for 1960.
• PUREBRED DOG BREEDS INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
  Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs by Jeffrey Bragg
• THE BIG RESPONSIBILITY OF BREEDING
  With 5 million unwanted animals being euthanized in shelters every year, you should have a darn good reason for bringing more into the world.
• BREEDING, WHELPING & REARING PUPPIES FAQ'S
  You can even submit your own questions here.
• BREEDING YOUR DOG FAQ'S
  The most frequently asked questions with answers!
• MAKING A DIFFERENCE: BEING A RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDER
  Ethics play such a big part in dog breeding! Breeding & placement issues
• HOW TO BECOME A TOP BREEDER
  “The strength of the sire is the power of the dam.” I could use up 50,000 fancy words telling you how to become a top breeder but the whole truth is in that one simple sentence.
It is commonly believed that neutering a dog before puberty will lead to less than optimal development...
• OF PEAS AND PUPS
  To assume any breed has reached the peak of its development is as short-sighted as for a breeder to assume that among his dogs there is no room for improvement.... This is a MUST READ!
• EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO BE A DOG BREEDER
  In our society, breeding dogs is not a right. It is a privilege that far too many people take for granted.
• BREEDING BETTER DOGS
  Some of the best articles available
• INTERRELATED CHALLENGES 
  Interesting article by Dr. Gareth Morgan-Jones
• COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DOG BREEDING
  An excellent articles written by by Carolyn Hensley
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
  A Surgical Approach To Breeding
• FIRST TIME BREEDERS
  A "common sense article by Ralph Carson
• RESPONSIBLE BREEDING STEPS
  Excellent article for all breeders (from the AKC site)
• DETERMINING OVULATION PERIOD
  When the chosen stud is not always available in the breeding facility, and since it is customary that the bitch be brought to the male for mating, it is important to choose just the right moment, in order to maximize the chance of fertilization and thereby avoid unnecessary travel and expense.
• BREEDING BY PHENOTYPE
  Many breeders plan matings solely on the appearance (phenotype) of a dog and not on its pedigree or the relatedness of the prospective parents.
• BREEDING IS NOT FOR "FUN AND PROFIT"
  You've got a great female pedigree dog with papers, and you figure you can make some extra cash if she has puppies.  Yeah! Right!
• ARE BREEDERS AND JUDGES FROM DIFFERENT PLANETS? 
  Just as an art critic evaluates a canvas, a judge must assess a dog's success or failure in upholding artistic standards.
• A THUMBPRINT OF INFLUENCE 
  Great breeders never compromise the essentials of the standard. They strive to contribute no more than the merest thumbprints of influence.
• THE ROLE OF THE JUDGE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS 
  To become a more aware and proficient breeder, seek out the opinions of the judges you respect and take them to heart.
• TRUE TO FORM 
  To keep our dogs whole, breeders must build on the underlying sense of purpose in the standard - and put it to the test both in the ring and in the field - by Pluis Davern
• PUTTING UP A GOOD FRONT 
  Excellent article about good fronts, and the importance of - by Patricia V. Trotter 
• THE MATERNAL GRANDSIRE 
  Genetics work in horses and mice has produced revolutionary and exciting new insights that may influence your canine breeding decisions - by Cindy Vogels 
• THE BASIC TOOLKIT FOR RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS 
  June 2001 Interview with Malcolm B. Willis, BSc, PhD 
• AFTER SALES SERVICE
  A Reality In Dog Breeding
  
  

GENETICS & REPRODUCTION

• STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE FEMALE CANINE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
  The female canine reproductive tract consists of the female genital organs including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, vulva, and mammary glands.
• STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE MALE CANINE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
  The male canine reproductive tract consists of the male genital organs including the scrotum, the two testes, the epididymides, the deferent ducts, the spermatic cords, the prostate, the penis and the urethra. 
• STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE MAMMARY SYSTEM
  The mammary system is comprised of the mammary glands or breasts and is present in all mammals. In males, mammary glands exist in a rudimentary state.
• GENETICS OF COAT COLOR IN DOGS
  A review of the genes controlling dog coat colors and patterns
• CANINE COLOUR GENETICS
  A terrific selection of links to sites relating to colour genetics of almost every breed!
• COAT COLOR PREDICTOR SOFTWARE (FREE!)
  Free Windows software that can model the genetics of some 70+ congenital defects where the mode of inheritance is known, such as PRA (both forms), CEA and many others compute the expressed color/pattern that will result from a given genotype predict the color/patterns that will result from a mating between given genotypes, along with carried color/patterns and the probable percentages of each includes separate genetic configurations for some 50+ of the more popular breeds...
• COAT COLORS - BLACK VERSUS RED
  Interesting reading!
• COAT COLORS - DILUTION, SILVER & WHITE
  This article is very well explained and well worth the read.
• COAT COLOR & PATTERNS
  Brindle, Black Mask, Merle, Spotted, Ticked and Agouti Patterns explained.
• COAT COLOR GENES
  Scientific, from the International Federation of Pigment Cells Society
• COAT COLOR GENETICS (Murine)
  Summaries of cloned coat color genes, and non-clones coat color genes....
• CANINE COLOR GENETICS LINKS
  Extensive list of links which may be of interest to the coat color hobbyist.
• CANINE COAT AND NOSE COLOR TESTING
  Introducing a New Innovative DNA Test from HealthGene 
• TESTING FOR CANINE GENETIC DISORDER MADE EASY
  How is genetic information passed from one generation to another? Where is this genetic information stored? Why do different breeds have different mutations for the same disease?
• AFGHAN HOUND COAT COLORS AND DNA TESTS
  A brief explanation of how currently available DNA tests can help predict some coat colors
• INBREEDING & LINE BREEDING
  The layman's introduction to Breeding Coefficient "with charts".
• INBREEDING & OTHER BREEDING METHODS
  Easy to understand article.
• INBREEDING DEPRESSION AND OUTBREEDING DEPRESSION
  By Michael Lynch, Department of Biology, University of Oregon
• IT'S ALL IN THE GENES
  Dogs can inherit more than pretty looks from their Moms and Dads!
• GENETICS...AN INTRODUCTION
  Our eyes tell us what a dog appears to be. His pedigree tells us what he ought to be. But the offspring tell us what he is! ..by Nan Weitzman.
• THE GENETIC CUL-DE-SAC
  Dogs as an endangered species.
• FINDING THE GENES THAT DETERMINE CANINE BEHAVIOR
  How scientists working on the Dog Genome Initiative are going about trying to identify genes that determine behavior or inherited diseases in dogs.
• GENETICS OF DEAFNESS IN DOGS
  By Dr. George M. Strain.
• ELIMINATING GENETIC DISEASES IN DOGS
  A Buyers Perspective ...  by Gary F. Mason.
• ACHIEVING GENETIC HEALTH FOR OUR DOGS
  Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century by Jeffrey Bragg.
• CANINE COLOUR GENETICS
  Very important reading for those interested in colors and the why's and wherefores!
• ANIMAL GENETICS
  How genes work, dominant, incompletely dominant and recessive genes, breeding probabilities, Punnett squares, etc.
• GENETIC TESTING: A GUIDE FOR BREEDERS
  Fantastic article, by Mary Whiteley, Ph.D.
• THE INS AND OUTS OF PEDIGREE ANALYSIS
  Including Genetic Diversity & Genetic Disease Control by Dr J Bell, DVM.
• THE NATURE OF GENETIC DISEASES
  By Dr John Armstrong, on the Working Dogs Web.
• INBREEDING CO-EFFICIENTS
  Demystifying Inbreeding Coefficients - by John Armstrong
• THE GENETIC PEDIGREE
  A powerful tool against canine genetic disease - by George G. Packard
• AGAINST GENETIC DISEASE
  How to select against genetic disease with knowledge, not hope - by George Packard
• GENETICS OF COAT COLOR IN DOGS
  A brief review of the genes controlling dog coat colors and patterns.
• GENETICS OF COAT COLOR IN THE DOG
  An excellent update!
• ANIMAL GENETICS
  By Sue Ann Bowling = a most informative site!
• VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS CENTER - DNA SERVICES FOR ANIMALS
  Identify carriers to enhance breed improvement programs and identify parents' color genotype and predict the color of their offspring.
• HERITABILITY
  Perhaps no term is more misunderstood by dog fanciers when talking about inherited characteristics and environmental effects than the concept of heritability - by Fred Lanting
• THE NATURE OF GENETIC DISEASE
  Inborn Errors of Metabolism: The true "genetic diseases" - by John Armstrong
• BASIC GENETIC CONCEPTS
  Just how much of a role does genetics play in health, general conformation and temperament?
• BREEDING SCHEMES
  Breeders often talk about inbreeding and outcrossing as though they were the only possibilities -- and generally with negative comments about the latter.
• CANINE GENETIC PRIMER
  The purpose of this article is to provide a mini-course in genetics
• GENETICS CAN BE FUN
  A series of seven articles by By Dr. Bruce M Cattanach
• A GLOSSARY OF GENETIC TERMS
  Complete and easy to understand.
• THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLETE PEDIGREES
  By Leos Kral
• BREEDING - DOGS OR PEDIGREES
  It is estimated that the average dog carries 4 to 7 defective genes in it's DNA......
• D.N.A. TESTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
  (USA) - includes approximate costs etc.
• CONTROLLING GENETIC DISEASES
  An Online article by © Karen Thayne
• CANINE REPRODUCTION SEMINAR
  Timing the fertile period of the bitch, selecting a healthy stud dog, and fresh chilled semen breedings....
• HERITABILITY
  Heritability is a statistic used to evaluate animals and to predict response to selective breeding....
• BUILDING YOUR PEDIGREE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN PUREBRED STOCK
  By Melissa E. Parsley, Parsley Glen
• SOME THOUGHTS ON THE HISTORY OF ANIMAL BREEDING
  A very thought provoking article by Dr. Hellmuth Wachtel
• THE UNDERLYING GENETICS OF TRAITS
  In genetics, a trait is the visible or measurable expression of one or more genes.
• HOW TRAITS ARE PASSED ON
  Very descriptive!
• IS APPEARANCE CONTROLLED BY THE GENES?
  Explanation of Dominant and Recessive Traits
• INBREEDING & OTHER BREEDING METHODS
  Easy to understand article.
• THE INS AND OUTS OF PEDIGREE ANALYSIS
  Including Genetic Diversity & Genetic Disease Control by Dr J Bell, DVM.
• INBREEDING CO-EFFICIENTS
  Demystifying Inbreeding Coefficients - by John Armstrong
• THE DOWNSIDE OF INBREEDING: IT’S TIME FOR A NEW APPROACH
  Inbreeding was once a valuable tool in shaping today’s breeds. As these have now reached a high degree of homogeneity, it has lost its importance and turned into a fatal and disastrous habit....
• BREEDING SCHEMES
  Breeders often talk about inbreeding and outcrossing as though they were the only possibilities -- and generally with negative comments about the latter.
• THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLETE PEDIGREES
  Wonderful article by Leos Kral
• BREEDING - DOGS OR PEDIGREES
  It is estimated that the average dog carries 4 to 7 defective genes in it's DNA......
• COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY THE BREEDER
  Very well written and informative.
• HOW TO WIN AT GENETIC JEOPARDY!
  Are you stumped by the genetic terms used by your breeding club or veterinarian? Here’s a cheat sheet to help you learn the lingo.
• CONTROL OF GENETIC DISEASE
  By Dr. George A. Padgett, DVM.
• BREAKING THE CANINE GENETIC CODE
  Scientists work to build a genetic map
• PRIORITIZING GENETIC DEFECTS
  Excellent article by George A. Padgett, DVM
• SELECT AGAINST GENETIC DISEASE WITH KNOWLEDGE, NOT HOPE
  If you are breeding dogs, and you aren't worried about genetic disease, you'd better hold off on that next mating until you've done your homework.
• DNA SMOKESCREEN
  Controversial? Yes. But undeniable common sense for top Breeders.
• GENE SCIENCE YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
  Larry Morningstar documents an incredible calendar of calamities 
• A BRAVE NEW WORLD
  One of the best and most understandable genetics articles.
• PERSPECTIVES
  A mini-course in applied genetics and our approach to health concerns.
• PAINTING THE GENE BANK
  A realistic look at genetic testing. If you're a newbie, take valium before reading
• GUIDE TO CONGENITAL AND HERITABLE DISORDERS IN DOGS
  Includes Genetic Predisposition to Diseases
• THE NATURE OF GENETIC DISEASE
  Inborn errors of metabolism: the true genetic "diseases"
• ARE WE HELPING OR HURTING PUREBREDS?
  How many times have we, as purebred dog fanciers, heard someone say “ mutts are smarter”, or “mutts are healthier”? We scoff and disregard such comments, but there may be a kernel of truth to them.
• BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GENETICS:
  An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics
• ELIMINATING GENETIC DISEASES IN DOGS: A BUYER'S PERSPECTIVE
  We have learned the hard way that "having papers" means very little, if anything, about the genetic health of a purebred dog.
• CONTROLLING GENETIC DISEASES
  When a genetic disease appears in our dog breeds we consider why it happened, what can be done to control its spread and how to keep future generations free from affectation. In order to understand what is happening when a genetic "epidemic" appears we need to acquire a little knowledge about the basics of population genetics.
• GENETIC PROBLEMS EASILY CORRECTED
  Words of Wisdom for all breeders. Otherwise, we're kidding ourselves - by Deborah J. Hays
• CANINE REPRODUCTIVE DISEASES ARE RARE
  For today's serious breeder of purebred dogs, there is an amazing variety of reproductive diseases and problems that can occur
• SCIENCE VS GOOD SENSE IN DOG BREEDING
  The basic task for Natural Science is to study nature, understand and explain it, and that way draw conclusions on how to influence and control it.
• BAD GENES, BABIES AND BATH WATER
  Everyone has heard the phrase, "Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water." But do dog breeders ever stop to consider how this admonition applies to them?
• PLAYING COI: USING INBREEDING COEFFICIENTS
  Breeding dogs is a numbers game. Even though math problems are the last thing on your mind, what you are doing when you breed is calculating the best odds for getting a desired result.
• ANIMAL GENETICS: BASIC GENETICS
  The basis for order in life lies in a very large molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, mercifully abbreviated to DNA. A related molecule, ribonucleic acid (RNA) provides the genetic material for some microbes, and also helps read the DNA to make proteins.
• POPULATION GENETICS: RANDOM BREEDING
  Ordinary genetics looks at how one selects breeding stock to produce the best possible offspring. Population genetics looks at the statistical distribution of genes in a particular breeding population, such as a breed of dog, and how different kinds of selection can affect that gene distribution.
• INBREEDING AND LINEBREEDING
  What are inbreeding and line-breeding, and what effect do they have?
• BREEDING SYSTEMS
  In-Breeding, Line-Breeding, Out-Breeding, Out-Crossing explained
• THE GENETIC GAMBLE
  When a breeder learns a top brood bitch is a carrier of a genetic disease, it can be devastating to a breeding program.
• THE BREEDERS CODE OF SILENCE
  A "must read" article by Sierra Milton
• POPULATION GENETICS
  Knowledge of population genetics and how it applies to purebreds, is a key to understanding the limitations of dog breeding. Population genetics is simply the study of how genes work within a population.
• A NEW AGE: VETERINARY MOLECULAR GENETICS
  With the recent availability of molecular markers for the canine genome, and the ongoing work to develop a comprehensive canine genetic map, we are at the beginnings of a revolution in canine health care.
• DETERMINING CANINE PREGNANCY FAILURE
  Determining the cause of pregnancy loss ... diagnostic procedures in aborting bitch.
• CANINE ABORTION
  Abortion is uncommon in the bitch, but when it does occur, owners should be aware of the treatment options and the prognosis for future fertility.
• CURRENT TECHNIQUES IN BREEDING MANAGEMENT
  Similar to the classic real estate axiom, when it comes to breeding, the three most important points are "Timing, Timing, Timing".
• DETERMINING CANINE PREGNANCY FAILURE
  Determining the cause of pregnancy loss ... diagnostic procedures in aborting bitch.
• CURRENT TECHNIQUES IN BREEDING MANAGEMENT
  Similar to the classic real estate axiom, when it comes to breeding, the three most important points are "Timing, Timing, Timing".
• GUIDE TO CONGENITAL AND HERITABLE DISORDERS IN DOGS
  An invaluable tool for all breeders.
• PEDIGREES
  More to it than meets the eye
• GENETIC DISEASE
  How to select against genetic disease with knowledge, not hope 
• DEMYSTIFYING INBREEDING COEFFICIENTS
  While most breeders recognize that a mating between half-sibs or cousins represents inbreeding, the majority probably have no idea which represents the closer inbreeding.
• PLACENTATION IN DOGS AND CATS
  Implantation, Gross Structure of the Placenta, Microscopic Structure of the Placenta, Placental Endocrinology etc. Excellent!
• PHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PARAMETERS OF PREGNANCY IN DOGS
  Reproductive endocrinology, contraception and pregnancy termination in dogs.
  

THE SIRE & DAM - PREPARATION

• CONTROLLING ODORS WHEN YOUR BITCH IS IN SEASON
  A product that is helpful when your girls are in season, Chlorophyll
• THE CANINE ESTRUS CYCLE
  Staging Using Vaginal Cytological Examination 
• STRESS, INFERTILITY & HERPES INFECTION
  By Mary C. Wakeman. Explanations of causes.
• BREEDING CULTURE PROGRAMS & INFECTIONS
  Article written by Myra Ehrman, RN, BA, BS MScN and well
  worth the read!
• BREEDING YOUR FEMALE
  Excellent education from the Bull Mastiff site.
• INFERTILITY IN BITCHES
  Well written by a breeder of 25 years, Vivian Phillips.
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
  A surgical approach to breeding.
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (AI) - OUTLINE AND DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED
  Written by Jim Hickie, Gengala Afghans (Australia), providing an expert and authoritative commentary and discussion on several key aspects of AI , including moral and ethical issues.
• USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL PROGESTERONE IN MANAGEMENT OF CANINE PREGNANCY
  Hypoluteoidism is a hypothesized cause of pregnancy loss in bitches. Diagnosis requires demonstration of an abnormally low serum progesterone concentration and ultrasound verification of presence of viable fetuses. Treatment is with injectable progesterone in oil or a synthetic oral progestogen; treatment must be withdrawn about 60 days post-ovulation to allow spontaneous parturition of normal puppies.
• REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY & ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
  A general resource for breeders, veterinarians and veterinary students
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH FRESH SEMEN
  This technique is used when sexual intercourse is impossible due to:....
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH CHILLED SEMEN
  This procedure is used primarily to overcome the obstacle of distance between partners, by saving the bitch's owner any travel and kennel costs that would be incurred to take the bitch to the stud dog.
• ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH FROZEN SEMEN
  The semen is obtained as above. The quality and number of spermatozoa are carefully measured to ensure that the sperm to be frozen contains more than 150 million motile spermatozoa and less than thirty percent abnormal spermatozoa. 
• CLINICAL USE OF ANTI-PROGESTINS IN THE BITCH
  In the bitch, progesterone plays a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. At the onset of estrus, serum progesterone rises. Progesterone permits the maturation of uterine cells so as to prepare them for implantation...
• WHY, OR WHY NOT A.I.
  No details left uncovered.
• THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
  A terrific part of an article written by Marilyn Koyanagi.
• ROUTINE PREVENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE INTACT BITCH
  Informative literature from the Show Dog Super Site.
• PREGNANCY DETERMINATION IN THE BITCH
  Detailed information on different methods of pregnancy determination. A table of pregnancy events covers estrus through whelping.
• PREGNANCY DETERMINATION IN THE BITCH
  Females of most domestic species are sexually receptive (in heat or estrus) every 17 to 21 days. Failure to return to estrus after a successful breeding is often the earliest indication of pregnancy in these animals.
• CANINE PREGNANCY BLOOD TEST
  How many times have you been told that there is no blood test for pregnancy in dogs? Humans have one, along with urine tests, etc., so why not dogs?
• CANINE PREGNANCY FAILURE 
  Determining the cause of pregnancy loss in the dog can be frustrating. Despite a thorough investigation, identifying a specific cause of abortion is not always possible.
• CANINE LOST PREGNANCY: DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION
  Establishing and maintaining pregnancy is dependent on many biological interactions between the embryo or foetus and the pregnant female.
• ACCURACY OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY
  For predicting whelping date for canine pregnancy - a retrospective study.
• PREGNANCY TERMINATION IN DOGS AND CATS
  Accidents happen, and a large number of pets become pregnant despite their owner's wishes. 
• PREGNANCY TERMINATION IN DOGS
  Responsible behavior on the part of an animals owner is the best way to prevent pregnancy. 
• STUD DOG MANAGEMENT
  By Cathy Ochs-Cline. A wonderful article.
• PLANNING FOR HEALTHY PUPPIES
  By Theresa A. Fuess, Ph.D. Information Specialist University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
• CANINE ABORTION
  A must read! Excellent explanations and advise here.
• CRYPTORCHIDISM IN THE CANINE
  An easy-to-read complete article.
• CRYPTORCHIDISM
  The condition in which either one or both testicles fails to descend fully.
• MONORCHIDISM
  A genetic fault.
• SELECTING SIRES
  Much thought this brings to mind - by Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia.
• THE GENETIC CUL-DE-SAC
  Dogs as an endangered species.
• NUTRITION FOR BITCHES IN WHELP
  Building a good foundation..naturally!  By Kymythy Schultze.
• FALSE PREGNANCY
  Mixed signals: When your dog acts pregnant - but isn't!
• FALSE PREGNANCIES
  Recommended treatment & examples.
• FALSE PREGNANCY IN DOGS
  Some female dogs (bitches) fail to go out of their heat cycles correctly. This causes a condition we call "false pregnancy"....
• REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY & ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION 
  Excellent comprehensive article by Rob Lofstedt. Professor of Theriogenology. Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island. P.E.I. Canada 
• TIMING THE INSEMINATION
  Timing the breeding of a bitch is a the most important part of performing an AI mating. 
• SOUTHERN CLONE CANINE SEMEN & REPRODUCTION
  A N.Z. Company renowned for their semen freezing.
• METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND THEIR USAGE
  by Robert Van Hutchinson, DVM
• PRE-BREEDING TESTING
  Relating to Bearded Collies, but common sense for all breeds.
• PRE-BREEDING EXAMINATION FOR THE STUD DOG
  Great article from the Show Dogs Super Site.
• PRE-BREEDING EXAMINATION FOR THE BITCH
  Another from the Show Dogs Super Site.
• CHOOSING BREEDING STOCK
  "Breed the Best to the Best, and Hope for the Best"!
• BRUCELLOSIS
  Have dogs tested for Canine Brucellosis before breeding!
• FUNGAL INFECTION
  NEW DNA tests for Blastomycosis and Aspergilosis
• CANINE HERPES VIRUS INFECTION
  Canine herpes virus is generally referred to as CHV, and is a leading cause of puppy deaths, especially in puppies one to three weeks of age.
• HERPESVIRUS INFECTION AS A TRIGGER OF ANIMAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
  Canine herpesvirus (CHV) infection can be devastating to the breeding kennel, resulting in decreased fertility, small litter sizes, and puppy death.
• CANINE HERPES
  Diagnosis, Treatment and Vaccination
• INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF REPRODUCTIVE FAILURE
  The cause of reproductive failure in the dog or bitch may be classified as infectious, hormonal, anatomic or physiological. This article deals with infectious causes.
• SPECIAL ARTICLES BY Steven S.  Metcalfe BSc BVMS (Hons) MSc MACVSc
  Excellent articles by our own Veterinarian.
• HEALTHY BREEDING WITH HERBS & HOMEOPATHY
  One of the best!
• ABNORMAL FOETAL DEVELOPMENT
  These articles will help you better understand some of the developmental and more common reproductive diseases in puppies.
• DEVELOPING HIGH ACHIEVERS
  I thoroughly enjoyed this article and will be trying it with my very next litter!
• CANINE EPILEPSY & BREEDING
  Very comprehensive article.
• POPULAR SIRES & POPULATION GENETICS
  A thorough explanation of the price of Popularity.
• TESTOSTERONE DEVELOPMENT IN MALE DOGS
  A ten month old puppy has blood levels of Testosterone almost five times higher than an adult dog
• THE WHELPING BOX
  Information for the serious first time breeder.
• THE BITCH - A WOLF IN DOG'S CLOTHING!
  The real reason domestic dogs get pyometra, how the hormones work, and what it means to the breeder.
• 2+2+2 = 10
  Proper timing of ovulation is necessary in managing a successful breeding program.
• DRUGS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY OR NURSING
  One should avoid using all medications in pregnant and lactating (nursing) dogs. Check this list out to ensure you are not causing a problem!
• FEEDING DOGS DURING GESTATION AND LACTATION
  Excellent article from the Victorian Canine Association.
• NORMAL VALUES & CHARACTERISTICS
  Information on the reproduction and normal physiologic values of dogs.
• FAQ'S ON REPRODUCTION (HEAT & PREGNANCIES)
  Helpful reading. By Holly Frisby, DVM, MS
• THE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE DOG
  A Crash Course for Novice Breeders & Puppy Owners
• THE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY OF THE MALE DOG
  Much of the male dog's reproductive anatomy is visible on the outside, whereas the female's are hidden
• REPRODUCTION & FETAL DEVELOPMENT
  A selection of articles, written with knowledge.
• REPRODUCTION AND THE MALE DOG
  Part of a series of articles by Pamela A. Davol
• DISORDERS AFFECTING FERTILITY IN THE MALE DOG
  Part of a series of articles by Pamela A. Davol
• SELECTING A BITCH LINE
  By Robert Dore, in K9GENES.
• FEEDING THE GESTATING & LACTATING DOG
  A load of information by Gail Kuhlman, Ph.D., P.A.S
• CANINE PSEUDOPREGNANCY
  A fantastic review that's well worth reading!
• VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS CENTER - DNA SERVICES FOR ANIMALS
  Identify carriers to enhance breed improvement programs and identify parents' color genotype and predict the color of their offspring.
• CANINE INFERTILITY -- A SILENT THREAT (MYCOPLASMA INFECTION)
  Controversial and little known organisms can cause reproductive problems in dogs and bitches.
• MYCOPLASMA AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS
  It is important to realize that infections are just a few of the causes of infertility.
• VAGINITIS
  Inflammation or infection of the vagina.
• THE USE OF PROSTAGLANDIN THERAPY FOR PYOMETRITIS
  Pyometritis (Greek: Pyo = "pus" and Metritis = "inflammation of uterus") has long been a disease feared by the purebred dog breeder...
• PYOMETRIA: THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE TO HYSTERECTOMY
  Pyometria is a dreadful disorder that as breeders we hope we never encounter....
• CANINE PYOMETRA: PATHOGENESIS, THERAPY AND CLINICAL CASES
  The most recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of canine pyometra which are relevant from the practical point of view
• HERITABILITY
  Perhaps no term is more misunderstood by dog fanciers when talking about inherited characteristics and environmental effects than the concept of heritability - by Fred Lanting
• CANINE ABORTION
  Causes, workup, treatment and prevention.
• PREGNANCY DETERMINATION IN THE BITCH
  By Jeanette L. Floss, DVM, MS - College of Veterinary Medicine
• REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE BROOD BITCH
  Another excellent article by Jeanette L. Floss, DVM, MS
• REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS IN MALE & FEMALE DOGS
  Reproductive Problems in Female & Male Dogs, Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Fresh-Chilled or Frozen Semen, Managing the Breeding, Whelping the Litter, Stillborn and Fading Puppies: What Can They Tell Us?, Neonatal and Pediatric Care
• MODERN NATURAL REARING: The Brood Bitch
  Covers briefly what a Brood Bitch should be, what shape she should be in, her diet and her well-being. 
• RISK FACTORS RELATED TO THE MOTHER
  A detailed list of what can go wrong!
• RISK FACTORS LINKED TO PUPPIES
  Studies show that puppy mortality before weaning was 17.4% and fell to 4% after weaning....
• FERTILITY PROBLEMS IN PETS
  Among breeders of show animals who are trying to promote the best of their breed’s gene pool, a prized purebred’s inability to reproduce can be very frustrating.
• BREEDING CULTURE PROGRAMS AND PROBLEMATIC INFECTIONS FOR DAMS, SIRES, AND PUPPIES
  What you can do to improve the odds of having a healthy, infection-free litter
• CARE OF THE BROODBITCH
  Conscientious breeders will breed only bitches who have shown no signs of heritable disease and have highly desirable traits in such characteristics as temperament, physical appearance or hunting ability...
• WHY DO BITCHES MISS???
  Interesting article from Vet Talk at eSPOMagazine.com
• UTERINE PROLAPSE
  Prolapse of the uterus occurs from a prolonged labor, up to 48 hours after whelping, when the cervix is extremely dialated. It has been known to happen in first-time pregnancies, but is most likely after a bitch has had several litters, with or without complications....
• MISMATING
  Occasionally, even a careful dog owner has to deal with an unwanted pregnancy....
• CANINE PREGNANCY & BIRTHING INFORMATION
  Excellent Reference sheet
• UPDATES ON CANINE PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS
  Notes from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
• ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF THE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OF THE BITCH
  The full value of ultrasound imaging in dogs has been documented, and the technology is now finding wide applicability in monitoring fetal development, in timing gestation and predicting parturition, in diagnosis and management of reproductive tract disease, and in supplementing breeding soundness examinations.
• ADVERSE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ULTRASOUND ON BODY TISSUES
  Ultrasound is widely used in human and veterinary medicine as a diagnostic imaging technique, and also as a therapeutic technique. What adverse effects does ultrasound have on tissues?
• THE BITCH – A WOLF IN DOG’S CLOTHING
  Dog breeding is a fascinating science. Reproduction in dogs is vastly different from that of the other domestic species.
• HOW TO BECOME A TOP BREEDER
  “The strength of the sire is the power of the dam.” I could use up 50,000 fancy words telling you how to become a top breeder but the whole truth is in that one simple sentence.
• X-RAY RISKS "SHIELDED" 
  Medical care has outpaced medical safety in the vet's office. Protect your breeding stock.
• RX FOR WHELPING AND CAESAREANS
  Sooner or later, every experienced breeder encounters whelping problems.
• HAVE DOGS TESTED FOR CANINE BRUCELLOSIS BEFORE BREEDING
  Brucellosis can infect cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and humans as well as pigs.
• USE OF BOVINE LH-R TO REACH REVERSIBLE INFERTILITY IN BITCHES 
  Reversible infertility is commonly wanted by dog owners who are not willing to have their dogs castrated.
• FEMALE INFERTILITY 
  What is infertility in female dogs and cats?
• CANINE PREGNANCY FAILURE
  Despite a thorough investigation, identifying a specific cause of abortion is not always possible
• REFLEXOLOGY
  An effective therapy for treating infertility and hormonal disorders in dogs
• CANINE BRUCELLOSIS 
  The majority of bacteria in infected dogs are secreted in semen and vaginal secretions...
• BACTERIA MAY CAUSE INFERTILITY IN DOGS AND BITCHES
  Have you experienced poor conception rates? Early embryonal or fetal death? Abortions, stillborns, fading pups, or small litters? 
• MODERN BREEDING MANAGEMENT IN DOGS
  Here's a guide to what you need for successful breeding management.
• CURRENT TECHNIQUES IN BREEDING MANAGEMENT
  Similar to the classic real estate axiom, when it comes to breeding, the three most important points are "Timing, Timing, Timing"...
• CANINE REPRODUCTION
  This is an absolute MUST READ 5 part article with extensive information. 
• CANINE REPRODUCTIVE DISEASES ARE RARE
  In general, dogs rarely have reproductive problems and most pet owners are concerned with preventing reproduction rather than enhancing it.
• CANINE PREGNANCY
  Predicting Parturition and Timing Events of Gestation
• VACCINATIONS AND THE BREEDING BITCH
  Lyme disease, pregnancy and monthly heartworm
• INFECTIOUS CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF PREGNANCY
  Several possible infectious causes of early embryonic deaths and abortion
• CANINE PREGNANCY FAILURE 
  Determining the cause of pregnancy loss in the dog can be frustrating. 
• CANINE PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS
  Abdominal Palpitation, Ultrasound, Radiographic...illustrated
• ABORTION AND PREGNANCY LOSS IN DOGS 
  Abortion or pregnancy loss may be caused by problems with the fetus or the bitch. Causes & Treatments
• INFERTILITY
  There are several possible causes of infertility.... 
• DRUGS THAT CAN OR CANNOT BE GIVEN DURING CANINE PREGNANCY
  A reference chart of what drug is safe and what's not safe!
• NUTRITIONAL NEEDS DURING REPRODUCTION AND LACTATION
  Reproduction and lactation place additional nutritional demands on the female dog (bitch). During this time, the diet must supply all the vitamins, minerals and calories needed to meet the requirements of the bitch, and also must support fetal growth during pregnancy, and milk production after the birth of puppies
• IS YOUR STUD DOG REALLY STERILE?
  Does he have a diagnosis of aspermia (no sperm)? Did the veterinarian check him for retrograde ejaculation? Were hormone studies done?
• WHELPING INFORMATION FOR DOGS
  From conception to birth
• THE CANINE ESTROUS CYCLE
  Staging using vaginal cytological examination
• ESTROUS CONTROL IN THE BITCH
  New insight in the Ovarian cycle
• PHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PARAMETERS OF PREGNANCY IN DOGS
  There are secondary increases in circulating progesterone beginning between Days 25-35, despite increased progesterone metabolism and fecal excretion, reflecting a pregnancy specific stimulation of progesterone production
• MAXIMIZING CONCEPTION RATE 
  Presented at the "Canine Reproduction for Breeders" Seminar 
• THE BITCH'S SEXUAL CYCLE
  A bitch's sexual cycle is monestrous (only one ovulation per cycle) with spontaneous ovulation (which means that ovulation cannot be triggered by mating, as in the cat). It comprises four successive stages..
• THE PHASES OF THE CYCLE
  During proestrus, the hypophysis (pituitary gland) causes the growing ovarian follicles to secrete hormones known as estrogens that are responsible for behavioural modifications (the bitch attracts males, seeks affection, licks her vulva) and physical changes in the bitch....
• MATING OR INSEMINATION
  The ideal moment! Given the length of time spermatozoa remain fertile (about forty-eight hours in the female genital tract), it is possible to optimize the chances of fertilization by making sure that sperm meets egg when both are at the height of their fecundity, to ensure the best fertility and optimal litter size.
• MATING
  After selecting the parents and estimating the time of ovulation, the owner presents the bitch to the dog to be served. For health reasons, it is best to check ahead of time to make sure that neither dog has any genital lesions. 
• CONFIRMATION OF PREGNANCY
  The fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon forms an egg that must undergo several divisions and travel to the uterus before becoming implanted in the uterine mucosa. In bitches, implantation does not occur until 17 days after fertilization, and results in the formation of embryonic vesicles that cannot be detected by ultrasound until the third week of pregnancy (18 days at the earliest). 
• THE STAGES OF PREGNANCY
  Gestation in dogs lasts from 58 to 68 days (63 days on average). Differences observed among bitches are linked to the difference between the mating date and the actual date of fertilization.
• CAUSES OF INFERTILITY IN THE BITCH
  No species has a one hundred percent fertility rate. The maximum fertility observed in dog-breeding establishments under optimal conditions does not exceed eighty-five percent. It is recommended that a bitch be allowed to pass a heat period without being mated at least once every two years.
• ABNORMAL OVUM PRODUCTION
  These abnormalities can be:.... 
• FALSE PREGNANCY AND ASSOCIATED LACTATION
  These conditions are not considered to be pathological, since they are observed more frequently in wild dogs than domestic dogs, disappear spontaneously in a few weeks without treatment, and usually have no after-effects. 
• METRITIS
  Metritis is a uterine infection that generally affects bitches only during a very specific period in their reproductive cycle. 
• PYOMETRA
  The symptoms of pyometra may not be obvious if there is no vaginal discharge (locked pyometra). This is the riskiest type, because the fluid will not drain spontaneously, for three reasons:....
• OVARIAN AND TESTICULAR TUMORS
  In medical terms, a tumor is simply a mass of tissue, which says nothing about whether the tumor is benign or malignant (cancerous). The term excludes all cysts and fluid- or fat-filled abscesses.
• MONORCHIDISM AND CRYPTORCHIDISM
  Early in fetal life, the testicles and ovaries are found in the same location in the abdomen, behind the kidneys. 
• INFECTIOUS DISEASES
  Many infectious diseases, both bacterial and viral in origin, can affect reproduction by causing infertility, metritis, abortion or neonatal death. 
• CLEFT PALATE AND VITAMIN OR FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS NEW!
  Too many supplements given to pregnant animals may be a major cause of the development of congenital cleft palate in cats and dogs
• USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL PROGESTERONE IN MANAGEMENT OF CANINE PREGNANCY
  Hypoluteoidism is a hypothesized cause of pregnancy loss in bitches. Diagnosis requires demonstration of an abnormally low serum progesterone concentration and ultrasound verification of presence of viable fetuses.
• CLINICAL USE OF ANTI-PROGESTINS IN THE BITCH
  In the bitch, progesterone plays a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.
• IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO. A Tribute To The Brood Bitch
  Whilst it is true the dog contributes 50% to the process in regard to genetic make up of any offspring, there is a limit as to how many faults, or improvements he can influence in any one litter. The Dam or Brood Bitch, is often disregarded, quite for no good reason. Apart from her genetic contribution at conception, the bitch controls and influences the litter and it’s future and well being to a far greater extent. 
• THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE BREEDING BITCH - Part One 
  By Kathleen Hefner, DVM 
• THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE BREEDING BITCH - Part Two 
  By Kathleen Hefner, DVM 
• THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE BREEDING BITCH - Part Three 
  By Kathleen Hefner, DVM 
• ENDOSCOPIC TRANSCERVICAL INSEMINATION IN THE BITCH 
  This full-text document provides information on intrauterine semen deposition by transcervical insemination in the bitch. It covers anatomy, equipment, technique, learning the technique, problems and solutions, safety, uses, and other applications of the technology. Colour photographs are included.
• CANINE PSEUDOPREGNANCY : A REVIEW 
  Clinical pseudopregnancy is a syndrome observed in non-pregnant dogs and is characterized by clinical signs such as nesting, weight gain, mammary enlargement and lactation.
• DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMAL BREEDING TIME IN THE BITCH
  There is considerable variation in the time of ovulation in relation to the onset of vulval swelling and serosanguinous discharge of early proestrus. This is often not understood by dog breeders and they frequently impose standard mating regimes upon their bitches.
• SMALL ANIMAL MATERNAL BEHAVIOR AND ITS ABERRATIONS
  This full-text document discusses maternal behaviour in dogs and cats, including its components, controls, and solutions for given examples of aberrant or excessive maternal behaviour.
• DEVELOPING A STUD DOG FOR SUCCESSFUL BREEDING
  More times than not, when canine breedings fail, people tend to overlook the male half of the reproduction equation.
• MANAGEMENT OF PROSTATIC DISORDERS
  Disease processes in the prostate are common and result from various origins such as infectious, hormonal, anatomic or embryologic. 
• DNA TESTING IN AUSTRALIA
  People, animals and plants! Very simple.

Tip: Bitches in Season
If your bitch is in season, and you are not planning to mate her, you can give her liquid Chlorophyll (from the Health Shop). Start with 5 mls and increase it daily to about 2 caps full daily for a medium size dog. Some handlers have succeeded in masking the oestrus odour by giving the female chlorophyll tablets at the first sign of the heat cycle. It is believed to take the stress off any male animals when the female oestrus odour is "masked". Chlorophyll has been found to be non-toxic, soothing to body tissues and safe for use by people of all ages and animals.

Tip: Small Litters
For increasing fertile eggs in the bitch, Parlodel is frequently used (available from the vet).
For bitches who produce small litters it can be worth testing bitches for Neospora Caninum Disease.

TIP: Lactating Bitches
Fenugreek herb is one of the most powerful herbs that help in bringing the milk down in lactating bitches. Use capsules or make a tea.

TIP: Lactating Bitches
Give your girl a drink of beer, warmed if necessary and with honey added. This can help to stimulate milk production.

TIP: Bitch Supplements
I give the brood bitches extra A, B's and Folic Acid from the 6th week of pregnancy until the end of lactation, and the puppies until roughly 12 weeks. 'Titch' is a good supplement and easy to get in Australia.

SPECIAL ARTICLES by Steven Metcalfe BSc BVMS (Hons) MSc MACVSc

• Ultrasound Pregnancy Diagnosis
• Vaginal Bacteria in the Bitch
• Investigations into the efficacy of doramectin on reactivated somatic larvae of Ancylostoma caninum Ercolani 1859 (Ancylostomatidae) in pregnant bitches ....more
• A study on the prevention of prenatal and galactogenic Toxocara canis infections in pups by treatment of infected bitches with ivermectin or doramectin ....more
• Investigations into the prevention of neonatal Toxocara canis infections in puppies by application of doramectin to the bitch ....more
• The efficacy of doramectin on arrested larvae of Ancylostoma caninum in early pregnancy of bitches ...more