Breeding a Litter

Beth J. Finder Harris

Description

Breeding a Litter: The Complete Book of Prenatal and Postnatal Care is the most up-to-date and inclusive guide to breeding, whelping and placing puppies. There is a focus on making the most of the "breeding experience" in order to produce puppies who are physically and emotionally sound and go on to enjoy life and enrich the lives of the humans around them. This book contains the all-important basic knowledge necessary to serve as a foundation for the reality of firsthand experience. A clear and commonsense format shows everyone who is thinking about breeding a litter how to create the best possible environment for dogs, puppies and owners alike.

Beyond the basics, author Beth J. Finder Harris gives detailed information on selecting breeding stock, neonatal care, puppy development, social conditioning, and also fully addresses the aspects of breeders' responsibilities, contracts and puppy care instructions.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction
Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

1. Breeding Responsibly.

2. Designer Genes.

3. Orchestrating the Breeding.

4. Detecting Pregnancy.

5. Diet.

6. Attitudes, Owners and the Brood Bitch.

7. Equipment.

8. The Whelping.

9. Orphan, Premature and Unthrifty Puppies.

10. Medical Problems.

11. Postpartum Care.

12. Early Puppy Care.

13. Weaning the Puppies.

14. Parasites and Immunizations.

15. Evaluating and Placing the Litter.

16. New Owners' Puppy Care Instructions.

17. Registration.

18. Spaying and Neutering.

19. Contracts.

Appendix I: Emergency First Aid.

Appendix II: By Air.

Glossary of Terms.

Index.

Sujets

• Practical Guide
• Breeds
• Pets
• Dogs

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 20 août 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470252765
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

BREEDING A LITTER
This book is devoted to enhancing dogs lives with their owners. Three generations of Alaskan Malamutes with their owner.
BREEDING A LITTER

The Complete Book of Prenatal and Postnatal Care

Beth J. Finder Harris
Copyright 1993 by Beth J. Finder Harris. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., New York, NY
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], E-mail: [e-mail] . Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, and Howell Book House are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993 or fax [phone].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Harris, Beth J.
Breeding a litter: the complete book of prenatal and postnatal care/Beth J. Finder Harris, p. cm.
ISBN 0-87605-414-9
1. Dogs-Breeding. 2. Puppies. I. Title.
SF427.2.H37 1993
636.089 082-dc20
92-23789
CIP
Manufactured in the United States of America. 20 19 18
In loving memory of Leonard V. Finder and Fritz Bieth, who believed all things are possible
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Breeding Responsibly
A Breeder s Obligations
2. Designer Genes
Medical Checklist
Assessing Quality
Selecting a Stud Dog
Setting Type
Designer Genes
Male Medical Aspects Related to Breeding
Female Medical Aspects Related to Breeding
3. Orchestrating the Breeding
Assisting a Breeding
Breeding Alternatives: Artificial Insemination
Other Factors Affecting Conception
Abnormal Sexual and Breeding Behaviors
Breeding Failures-Causes and Solutions
4. Detecting Pregnancy
Pregnancy Tests
Failure to Conceive
Pseudopregnancy (False Pregnancy)
5. Diet
Commercial Diets
Prenatal Care: Dietary Support Supplements
6. Attitudes, Owners and the Brood Bitch
Heredity vs. Environment
Mother Knows Best
Exercise for the Brood Matron
7. Equipment
8. The Whelping
Labor
The Umbilical Cord
Normal Deliveries
Identifying Look-alikes
Getting Puppies Started
Difficult Deliveries
9. Orphan, Premature and Unthrifty Puppies
Early Neonatal Care
Unthrifty Puppies
Premature Puppies
Gavage (Tube Feeding)
Orphaned Infants: Intensive, Critical-Care Puppies
Elimination of Body Wastes
Orphan Puppy Diet
Bottle Feeding
Helping the Dam s Milk Production
Newborn Puppy Checklist
10. Medical Problems
Breeds Known to Be Subject to Von Willebrand s Disease
11. Postpartum Care
Mammary Gland Care
The Dam s Appetite
Routine Hygiene
Dewclaws
Collars
Early Eye Development
Puppies and their Surroundings
12. Early Puppy Care
Early Social Conditioning
Establishing High Trust Levels
13. Weaning the Puppies
Binding
Transitional Behavior and Social Order
The Puppies First Meals
Finger-feeding
Introducing Semisolid and New Foods
Choosing the Right Dry Puppy Food
Dental Development
14. Parasites and Immunizations
Natural Immunity and Susceptibility to Disease
The DHLPP , Corona, Bordetella and Rabies Vaccines
Common Parasites
15. Evaluating and Placing the Litter
Puppy Personalities
Grading Prospective Owners
Financial Concerns
Advertising Your Litter
Puppy Presentation
They Come with Instructions
16. New Owners Puppy Care Instructions
Picking Up Puppy
The Puppy s Diet
Coming Home
House-Training
Teaching Puppy to Drop It
Toys
Puppies and Stairs
Change of Water
Digestive Upset
17. Registration
Registering the Litter
Registering the Individual Puppy
18. Spaying and Neutering
Neuter/Spay Agreement
19. Contracts
Business Is Business
Receipt Holding Agreement
Sales Agreement
Time Payment Agreements
Appendix I: Emergency First Aid
Muzzles
Stretchers
Internal Bleeding
External Bleeding
Tourniquets
Shock
Dislocations, Fractures and Splints
Poison
Heatstroke
Porcupine Quills
Skunks
Foreign Objects
Burns
Electrocution and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPR
Convulsions
Fish Hooks
Snake Bites
Appendix II: By Air
Crate Requirements
Health Requirements
The Care Package
Departure
Glossary of Terms
Index
Acknowledgments
Many people have helped to make this book possible. These people deserve a special acknowledgment for their contributions to making this book a reality: Maxwell Riddle, for his strength of convictions and unwaivering faith in my abilities; Irv Levine and Anne G. Finder Levine, for their continuous support; Danielle Philippa, who has always shared my love of all infant creatures; Nancy Scanlon, D.V.M., for originally encouraging me, and the late Elsworth Howell who, many years ago, suggested I write on this subject.
A very special thank you to Eugene Borman, D.V.M., of Old Towne Animal Hospital, who graciously devoted a great deal of time, effort and energy helping with all technical aspects of this work; Jan Walker for her delightful artistic contributions. Jane, Debi, Monte, Dorothy, Joe, Margaret, Dan and Ray, thank you all. Acknowledgment is also given to all those who contributed photographs, sharing the unqualified love and pride they feel for their pets.
Introduction
This manuscript is dedicated to those who desire to engage in a breeding program of better-bred dogs. Not elitist in aspect, this book is devoted to enhancing dogs lives with their owners through a candidly spoken medical and psychological direction of rearing puppies in the best of all possible environments.
Usually there is nothing that can replace positive, practical firsthand experience; however, when working with the lives of well-loved pets, the acquisition of some basic knowledge proves essential to maximize success.
Here is a straight-forward commonsense guide to sound practices in breeding a bitch and rearing of her offspring. The body of this work focuses upon helping you optimize your efforts, rearing superior and emotionally stable, physically sound puppies.
Whenever contemplating a breeding there are several specific areas of focus that first need to be addressed. If you desire to breed because you see dollar signs from your dog s litter, you will be disappointed. Established breeders of good repute are first devoted to their breed in general, and then specifically to their own dogs. They choose to breed for a variety of reasons established upon sound reasoning and practical, successful experiences. They have, above all else, an ultimate, long-range goal in mind other than the mere production of puppies.
Conscientious breeders find vast rewards bringing new life into the world with each well-planned and prepared-for litter of successive generations. They have the added bonus of making new friends through their puppy buyers. These people do not breed dogs with the expectations of fabulous monetary returns. Invariably, rearing a litter proves a losing proposition when financial rewards are considered. Why then do people continue to dedicate themselves to breeding dogs? Because short-and long-term satisfaction are obtained when a breeder s program is proven.
The success of breeding is proven through dog shows that were founded to prove a program s superiority. Today, while still fulfilling this function, dog shows have also become a family endeavor: a sport where participants of all ages and abilities may compete, from the youngest and most novice, to the professionally experienced. The sport encompasses a wide variety of interests and levels. There is literally something for everyone: from Obedience and Field Trials, Tracking and Hunting Tests, to the conformation ring.
BREEDING A LITTER

Dog shows are, by definition, the place where the quality of a breeding program is proven.
Joyce Weichsel
1
Breeding Responsibly
By definition, a breeder is anyone who successfully undertakes the breeding of two dogs. It does not matter if this person has plans covering years of time, encompassing multiple breedings, or is one who plans to breed but a single litter.
A BREEDER S OBLIGATIONS
Many people who breed dogs recognize their obligations. They are perfectly willing to accept the responsibilities assumed when bringing new life into the w