Take stock of the facts

If you do decide to breed from your bitch, you will need to commit a considerable amount of time and effort, and make sure you create an environment that suits the needs of both the mother and her litter.
Above all, you must be aware that the proper follow-up of the mother’s health and that of her puppies costs money.
Gestation and whelping are also not without risk. Most of the time, nature does a good job but complications can arise, such as a caesarean delivery or sickly puppies!

Lastly, the future of the litter depends on you as you will be responsible for finding the future owners, not always an easy task.
And litters of ten or so puppies are not so unusual!

There's no room for improvisation in breeding

The aim of this guide is to help private individuals to understand just what dog breeding entails.
This is a new and unique experience for you and it’s important to remember that dog breeding is what the professionals have done for years.
These people have the necessary skills to guarantee gestation and birth in optimal conditions.

A vet check is a must !

Start by making an appointment with your vet.
He or she will do a complete check-up to make sure that your bitch is in ideal physical condition.
This is a precaution that can save you many a worry later on.
If your bitch is overweight, for example, this might cause problems towards the end of gestation and at the time of whelping.
Your vet will also suggest a monitoring plan for throughout the entire pregnancy.

Health points your vet will check

• Vaccines up-to-date
• Absence of parasites
• Weight

Did you

know

Identification, selling or giving away your puppies:
make sure you know thelegal obligations which differ from country to country.