As a dog breeder, I am always looking for the most successful way to have a healthy litter of puppies and still promote the proper breed standards that are important for each puppy to have. I follow AKC guidelines when breeder and continuously look for the best crosses possible for my breeding program.
I started breeding my females naturally. It just made sense. It was easy and I didn't have to put in a great deal of extra time to have a successful litter of puppies. As time passed, I started to look for even better stud dogs to cross will my females. I found very few within a reasonable day drive. So, I turned towards artificial insemination as a way to breed my females. As with everything I do, I started by researching as much as I could. First, I called my local veterinarian and found they do not offer the type of canine reproductive services that I would need. I found myself calling every vet office I could find starting with the closest to me and working my way in an outward direction. I finally found a veterinarian's office about two and a half hours away. I soon realized the importance of timing your female's cycle in order to have a successful litter. With natural breeding, there is a little more room when the breeding can take place because the semen will live longer than will fresh chilled and shipped semen. I also had to factor in the time commitment needed for this type of breeding. Target testing is a must when using AI. Progesterone levels begin to rise to signal ovulation. Right before ovulation occurs, there is a LH (Luteinizing Hormone) peak. After ovulation, it takes 1-2 days for the egg to be ripe and ready to be fertilized by the male. This proves that each day is vital in finding the exact day of ovulation. Or, you could miss an entire litter of puppies. Transvaginal insemination is the most common method to use. It is the easiest and most cost effective. It also relates directly with natural breeding. It is highly recommended that when using this method, that the breeder uses two inseminations in order to have the greatest rate of success. Transcervical insemination is a method that involves the semen to be deposited directly into the uterus through cervix. One or two inseminations can be used to have a successful litter. This is the method we use and typically only use one insemination. This method works very well with fresh chilled semen. Surgical insemination is the best option when the semen is frozen or is of poor quality. This method does have the greatest risks associated with the health of the female. Check with your reproductive veterinarian for advice on this method if it is needed. Lastly, the waiting game begins. An ultrasound can be used as early as day 25 to confirm pregnancy. I highly recommend all follow up care before, during and after breeding to ensure all dogs are healthy!
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