We have puppies due November 17th! A waitlist has been started. Contact us for your Christmas puppy!
We use ultrasounds to determine pregnancy in our dogs. Ultrasounds can be used as early as 25 days at most veterinarian offices. It does depends on the type and model of the ultrasound machine. We typically schedule ours between 28-30 days.
Using an ultrasound is a quick and safe way to determine pregnancy. With our large breed dogs, the veterinarian and a staff member lays our females on their back on the observation table. It can be a little uncomfortable but is rather quick. Determining a puppy count is not always accurate with an ultrasound. A highly skilled technician can usually get the exact number within 1 puppy. We have been 100 percent right and also told 5 puppies when 9 were born from the litter. 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! As a breeder, I always find myself trying to determine the best time to breed my dogs. Believe it or not, at one time, I was a beginner breeder just starting out. I didn't have the knowledge of a big breeder. Just like very successful breeders that are breeding high quality dogs, I had to start somewhere. I was blind when I started this adventure. I came from a family that lived on a farm with a variety of pets. I had an aunt that raised German Shepherds. Her dogs were family pets and went to good homes. I also had an Uncle that was raising English Bulldogs and showing at the with AKC with the best of the best in the world. I had wonderful mentors to help get me started. As a new breeder, I would recommended to anyone new trying to start out, to find people close to you that you can trust for loads of information and advice. The Internet is also an amazing and abundant source of information when it comes researching dog breeding. I found that each female is different and each breed is a little different. I waited until my first female was 4 years old to breed her. We competed a natural breeding to an average male about 3 hours away from our family farm. This male was registered and young. He wasn't proven but was registered with potential. The price was right and I wasn't looking for the best of the best puppies; but, healthy and adorable that families would love. In the end, that's exactly what we ended up with. Before you begin to consider breeding, test your female and have your research completed. Have a plan for whelping and a vet with experience ready to help. Then, find a male that is also tested and fits the breed standards you are looking for. Ask lots of questions! 1. Track the cycle of your female. Look for the first day you notice spotting and make a note of it. 2. Track how many months your female goes between heats. I researched that large breed dogs can go 1 or 2 times a year. My females actually go closer to 3 or even 4 times a year. 3. If a natural breeding is going to occur, be prepared to take your female to the male at about one week. If you are doing AI, you will want to start target testing at about day 7 or 8. This type of testing is vital because you must know the day of ovulation to breed your dog. With natural breeding, you can breed 1 or 2 days prior to ovulation and still have success since the sperm can survive up to 5 days once insemination has occurred. With AI, the egg takes 24-48 hours to be ready to be inseminated. Also, shipped semen will not last as long. It may only last 1-3 days. Therefore, proper timing is very important or you may miss an entire litter and have to try again. Yes, I have had this happen. 4. Continue to follow up with your veterinarian. I complete ultrasounds at approximately day 28 and xrays towards the last week. Ultrasounds will determine if a successful breeding did take place. It is very hard to determine a puppy count at this age but heartbeats can be heard. Xrays are used to determine a puppy count. The veterinarian will count skulls and spines. It is important to have a puppy count so you know what to expect when your female is in labor and when intervention or assistance may be needed.
Bedtime story review ~ Snow Dog Sand Dog is a story that follows the wonderful adventures of a dog through all the seasons of the year. My first graders gave this book a big thumbs up! #bedtimestories #childrensbooks #picturebook #bookstagram #picturebookstagram #childrensbookstagram #bedtimestory #stayathomemomlife #stayathomemama #stayathomedad #momstagram #dadstagram #homeschoolmom #dogsofinstagram #dogsofinstaworld
We have our first book out! It is available at Amazon. Check it out! Lake Michigan Saint Bernards Zoe and Belle
We are halfway into this pregnancy! In a few days, we will go in for our ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. We will also try to get a good count on puppies. Last time, we were estimated at 5-6 at the most for puppies with our ultrasound. We ended up with 9! Ultrasounds are great for confirming pregnancy but not as accurate on puppy counts. So, we will need to wait until a week before the due date to take an X-ray to count for puppies! Stay tuned!
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AuthorWe have an amazing blended family! We look forward to sharing our life and major events with others that share the same passions as our family. Archives
December 2020
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