A litter of puppies, to many people this sounds like a very sweet and adorable idea. However, it is wise to weigh the pros and cons before you start breeding. You must, among other things, properly investigate whether your dog has hereditary diseases. This can be done through different types of tests.
Preparing for breeding
Before breeding, always assess whether both parents are of normal build and whether they both exhibit normal behavior. It is unwise to breed with an aggressive dog as this will inherit in some cases. By normal built dogs we mean dogs that do not suffer from injuries at a young age.
Before breeding, it is important to verify that both parents are of a healthy weight and that they have grown normally without stunted growth. It is also wise to check whether they have both been vaccinated and dewormed. It is also advisable to have your dog tested for a number of sexually transmitted diseases. In some countries dogs are vaccinated against herpes because this condition can cause stillborn puppies or even total infertility. Before dogs can be bred, they must be physically mature. It differs per breed and type of dog at what age this is. On average, a dog is physically mature at two years of age.
You can have your dog tested at the vet for a number of genetic abnormalities that are characteristic of a particular breed. These tests are very important if you want to breed dogs with good credentials. The prospective buyers will want to see that their puppy is healthy at the time of purchase. There are different types of tests: hip test, elbow dysplasia test, eye test, hearing test and much more.
Hip test
A hip test involves an X-ray of the dog’s hips. This photo is checked for signs of abnormal developments that could possibly be transferable. Breeding is only allowed with dogs that score above the breed average.
Elbow dysplasia test
With an elleboodysplasia test, an X-ray is also made, but of the elbows. It is checked whether there is dysplasia.
Eye test
A genetic eye test looks at a number of hereditary conditions in different breeds. If the father and mother are both tested negative, the puppy will certainly not inherit the disease 100 percent. When one of the parents scores positive in this test, it is not recommended to breed with these dogs.
When to cover?
A bitch is on average only twice a year in heat. One dog lasts only ten days in heat, and another dog it lasts twenty days. Most bitches are at their most fertile twelve to fifteen days after they start bleeding. With a special test, the exact time of ovulation can be determined, which increases the chance of successful mating. A test is especially useful for bitches that require assistance during mating and for bitches that will not cooperate quickly during mating. In some dogs where natural mating is not possible, a test will be taken to see when the artificial insemination can take place. There are two ways you can test:
Veterinarian
A vet can take a smear and examine the cell types present. Based on this, the best mating moment can be determined.
Progesterone
From the seventh day after the first signs of bleeding in the dog, a blood test is taken every other day. This test is checked every day for the increase in progesterone. When the amount increases, it means that ovulation is about to take place. Most bitches are then fertile and can be mated for the next two days.
