Breeding & Whelping Q&As

Today my husband and I were walking out in the yard and I heard this whimpering noise, so I followed it and I found a newborn puppy. I looked all around for the momma dog or even more pups but couldn't find either. so I went inside to get a towel and wrapped it up in a towel and brought it inside. a friend came over and showed me how to bottle feed it and keep it warm with the rice bag and showed me how to make it go to the bathroom. but I am so nervous about doing something wrong and I don't...

HELP!! My rotty just (48 hrs) had her first litter of 8 pups. I have read that it is unnecessary to have a vet. clip their tails. In other words, I would like to perform the procedure. Can you give me information on what I need to do?

I am looking for a good bitch to breed to my male GS. Do you ever use outside studs, after proper qualification, etc.? I am in Houston at the I-10 and Bunker Hill area. I have a one year old GS that is close to 120 lbs. and well trained, wonderful disposition, and very SMART. I just lost a 13 year old dog, from old age, and would like to find a good bitch of comparable standards to breed with him. Thanks for your time and consideration. Dianne

Hi, I have talked with your kennel a couple of times. I have a few questions to ask you on the puppies you have available. I am 90% sure I want a female, however, I'm worried that she may not meet the potential that I am after. I understand that I am responsible for a great deal of that, but some genetics are better than others. I am looking for a dog that can achieve not just SchH 3 but a fairly competitive SchH 3. I know a female can't compete with the males, but I have seen some females th...

Hello I have a 2 year old Male Shepherd who I would like to breed to an older female. I believe she is 3. She will not come into heat until February. We have had both dogs checked out and all is ok. My problem came tonight. We brought the dogs together to "meet". Well at first she put her head down to the ground and my male was smelling her. Then she just started growling and barking at him. I put him back in his kennel and the owner of the female did the same. What can we do to get her us...

According to what I've read, you have whelped many litters of pups, so I ask you this question: What do you think would happen if I breed my beautiful tan and black female with a white male? Is it advisable? Or could some really strange things happen? Thanks in advance, Rich

Hi; I am interested in using my male for stud service and we had a Bitch, but she snapped at him every time he would get near her. The first day she was awful. She would let him get just so close and when he was ready she would turn and snap and he would not do any thing else. I was wondering if it's my male that needs help or what. He is just 2 years old and it bothers me he did not breed her. Thank you Elaine

Hi there. I visited your site in search of help with my new pups... one is very small... They were just born on Friday and I can already see and tell this pup is not doing well...I got some milk replacer and started bottle feeding. He seems to eat off of his mom but is much smaller and the big ones muscle him out. We are trying to get him latched on without the others and as of this morning he looked eager to eat, but when I got home from work he looked terrible again. The older kids said tha...

Ed, I've been doing research about work line GS dogs. I am really impressed with the work that you've done and your time dedicated to GSD's/training. Hopefully you can answer a question of concern to me about my new german shepherd. I have recently acquired a 1 and a half year old shepherd from a mix of German and American working lines. The dog was to be used as a stud since it exemplified excellent physical lines and temperament as an alpha of it's litter. I ended up getting it neutered. Th...

I have a female that is 5 years old. She has had one litter of two puppies - done with an AI. We try and breed her every season but she never seems to get to then point of flagging the male and getting bred. Any ideas?

What do you think of V Fero vom Zeutener Himmelreich and his sons as far as breeding goes?

Is there a blood test for a female who has been bred to see if the bitch is pregnant?

I have a breeding question. I have 2 German shepherds that I have bred one litter already. They are beautiful dogs with great Sc. lines and good hips. My question is about the male. The bitch is in season and I have been putting them together. He hops on and goes to town, but he never gets it in. This has gone on for days. I have attempted to help him but he shuts down if I get involved. Is it normal? Do some dogs just not breed some times? Or is he just bad at it? I appreciate your time and ...

Are there supplements that you would recommend giving a bitch that you want to breed or have bred?

Hi Ed I'd like to talk an interesting issue. I think you are some of the best guys who has enough experience with breeding to give an opinion about this. One of my friends from LPSDHF-NW was one of responsible to check the GSD from the former DDR. His conclusion was very interesting: "the dogs were so corrupt as the system." He explained that the handlers had to know the famous "red book" instead of know about dogs. Today we have a fever about this kind of bloodlines, mainly about Tchec...

We just had a litter of 12 labs and have been looking up on the Internet about feeding one of them specifically. We came across your article and thought you might have some input. One of the puppies was born w/a cleft palate. The veterinarian suggested tube feeding - 1 ml every three hours. Another veterinarian suggested that might not be enough - we called because we felt she wasn't gaining any weight and was even more listless than when she was born. We do not have a scale to weigh her, ...

Ed, I wanted to ask you a question about bitches that cycle short I Imported a Czech bitch and she had been breed on 9/17/00 it did not take. two days ago she started a cycle, I have seen this once before and that bitch never produced any pups. The bitch is four and had not produced before, I'm very alarmed by the four-month cycle, thanks for any input you may have.

How do I tell if my bitch is preg? Have had her to the vet, he say's he does not think she is, but could be just to early too tell. They mated the 10th, 15th and 18th of April 2000. The male is only 6 months, so we were surprised to say the least the mating took place. The Vet also said that it is possible she could be carrying only 1 to 2 pups, that would not be so easy to detect. We have noticed sluggishness and seems to us her ribs are spreading. How can we tell, other than with time? I do...

Hi Ed, I am concerned about one of my breeding females. She was in heat the first of last month and the stud dog wasn't able to tie except for one time. This is a 4 yr old maiden bitch. After two weeks went by this bitch attacked my other bitches pups killing two of them. She has been with this other bitches pups (last yr and this yr) before without a problem. I had just went in the house to get the phone. When I returned two were dead. I know how stupid this was to let her be with the oth...

Hi Ed, I talked to Randy and we decided to drop you a line. Both puppies are doing great, already showing great drive and intensity for their work. I have been tracking Willow and she is a natural!! Great ball drive and already out at the end of the leash like a little Tasmanian devil when she watches bite work. On another note, could you briefly describe how you set up your litters? She was so easy to housebreak and everyone who has gotten a puppy from you has said the same. I am expec...