hi

just wanna ask a question if its true that slimmer bitches will produce more pups than heavier ones?coz i had my female mated twice already although it gave birth but first to only 3 pups and the second time it gave only a solitary pup my bitch is quite fat i must admit,maybe it is the reason why?if slimmer ones produce more ,up to how many weeks after bein mated will my dam be on diet?if ever and when will i load her up to produce healthy pups?

It has to do with so many things and that can definitely one of them. Some of the others include:

1) Age
2) Breed (some breeds are known for large litters)
3) Genetics (within a breed, some lines/individuals produce larger litters)
4) Time in the cycle she was bred
5) The quality of her ovaries/eggs
6) The quality of the sperm
7) His health/diet
8) Her health/diet
9) Many other things that don’t come to mind right now.


But why not set her up for success? There is no need to keep a dog heavy, especially a brood bitch. Keep her healthy and in the appropriate weight for her breed and (ideal) size at all times!

And there is no reason to fatten her up while she is pregnant, just keep her at a healthy weight. This is judged by looking at her ribs, shoulders, and hips. Feel them and the amount of flesh covering these areas. Fairly quickly after giving birth (a couple of days), a healthy brood bitch should, with the exception of the teats, look the same as the day you bred her. Healthy and lean, not skinny or fat. She will need more food toward the end of her pregnancy and while nursing, but watch her weight! There is soooo much more to it than this, but it is a start…

Try not to think of her, or any dog, as being on a diet . That gets you in the thought of this being a temporary thing. Think of it as being a lifestyle thing. If you just go back to what she was fed before, she will go right back to the weight she was before.

Why is it that you want all of these pups? You are talking of a third litter already. What is the purpose for the breeding? I admit that there are a few red flags here for me...

Are you concerned about quantity or quality?

well with regards to jessicas remark,wouldnt you be alarmed if normally a bitch would give between 6 to 8 pups ,and you would be given a solitary pup?which makes me think maybe there is something wrong with something somewhere,and yes it is the third litter already ,and from my breeding i still havent found the right pup,or any to choose from,it is a joy for me to get a dog from my breeding.

well with regards to jessicas remark,wouldnt you be alarmed if normally a bitch would give between 6 to 8 pups ,and you would be given a solitary pup?which makes me think maybe there is something wrong with something somewhere,and yes it is the third litter already ,and from my breeding i still havent found the right pup,or any to choose from,it is a joy for me to get a dog from my breeding.

Could it be the timing of the breeding? How did you determine the day for breeding? Did you breed only once or more days?

Regardless of the litter size wouldn't it be wise to get your bitch at a healthy weight, for HER well being.

How old is your dog? Has she had all her health tests? Are you breeding her consequtive years? If you do not give her a rest between breedings that definately will reduce quanity of pups.

There is no way you should be breeding a bitch that is "fat". It is unhealthy and risky for her.

You want your girl to go into the pregnancy as healthy as possible and as physically fit as possible.

Anything else is just wrong.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

Anything else is just wrong.

Ditto....it seems to me that a breeder would not need to ask these types of questions.
Common sense tells should tell someone who is breeding to better the lines and/or bring something to the table with the bloodlines chosen would know this.

I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but I have been reading and studying breeding and whelping seriously now because of Jesea (who we keep missing since her man is in Montana and she came into heat early with the scheduled breeding) and Ember, not to mention the litters we had with our Labs and GSP's. I am not in a big hurry to have pups though....but if she has three great pups I would take that over 10 mediocre pups ANY day.

Not saying the OP is wrong or should not be breeding...but this is basic knowledge to me.

 Quote:

Reproductive success, and litter size, tend to be low during times of low food availability... -- The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids By David W. Macdonald, Claudio Sillero-Zubiri

This supports the idea that in times of optimum health, wild canids will produce larger litters. During times of plentiful food, it could be said that wild canids are more healthy. Even in times of plentiful food though, I don't believe wild canids have problems with obesity and therefore would support the idea that obesity is not optimum health. Not sure if how I am saying this is clear, but the book is a very fascinating read for anyone interested.

Shannon