Dog breeders know that the key to creating a successful litter of puppies is consistency. You need to keep your dog’s environment as similar as possible from one breeding season to the next in order for your pups to inherit desirable traits and avoid less desirable ones.
Keeping things as familiar as possible also helps reduce stress, which is essential for ensuring your pooch remains happy and healthy. So what can you do to ensure your dog gets the best care? Read on for our guide on how to breed your pup.
Let your dog be a part of the process
Dogs are social animals, and can sometimes be a bit nervous about the idea of being isolated for an extended period of time. Letting your pup be present for the process of creating her litter, and taking part in the care of her pups, will help eliminate some of her stress and anxiety, and may even help her feel more confident while she’s away from you.
Dogs generally feel more comfortable when they know their human companions are nearby, and keeping one or both of you nearby during the process will help your dog feel more confident and relaxed as her hormones kick into overdrive. Being present for the process will also take away some of the pressure dogs feel when left alone; every dog is different, and some may be a little more anxious than others, so it’s important to be sensitive to your dog’s needs and comfort level.
Be consistent with your routines
When it comes to helping your dog successfully breed, consistency is the key. In fact, the reason why so many breeders are successful is because they breed using a “predict and plan” method; they breed consistently, year round, and make preparations based on their past experiences.
To breed effectively, you’ll need to breed at approximately the same time every year. This will help you get your dog into the right mood for breeding, as well as help you keep track of when your dog’s fertile period is happening. When it comes to your routine, you need to be consistent with your dog’s diet, and her daily exercise.
A dog’s diet is very important throughout the breeding season. Many breeders find that their dogs are more responsive to breeding when they’re eating a high-quality dog food that contains high amounts of protein and vitamins. While there is no “perfect” diet for every dog, there are some general guidelines you can follow.
- High-quality dog foods are generally rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and low in fat.
- High-quality foods generally contain whole ingredients, while cheaper foods may use processed ingredients like starch as a filler.
- High-quality foods are also likely to contain higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that may be helpful for breeding purposes.
- High-quality foods contain a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients, which may help provide your dog with a more balanced diet.
Don’t rush things
If you’re hoping to get your dog into the mood for breeding quickly, you may be disappointed. While many dogs will be in full breeding mode the second they meet someone of the opposite sex, it may take your pup a few weeks to get there. If you’re hoping to have your dog meet a mate very soon, or if you’re hoping for a quick process, you may be disappointed.
Many dogs take a few weeks to get into the mood for breeding, and some may take as long as a few months. There’s a lot that can affect how quickly your dog gets into the mood, including her age, diet, stress levels, and her health. If your dog is approaching her breeding season a little later than usual, she may be a little more stressed than usual. If she’s consuming a poor diet, she may be even more stressed.
Be prepared for unexpected challenges
You’ve likely been planning to breed your dog for quite some time, and have made many preparations. Everything may be set up just right, and you may even be excited for breeding season to arrive. However, everything doesn’t always go according to plan. You may encounter unexpected challenges while trying to breed your dog, and you may even encounter an unplanned challenge before your scheduled breeding day. These unexpected challenges may include:
- Difficulty getting your dog into the mood for breeding.
- Difficulty finding a compatible mate for your dog.
- Difficulty getting pregnant when you do get your dog pregnant.
- Difficulty having a safe and healthy birthing experience.
- Difficulty getting your pups ready for their first taste of the world.
- Difficulty finding homes for your pups as they arrive.
- Difficulty finding homes for your pups after you’re done birthing.
- Difficulty finding homes for your pups later on.
Have fun and bond with your dog before breeding day arrives
When you’re not busy planning how you’re going to help your dog get into the mood for breeding, you’ll likely want to enjoy the time you do have with your dog. Give your dog quality playtime, and spend time bonding with one another. This will help your dog get more excited about the idea of breeding, while also helping you relax and enjoy one another’s company before your scheduled breeding day.
Unplug, take a break from your daily stresses, and spend time with your dog. You’ll likely find that you’ve been feeling anxious about something, or have been feeling a little stressed out about something, and spending time with your dog will help calm you down and allow you to relax.
Final words: Wrapping up
The key to successfully breeding your dog is consistency. You need to breed during the same time of year, keep your dog’s diet consistent, get your dog into the mood for breeding while keeping her stress levels down, and keep yourself calm and relaxed. Once you’ve got your bases covered, and can breed your dog consistently, and have your dog in the mood for breeding, you’ll be well on your way to successful reproduction.
