I'm looking to breed our first litter for twenty odd years and I guess things have changed since then. I wondered what you all thought was essential items to have ready for whelping? I'm also busy doing my research and have the following books: Dog Breeding for Dummies, Breeding Working Dogs and The Book of the Bitch, do you have any further recommendations?
Keith
doganjo
Good luck, Keith. Puppies aren't selling just now - economic climate, so hope you have a few booked. I used a disposable whelping box last year - very good, just put it on tiled floor, newspapers on trhe bottom, then a clean white vet bed, more papers on top for Belle to scrunch when in labour, and plenty of spares of everything nearby. Towelling scraps in case she needed any help - luckily she didn't - pea pods and shelling spring to mind. Vet's number handy in case of emergencies. I don't think things have changed that much in 20 years - my last cocker litter was in 1983, just before we got our first Brittany.
Patricia
Differently to Anne -probably geographical- I found the enquiries for Brittany puppies to be fairly good- Mainly for working pups, which is encouraging. and docked definitely.
Now, you have to be discerning and some may want a pup, but not a chance if they are unsuitable
I have a wooden whelping box with the front able to be removed once the pups get out and about. A place away from the other dogs and peaceful( mine is under my bedroom) and tiled both on floor and up the wall. You will find Brittany puppies to be dirty little so and so's, putting messy paws on walls, paddling in food etc...I have an infra red light at all times over one part of the whelping box unless it is very hot to maintain heat for the babies. Even when they are older...
Good supply of newspapers-preferably the large ones for the floor later!-some Whelpi-in case- towels, scales, vet number, bin bags for discarding soiled paper. Of course, some vet beds.
Book vet for docking if necessary in advance.
later, wormers etc....
glynis
HiKeith, I also have dextrose powder that I make up as a drink for my bitch so that she has an energy source during whelping and I swear by rasberry leaf tablets 3 weeks prior to whelping and keep gpoing with them for 1 week post whelping. I get mine from Dorwest Herbs. hope everything goes well-let us know the outcome!!
rgds G&F
Ghilliegumdrop
They may not be selling 'up there' but I have 2 enquiries for pups at the moment, so if there are some out there I would like to know.
Victoria
Annie, where do you find disposal whelping boxes and how much do they cost, please?
doganjo
I just googled 'disposable whelping boxes' - I think it was about £70. I prefer them to wooden ones - they are made of cardboard, coated in an impervious material of some sort, and are throw away so no chance of lingering infection.
As to puppies, I know of two or three litters of Cockers, 2 of Pointers and one of sprockers that haven't sold yet, I think they are all over 8 weeks now, and some are a lot older. Perhaps we are more careful with our money in Scotland, or perhaps we don't have as much as south of the Border. I have also heard that there are a great amny dogs being abandoned or put into rescue kennels - a couple have been found tied to railings and left. One dog died. This economic crises may not be biting yet where you are but it is coming. Belle is in season just now, I can't mate her anyway because she has short cycles and there wouldn't be a year between litters, but I wouldn't take the chance anyway as I only have three people wanting pups. I'll see what next year brings
Patricia
In our part of the country, the credit crunch does not appear to have affected price of houses , certainly...
My daughter is starting house hunting and no much lee way and prices don't appear to have gone down much! Unfortunately for her...
As well as the price of horses ( not any old nag with a screw loose I might add!). A good horse is still making money and the good ones on Horsemart are gone sometimes with in 1 hour
Being on a farm with all facilities help to keep a horse and eat the grass!
Enquiries for pups is still good, but there again I believe we may have more money down South? And we are not far from London and Essex...
Vet's number handy in case of emergencies. I don't think things have changed that much in 20 years - my last cocker litter was in 1983, just before we got our first Brittany.