Like I always say, all dogs are different and so are their exercise and nutritional requirements, yet we must agree that your bitch should already be in optimal health before even the consideration of breeding her. Remember this is only an outlined guide that needs tweaking here and there to fit the individual bitches needs.
4 Step Prep For Breeding
- Have the bitch tested within 30 days of breeding for Brucellosis
- If the bitch is going to be bred, on the 1st. day of bleeding you should vaccinate your bitch with an 6 way (5 way + coronavirus) vaccine.
- The bitch should be dewormed with Safeguard, starting with the first day of her heat. Remember Safeguard is given for 3 consecutive days, and repeat on day 15.
- Wash the bitch thoroughly with non pesticidal shampoo. I use Johnson's & Johnson's Baby Wash
So Let’s Get Into This
Often overlooked by many, yet an extremely important key to having a successful litter is nutrition. This is often thought of as simply switching or adding puppy kibble from or to adult kibble as being sufficient enough which I learned isn’t true. Many people may or may not tell you that they add a “few” supplements to the bitches diet which I also learned isn’t that good. I’ve simply switched or added kibble and used supplements and had decent results with litters back in 1996, but since 1998 I have learned how to gain great success helping bitches and litters thrive by understanding the benefits of raw feeding. I’ve seen bitches go from producing average litters, to bitches producing larger litters with all puppies vigorous, with the bitches staying vigorous themselves throughout the entire pregnancy; but the biggest bonus was the decreased worry and tiring husbandry by me for an anxious, weak, or fatigued now dam who just produced a weaker, smaller, litter.
A well-balanced raw diet should include a variety of muscle meats, bones and organs that already has the bitch thriving. This is particularly important to the survival of the bitch as well as the expecting litter when it comes to breeding. We must understand that bitches who lacks important nutrients often decline much faster than a bitch being fed the worst possible kibble diet out there. Producing lower birth weights, pups that have trouble from the start or grow then decline right before or just after weaning, also making it more difficult for the bitches to recover to say the least. So it is extremely important that you feed the bitch properly so that the growth and development of the fetuses as well as the health and preservation of bitches themselves are being maintained.
5 things that I feel are very important to know.
- Quality Meats preferred green tripe, then red meats, and muscle meats for supplying many nutrients, which are important for the production of red blood cells and optimal health.
- Goat’s Milk, Eggs, Cottage Cheese, or Whole Milk Yogurt preferred “Raw” Goat’s Milk, for a healthy dose of vitamin D, which is important for the proper absorption of calcium, along with many more great nutrients.
- Raw Bones which helps to support the dams calcium needs for producing milk as well as bone development of the puppies. My goto bones are Turkey Necks, Chicken Necks, and Duck Necks all have a great meat to bone ratio.
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids sourced from Flaxseed Oil, Canned Salmon, Sardines, or my favorite Atlantic Mackerel which are needed in the development of both the brain and nerves, as well as having an effect on eyesight and the immune system. Meat gives you a good amount Omega 6’s so we focused in Omega 3’s
- Organs such as Beef Liver for its bounty of nutrients, which are important in the development of the brain and spinal cord; but without overdoing it because liver is also high in vitamin A, a vitamin that you do not want to feed in excess during pregnancy. I avoid COD LIVER OIL altogether.
63 Days = 9 Weeks Pregnancy Time Give or Take 2-3 Days
WEEKS 1-4
So I’ve prepared the bitch by keeping her in top shape and just completed day 3 of breeding her, right now she’s being fed to maintain her ideal winter weight for the first 3 to 4 weeks of pregnancy. In the winter I like to keep my dogs 2 to 3 pounds heavier than I do in the summer, keeps them a little warmer. Although every bitch is different remember things may need to change sooner than later depending on the individual bitches need. Remembering that every bitch has their own preferences during pregnancy and may even avoid some of their favorite foods during this time. Also during this time the bitches energy level will not differ much from what is normal for her. She is fed her normal meal of Frankenstein Mix for the first 4 weeks, if she continues to accept it.
By the middle of week 3, I slowly start to introduce Meatball Snacks to the bitches feed. My Meatball snacks are a naturally nutrient rich supplement, that has been improved through the years, used during pregnancy and throughout whelping to fuel the body as well as encourage feeding. Back in 1997 I had a bitch who wouldn’t eat anything that looked to big, so I was forced to come up with something that I could give her, that was small but full of nutrition so a meatball was my first thought, and it has worked ever since. Normally I only have to feed my bitches 2 to 4 meatballs a day because they will take their normal feed in between the meat balls.
WEEKS 5-6
The body has already begun to push waves of nutrients to the uterus, through the umbilical cords, into the developing puppies themselves, marking the start of space restriction inside the belly. Through the years I’ve learned that many of my bitches start to only eat a quarter of their normal meal sizes somewhere around week 5, so an increase in food is needed by offering smaller more frequent meals. If the bitch is still eating Frankenstein Mix continue with that but start to add extra chicken necks week 5, starting with a ¼ to a ½ pound, every other day while keeping a watchful eye to see if you need to add more or go daily. By week 6 start to add more tripe and/or red meat, starting with a ¼ to a ½ pound, every other day while keeping a watchful eye to see if you need to add more or go daily.
Week 5, I change up her exercise routine, her walks became shorter in distance but more frequent. I like to walk the bitch for 15 minutes in the early morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon, and 15 minutes before bed. The goal is to keep her strong, and fit without overexerting the bitch.
WEEKS 7-8
Man things have changed, yet another increase in food is ever so needed at this time. Usually the increase is 2 to 3 times the amount in weeks 1 to 4, but remember we have already started weeks ago so you should have a good feel to what your bitch needs at this time. The puppies are really booming and stripping the bitch of her nutrition so it’s critical that she keeps eating, even if you have to hand feed her. Feed her 4 to 6 times a day, while keeping a watchful eye on your bitch to make sure she not getting too thin or heavy. The goal is to have the bitch thriving and maintaining a healthy weight when she hits 60 days of gestation, prepared for whelping.
Week 7 start using only ½ of the Frankenstein Mix and replacing the missing ½ with Whelping Mix, while keeping a watchful eye to see if you need to add more food. At this stage in pregnancy if you do need to add a little more I toss in a few chicken necks.
Mid week 7 I make another adjustment to my bitches exercise routine, by cutting down the time and once again walking her more frequently. A 10 minute walk in the morning, 10 minutes in the early afternoon, 10 minutes in the evening, and 10 minutes before bed. I never force the bitch to walk letting her make the ultimate choice if she wants to walk or not, yet the goal is still to keep her strong, and fit without overexerting the bitch.
Week 8 start giving the bitch only ¼ of the Frankenstein Mix, also start giving her ¼ cup of Goat’s Milk once or twice a day if she will take it working your way up to 1 cup by the end of week
Mid Week 8 to Mid Week 9
Many bitches are normally reluctant to eat more than one meal of meat during this week, and began to crave carbs and will carry this eating habit right into the first week of motherhood, and that’s ok. I try to keep them eating the Picky Carb Mix during this time to make sure I protect my bitch from complications that may arise from lack of calcium in the diet, but keeping them nutritionally fed. I have learned that the more I have prepared my bitches nutritionally in the beginning working her into this moment, the easier it is on my bitches and me when it come to keeping their nutritional levels correct.
WEEK 9-WHELPING
Now it is important to remember that during the last week of pregnancy the bitch will lose weight as her body prepares for whelping as well as working to move the puppies into the birth canal. Most bitches will eat very little if anything at all for three days prior to whelping and some also after, so it is particularly important that the bitches body be in optimum health before and during pregnancy and not lacking any nutrients or weight. I have learned that the more I have prepared my bitches nutritionally in the beginning, the faster they began to rebound and demand their food. It is very critical that you pay attention to your bitch, taking her temperature 3x’s a day, with the ingredients for the Energy Drink and Milk Supp ready, because if you have done everything successfully up to this point, your puppies should be more than you expected.
Now exercise is dictated by her, only taking her out if she wants to go, letting her lead the way while keeping the distance restricted to 1 block. Once the bitches temperature begins to drop I totally restrict her to the yard only, this is for her and the puppies safety.
THIS WAS A VERY FAST RUN THROUGH
