All about knitting. Part 1: Does your dog need mating?

TO KNIT OR NOT TO KNIT A BITCH?

- one of the most popular and expensive breeds today. But before you calculate the profit from selling puppies, analyze all the possible costs - not only financial, but also emotional.

Many people think that bitches who have had puppies are less likely to get cancer, but statistics disprove this: both bitches who have given birth and those who have not given birth are equally susceptible to these diseases. Keep in mind that childbirth does not make mothers healthier - this has already been scientifically proven. And, if God willing, it’s a caesarean section, then imagine how long it will take the bitch to recover after a serious abdominal operation…. In addition, the birth and raising of puppies can become additional stress for the owner and will bring him a lot of trouble in caring for the babies and arranging for their future, while grown puppies can cause damage to the apartment, and the benefits from the sale can be very dubious.

Despite the fact that the requirements for females are lower than for males, only healthy dogs with a strong nervous system that received “excellent” or “very good” marks at the exhibition can participate in breeding. A bitch with obvious shortcomings and vices cannot be used for breeding.

If breeding is not part of your plans, the female dog can be spayed. But, I believe that sterilization can be resorted to only in the case when the bitch has a clear disqualifying defect, and when she no longer has any chance of being used in breeding. The recommended age for sterilization is 8 months (before the first heat... but there are bitches who are in heat at 6 months...), at this age a bitch can be quite simple, and by the age of two she will turn into a beauty, you will want children from her... and there’s already a way back it won’t:((( Therefore, I never recommend that owners spay a healthy, defect-free bitch...

Sterilization of female dogs is equivalent to the term “castration” - this is a surgical operation that deprives the animal of reproductive function. In addition, it is believed that it helps prevent the development of serious diseases. With an ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus), the dog will never suffer from pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterus). The risk of cancer of the mammary glands and uterus in sterilized dogs is significantly reduced. If the Spitz bitch is not intended to be used for breeding, the best age for surgery is eight to nine months (before her first heat). Early sterilization reduces the risk of mammary tumors by about 90%, after the first heat - by 75-80%. Although the risk decreases to a lesser extent later in life, even at a later age a very important advantage of sterilization is the prevention of cases of pyometra, as well as tumors of the uterus and ovaries.

During the postoperative period, you should treat the dog carefully and treat the sutures, which are removed on the 10-12th day. It is possible to apply an intradermal suture that does not require removal. The dog must wear a special blanket.

In any case, the decision is always yours, so analyze all the pros and cons and make your choice. Also keep in mind that while castrating a male dog is a relatively simple operation, spaying a female dog is a serious abdominal operation:(

If you still decide to breed a bitch... continued >>

What is knitting?

Mating or mating is the process of mating a male and a female (male and female) for the purpose of fertilization and obtaining further offspring. If you plan to subsequently receive documents for purebred puppies, the owner must comply with several conditions.

And one of the main criteria is the frequency of mating. The Russian Canine Federation recommends bringing dogs together no more than once a year. As a last resort, pregnancy is allowed twice a year with the condition that subsequent bearing of offspring will not occur earlier than after 12 months.

Sweet couple

When is it possible for the first time?

Purely theoretically, the first mating in dogs can be carried out during the female’s first heat. But experienced dog handlers do not recommend breeding dogs at such an early age, since their body is not sufficiently developed, which can cause difficulties with bearing offspring and the birth process itself.

A female dog's first heat can begin as early as 6 months; mating is best done no earlier than 15-18 months. If mating is carried out for the first time, it is recommended to mate the dog with an experienced male. In this case, owners are recommended to introduce the animals first, as this will help facilitate the mating process itself and subsequent pregnancy. The optimal period for mating is the ovulation period in the female, which occurs on the 10-15th day of estrus.

Rebreeding previously crossed dogs

I have an Istrian shorthaired hound, a rare breed. The boy was found and 6 puppies were received. We want to keep this same male. Is such a mating possible or do I need to look for a new one?

Answer 5

The Istrian Shorthaired Hound is a rare breed. Occurred during the selection of European hounds and Finnish greyhounds. The resulting offspring were distinguished by their speed, keen sense of smell, and body structure. The dog requires spacious premises, physical activity, and an increased number of walks. Hereditary diseases are not tracked, and she rarely gets sick. Crossing animals with smooth, short hair and relatives with hard hair is not allowed.

Mating is possible between distantly and closely related individuals. Inbreeding is carried out with the aim of accumulating and consolidating the necessary character traits in the offspring. Individuals participating in breeding must have the required valuable qualities. The absence of obvious signs of the breed during further crossing will give an unpredictable result.

Inbreeding is divided into types:

• Close - mating occurs between animals that are related by blood: brothers and sisters from the same litter, father and daughter, mother and son. The use of inbreeding in the first generations of offspring is allowed.
• Closely related - cousins, second cousins, aunts and uncles with nephews, grandchildren and grandfather interbreed. The manifestation of the necessary qualities is observed by the fifth generation.
• Moderate - animals that are related in the third or fourth generation mate.
• Distant - relatives in the fifth or sixth generation.

The disadvantages of inbreeding include the lack of diversity at the genetic level. Frequent crossing of related individuals leads to a decrease in the gene pool, problems with reproductive and sexual function arise.

Consequences of inbreeding:

• Proportions and body structure are disturbed, growth decreases. Puppies are culled.
• The offspring are born with weak limbs.
• Bone tissue becomes thinner.
• Delays in development and growth are revealed.
• Offspring are born weak, embryo mortality increases, the number of stillborn individuals increases, and deformities are observed.
• The number of puppies in the litter is decreasing.
• The body's immune defense decreases, the quality of seminal fluid decreases, and infertility occurs.

The advantages include the following qualities:

• There is an opportunity to get puppies similar to their ancestors.
• Manifestation of defects, anomalies, recessive genes of the breed.
• Using inbreeding allows you to predict the appearance of puppies.
• Stabilization of genetics creates high-quality individuals.
• With proper selection, it is possible to obtain offspring that meet the standards.

The documents for the dog indicate who the parents of the puppies are.

Preparation for mating

If dogs are mated for the first time, the owner needs not only to understand what this process is and how it is carried out, but also to figure out how to prepare the animal for it. The first step is to choose a suitable partner for mating. Further preparation for mating requires compliance with the following conditions:

• it is necessary to decide on what day the first mating of a male and female will take place;
• draw up an agreement in which, in addition to the mandatory parameters, additional conditions are prescribed;
• owners need to make sure their pets have no health problems.

Preparing for breeding dogs begins with a veterinary examination and identifying the health status of the pets. To make sure there are no serious diseases, you must undergo the following tests:

• clinical blood test;
• testing for hidden infections: herpes, streptococci, staphylococci.

After conducting a physiological examination, the doctor must issue a conclusion about the satisfactory state of health of the animal.

Visit to the veterinarian

After determining the exact mating date, the owner needs to carry out preventive preparation for the pet:

• 30 days before mating, dogs must be treated against fleas, ticks and lice;
• It is recommended to deworm animals within 25 days.

To determine the exact day of ovulation, it is necessary to determine at what level progesterone is in dogs. A similar analysis can be done in any veterinary laboratory. To increase the chance of successful mating, it is recommended to choose not the first day of egg release, but 2-5 days.

Possible problems

Even if you know how to breed dogs for the first time, you cannot exclude the possibility of certain difficulties arising:

• the bitch behaves aggressively - the owner himself needs to hold the animal in the desired position and, if necessary, put on a muzzle;
• the male does not show the required reaction - the animal needs to poke its nose into the female’s rear;
• the male does not try to jump on the bitch - the owner needs to help the pet by placing his front paws on the female’s back.

After successful mating, it is recommended to monitor the bitch until the end of her heat. This is due to the fact that she can contact another male again, which will cause mixed offspring.

Happy family

On a note! Dogs are mated exclusively to produce purebred puppies. It is absolutely not worthwhile to carry out mating “for health”, since it will not bring any benefit.

First mating

In most cases, dogs do not require assistance during mating, as the process occurs naturally. However, when the female or male lacks such experience, certain difficulties may arise. To begin with, it is recommended to leave the dogs alone for 20-30 minutes so that they can get to know each other better. After this, the mating itself must occur. If any difficulties arise during this process, mating can be done “manually”, when the owners have full control of the procedure;

• the owner needs to tie the bitch by the collar and place his knee under her belly, fixing her in the desired position;
• after this, the “loop” is lubricated with Vaseline;
• when the male begins to jump onto the bitch, he is directed in the right direction;
• After ejaculation, the animals need to be helped to gently disengage. At first, it is not recommended to let the female lie down or make sudden movements.

How does mating
take place? Note! Regardless of the experience of the dogs, mating in any case should take place only in the territory of the dog.