Recommendations for a Breeding Programme
Recommendations for a breeding programme in dogs should prioritize the health, temperament, and genetic soundness of both breeding animals.
A set of simple guidelines should be available for the conscientious breeder of an apparently healthy bitch. These are guidelines that cannot harm the animal and usually increase success of any breeding program.
Record the first day of vulvar swelling, bloody vaginal discharge, and when males become obviously interested in the bitch.
Begin “teasing” the bitch with a male dog on day 5 or 6 of proestrus, and repeat this procedure every 2 or 3 days to determine the first day of standing heat. In cases of previous infertility, begin on the first day that proestrus is observed.
Allow the bitch to be bred, beginning on her first dayof acceptance of the male, and continue to breed every 2 to 4 days throughout the acceptance period.
In cases of infertility, as well as bitches with short or prolonged standing heat, teach an owner how to obtain vaginal smears. Smears should be obtained once daily throughout apparent proestrus and estrus as well as several days into diestrus.
The veterinarian can then stain and review slides as they are brought in, or the entire series of slides can be reviewed after estrus has apparently ended. The results of slide interpretation can then be correlated with breeding dates and conception rate. When possible, a series of serum progesterone measurements with or without vaginoscopy should be considered.
Complete records should be kept on the dates of proestrus, breeding, and vaginal smears. Notes should be made on the presence or absence of ties, the length of each tie, and the behavior of both the male and female.
The success of the male in siring litters with other bitches should be recorded. Records should also be kept on whelping dates, litter size, health of puppies, length of parturition, interval between births, and any other valuable information. This includes the reason for destroying any puppies.
