Breeding Entlebuchers

Breeding animals of any kind is an exciting and at times, terrifying experience. In the case of Entlebuchers, it is a calling and a requirement to preserve this wonderful breed for the future.

It may seem intimidating at first – you are already responsible for the health and happiness of your dog. Now, I want you to think about procreation and being responsible for a litter of puppies. You may not feel equipped – but let’s review what’s really involved.

One of my favourite sayings is “Lots of other people do it. You are as smart as they are. You can do it too!”.

Preparing to Breed – For Entlebuchers, we highly recommend health testing before any dog is bred. Since we have so few dogs and limited genetic material we want to do what we can to prevent the inheritance of diseases, especially those that are painful, deadly or difficult for owners to manage. Health testing is pretty easy. One appointment at your regular vet and one appointment at an ophthalmologist. Check the details here.

Find a Mate and a Mentor – Our club approved Active Breeding Dogs can be searched using the Pedigree Database. And I am happy to mentor anyone who is interested in breeding our wonderful Entlebuchers. Send me an email and we’ll get connected.

Plan a Date – Most females have their first heat around 7 months and then every 6 months. Use your past notes to estimate the likely timing. Have both dogs tested for Brucellosis (highly inffectious disease, causes abortion), just before breeding. Plan to meet with the male on day 10 after you notice spotting. In our breed, the female usually travels to the male’s home for breeding. Dogs are very adept at the breeding process. If your female is in heat and ready to ovulate, any male nearby will show interest. Give them an hour to socialize and you will likely have a TIE. (That’s a physical connection that must never be broken for fear of severe injury). You may want to provide up to 3 opportunities, about 18 hours apart for best results.

Stud Dogs Have it Easy – For the stud owner, that’s it. Wait to hear from the bitch owner that the pregnancy is confirmed. Negotiate a fee for your stud service. It is common to take the sales price of a puppy or a puppy in exchange. Depending on your contract agreement, you may receive payment only after the pups are born and healthy. You may be expected to provide a few good puppy homes.

Return Home and Start Planning – The gestation period for dogs is roughly 63 days – approximately 2 months from ovulation. Most breeders start thinking about how they will accomodate whelping, puppy raising and finding homes right after the tie, since you can’t confirm pregnancy (ultrasound) until 21-25 days after the breeding.

Early Plans – In those first weeks of hoping, worrying & wondering if you have a pregnancy, make a few plans – at least in your head.

• Consider studying about canine reproduction. Your Litter A to Z at GoodDog is an excellent resource.
• Is there a quiet room you can use for whelping? It will need to be warm – maybe an extra heater. You want water and clean up supplies fairly close by.
• Can you borrow a whelping box? For Entlebuchers around 30-36 inches square works well. Make sure it’s washable and that you have a pig rail (something to keep the mom from rolling onto puppies) around the outside of the pen.
• Will your vet be supportive of your breeding or do you need to find a reproduction specialist? Do they have after hours services?
• Do you have a mentor that might come for whelping? for reassurance?
• Do you have friends or neighbours who might be interested in helping out for a few shifts?
• If you haven’t already, make a contract with your stud owner.
• Think about a contract for puppy buyers and where you will find them.

Confirm Pregnancy – Book an ultrasound for your female about day 21-25. Tell them you want to confirm pregnancy and get an idea of puppy count if possible. Count out 63 days from the first tie and mark your calendar for whelping day. Contact your stud owner and share the good news.

The month before whelping – Now is the time to put all those loose plans into action.

• Get you whelping room set up and make sure your female is comfortable there. Gather some old towels & blankets – it’s a messy process.
• Book an appointment with your vet on day 63 – you will either check on mom’s status or check newborn pups.
• Adjust your female’s diet – add 25% to her meals each week so that she is getting double her usual amount at whelping time.
• Keep your female mostly at home – no dog parks, shows or competitions where she could get an infection from another dog. Keep her relaxed – no extra stress from travel or visitors she doesn’t like.
• Post your litter announcement so that people are aware of puppies coming up.
• Read and study about neonatal puppies and emergency care. It’s better to be prepared and you can easily save a puppy by watching a couple videos.

Whelping day/night – Often, puppies arrive at night, in the dark. A soft mewing may be all the announcement you receive. Keeping the room dark may help, so don’t turn on all the lights.

1. Make sure the pups is breathing, warm with a dry towel and place it in a safe spot (so it won’t get rolled on). Puppies should arrive every 15 mintues now. Keep track of the whelping time, puppy collar colour, the weight, any noticeable problems.
2. Provide the dam some extra calcium (OralCal, ice cream) after each pup to stimulate contractions.
3. Take your female out to potty if she wants but take your flashlight. She could deliver a puppy out there.
4. If your female stalls for more than an hour, you may be done – or she may be exhausted. If the vet is open, head in now. If not, provide more calcium and wait another 30 minutes.
5. After the pups appear to all have arrived, arrange to take mom into the vet to check for any retained puppies or placenta. You can get the pups checked as well.

NeoNate Care – The first 24 and then 48 hours are critical. If puppies are going to die, this is the most likely time. Keep them warm above all else. They can usually manage the feeding on their own. Track their weights at least twice a day and watch for any that fall behind. They should be suckling every couple hours. Watch for pups away from the rest and get them warm and close to mom.

Raising Puppies – Before long you will develop a routine – waking, clean up, feeding, sleep, play and repeat. Provide pups with more space and new experiences as they mature. Keep them safe – no dog parks or unknown visiting dogs with possible disease. Have them meet lots of different people but make sure it is always positive! Go for car rides, visit the bank – carry them or put them on a blanket in a cart. Watch the dam’s condition and make sure she is getting enough to eat. She will need double her usual while nursing.

Finding Homes – Talk to everyone about your wonderful puppies. Post pictures everywhere. You need to find quality homes for every puppy, preferably ones that will also breed at least once. Dog training classmates, office work mates, facebook friends are all candidates. Breed club members and other breeders may be able to help.

Reclaiming your Space – After all the puppies head out to their homes, take a moment to celebrate your victory and then take back your space. You will be tired of the puppy equipment in the kitchen and the constant clean-up. Put everything away to either use next time or provide to another new breeder. Stay in touch with your puppy families and celebrate each birthday with them.

Thank you for making the effort to breed your dog and support the preservation of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog!