So tonight I reached for and dusted off my black whelping journal. I also looked up my dad's red journal which is a true and priceless relic from my parents breeding program of Boston Terriers. Not a lot has changed regarding mother nature since the '60's so I enjoy reading his notes! My own journal begins with an entry dated July 6, 1990. (His begins on January 1, 1962.) My last entry was written awhile time ago and it says:
"Thus ends my note taking for a very long time..."
And the next entry, dated April 24, 2018 says:
"Now we hopefully begin a new chapter.
Holly came into heat two weeks ago and she has naturally
and successfully been bred to Bullet."
Counting and more counting! That's what it's all about at the moment and it began with counting the day of "1st blood" (pro-estrus) as Day One. Before progesterone testing became a normal routine experience taught breeders that the boys usually know when breeding should take place and also that Days 9 - 11 - 13 (estrus) very often are, although not always, optimal times for that to happen.
We've certainly experienced the complete opposite taking place, even when going by vaginal smears to detect cornification or blood draws to determine progesterone levels. As the article says "conception is most likely with natural breedings having "ties", but artificial insemination (“AI”) using a fertile dog and proper timing and technique can be highly successful." We are fans of primarily natural breedings although there are times when "AI" has been desirable for any number of reasons. What is most important for any breeder to understand is that regardless of method used, there is a time when things do need to happen!
To a new breeder trying to establish a breeding program a girl dog who is a true hussy around the chosen boy dog is to be desired! It is equally desirable for her to be an easy, free natural whelper and have strong maternal instincts. We have been very blessed over the years in this regard, thankfully so. There are absolute benefits to progesterone testing because the breeder has the numbers necessary to determine the LH surge and decline which indicates ovulation is about to or has occurred. We've been out training dogs in the field before when the call came from our vet "bring her over to us right now!" for a planned "A-I" trans-cervical insemination. I remember telling our friends goodbye, making a hasty retreat home to get our girl, and rushing over to the vets for the procedure! (Which was, by the way, successful.)
Counting the days of Holly's estrus now changes to counting Holly's days of pregnancy. I count ahead 2 months and 2 days from the time of the first breeding and then mark out that entire week on my calendar. When you have tested progesterone levels to determine best time to breed you are certain of when ovulation exactly occurred. Puppies are born 63 Days from ovulation. Otherwise, without progesterone testing, even if I were to say "so and so whelped on Day 60" the fact of the matter would be - the puppies arrived 63 days following ovulation.
What am I going to be looking for in the next few weeks in Holly? Subtle changes in temperament and eating habits at first. Just around 3 weeks I'm going to looking to find one episode of morning sickness. (As my long standing ATB friends and family know - I do get excited about dog vomit. No eye rolls please.) I'll be watching for some physical changes too. There's several ways of pregnancy diagnosis for dogs including palpation, ultrasound and x-rays. Palpating should only be done by experienced hands. Not all breeders will have an ultrasound and or x-rays. Even so, I will especially look forward to confirming puppy heartbeats with an ultrasound at the proper time and stand on the threshold of high hopes, remaining firm and steadfast. One day at a time.
Take care and God bless. Thank you for your interest and for following along.
John, Ann, and All Things Brittany.
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