Welcome to the Stokeshire Designer Doodles Whelping Protocol. This comprehensive guide is created to ensure the well-being and success of your breeding journey, regardless of whether you're a seasoned breeder or embarking on your first breeding adventure. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource throughout every stage of the process.

Breeding dogs responsibly involves more than just pairing two good specimens. It's about ensuring the safety and health of the mother and her offspring at every step of the way. That's why having a well-established whelping protocol is crucial. This guide offers meticulous step-by-step instructions tailored for dog breeders to guarantee a successful birthing process.

The moment when new life enters the world is both delicate and critical. For dog breeders, having a whelping protocol can make all the difference between life and death. This guide lays out the crucial steps involved in assisting a mother through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care.

Pre-Whelping Preparations

Creating a Comfortable Whelping Area

• Choose a quiet, secluded spot away from household traffic.

• Set up a sturdy whelping box with rails to prevent the mother from accidentally laying on the puppies.

• Line the box with clean, absorbent, and easily replaceable bedding.

Gathering Essential Supplies

• Stock up on clean towels, scissors, thread, iodine, and a weighing scale.

• Ensure you have a heat lamp or pad to regulate the puppies' temperature.

Temperature Regulation

• Maintain the whelping area's temperature at approximately 85°F (29.5°C) for the first four days post-birth.

Monitoring the Mother Dog

Recognizing Signs of Impending Labor

• Keep an eye out for nesting behavior, restlessness, or decreased appetite.

• The mother's body temperature will drop below 99°F (37.2°C) within 24 hours of labor onset.

Tracking Body Temperature

• Start monitoring and charting the mother's temperature twice daily in the week before her due date.

Monitoring Behavior and Appetite

• Be attentive to changes in demeanor or eating habits as these can be subtle signs that labor is approaching.

Assisting with the Birth

Understanding the Stages of Labor

• Familiarize yourself with the three stages of labor: the onset of labor, delivery of puppies, and expulsion of the afterbirth.

Providing Support and Reassurance

• Stay with the mother to offer comfort and assess the situation for any complications.

Assisting with the Delivery Process

• Be prepared to help with removing membranes or tying off umbilical cords if necessary.

Post-Birth Care for Puppies and Mother

Removing Birth Sacs and Clearing Airways

• Gently remove the birth sacs if the mother hasn't already and clear the puppies' airways with a bulb syringe.

Ensuring Proper Bonding and Nursing

• Observe the puppies to ensure they are nursing regularly and the mother is comfortable and calm.

Monitoring Weight Gain and Health

• Weigh the puppies at birth and track daily to ensure they are gaining weight.

Potential Complications and Solutions

Recognizing Common Issues During Whelping

• Stay alert for prolonged labor, excessive bleeding, or signs the mother is in distress.

Steps to Take in Case of Emergencies

• Keep your veterinarian's number close at hand and do not hesitate to call for assistance.

Consulting a Veterinarian

• Schedule regular check-ups post-whelping and seek advice for any concerns.

Addressing Low Calcium and Behavior Concerns in Your Dog: A Comprehensive Guide"

In the past 5 years, breeders, including us at Stokeshire, have observed a significant link between oral calcium supplementation and the alleviation of various behavioral issues in female dogs. From mild anxiety to overt aggression towards dogs, people, and their pups, the positive impact of calcium supplementation has been witnessed and shared by numerous breeders.

Behavioral Challenges Resolved by Oral Calcium:

• Poor mothering

• Anxiety

• Digging in or out of the whelping box

• Restlessness

• Trying to hide

• Leaving whelping box and puppies

• Ignoring puppies

• Refusing to clean puppies

• Moving puppies

• Burying puppies

• Growling at puppies

• Biting puppies

• Growling at familiar people

While calcium supplementation for behavior improvement is based on anecdotal evidence from experienced breeders, it has shown promising results. If you notice unusual behaviors in your dog, we highly recommend trying oral calcium as a first step, although we acknowledge that this approach is not yet scientifically validated.

Dosing Recommendations:

Determining the right dose for your dog may require experimentation. Some dogs may need calcium throughout the day from whelping until six or seven weeks, while others may only need supplementation for a few days. Let your dog's behavior guide you in adjusting the dosage.

To assist with dosing, you can use our Calcium Calculator for Whelping & After. The recommended maximum daily amount of elemental calcium is 91 mg per pound of body weight.

Types of Calcium Supplements:

1. Calcium Phosphate: Excellent for lactating bitches, it includes both calcium and phosphorus, with 39% elemental calcium.

2. Calcium Citrate: Easily absorbed and can be taken without food, with 21% elemental calcium.

3. Calcium Carbonate: Common but should be taken with food; it has 40% elemental calcium.

Recommended Products:

• Doc Roy’s Healthy Bones: Chewable tablets or powder.

• Oral Cal Plus: A quick-acting gel that most bitches find palatable.

• Calcium Citrate: Can be added to food or mixed with liquids.

Caution: Ensure a balanced calcium-phosphorus ratio, and be mindful of Vitamin D3 levels. Short-term over-supplementation of Vitamin D during whelping and the early weeks postpartum is generally considered safe, but any signs of toxicity warrant a vet visit.

Take charge of your dog's well-being with informed decisions on calcium supplementation, addressing both low calcium concerns and potential problem behaviors.

Master Supply List

Essential Items for a Whelping Kit

• Gloves, thermometer, sterile gauze, heating pad, stethoscope, and puppy formula as a backup.

Additional Supplies for Post-Birth Care

• Nutritional supplements for the mother, deworming medication, and first set of vaccines for the puppies.

Before You Breed: Master Supply List

Before diving into the breeding process, it's crucial to have a well-prepared master supply list. Here are some key items and their purposes:

• Blueberries, blackberries, or goji berries, or Cranimals Very Berry Organic Antioxidant Pet Supplement

  • Purpose: Antioxidants from berries to reduce stress

• Grizzly (Wild Salmon) or Grizzly (Wild Pollock) or Carlson’s DHA Super Gems, Amazon or Nordic Naturals Capsules, Amazon

  • Purpose: Healthy brain, immune system, and retinal development in puppies

• Fortiflora® 1 box, 30-day supply or Fortiflora® 3 boxes, 90-count

  • Purpose: Avoid disease & help digest food, Multi-Vitamin

• Pro-Balance Canine Wellness

  • Purpose: She’s In Season

First & Second Trimester

Moving into the first and second trimesters, specific items become crucial for the health and development of the puppies:

• 5 mg Folic Acid or 5 mg Folate or 800 mcg Folic Acid

  • Purpose: Healthy development of pups

• Compound, lighted microscope or Cotton-tipped applicators, 6”, sterile or Microscope slides

  • Purpose: For vaginal cytology

• Vetone Dip Quick or Wright's Blood Stain Biological Stain Lab Chemical 15mL or WITNESS LH Test Kit

  • Purpose: To test LH level to determine fertilizable period

Third Trimester

As the third trimester approaches, focus on items to support the impending whelping process:

• Click for recipe: Liver water or Click for recipe: Myra Savant Harris’s puppy formula

  • Purpose: Make now and freeze for the bitch and in case of fading pups

• Doppler or Lubricant or Rectal thermometer

  • Purpose: For checking heart rates, vaginal exams, and lubrication if there's a stuck puppy

• Whelping box (Jonart, DuraWhelp, Make your own)

  • Purpose: Whelping pups

Take to the Vet

Preparation for vet visits during whelping is crucial. Ensure you have:

• Vehicle with a full tank of gas, Extra person, Phone & charger

  • Purpose: Essential for safe transportation to the vet during whelping or a C-Section

Essential Whelping Supplies

Create a comfortable whelping environment with these essentials:

• Leash & collar, Water and bowl, Liver water, Bed/blankets, Clipboard and pen

  • Purpose: Ensure comfort and readiness for the whelping process

Emergency Kit

Be prepared for unforeseen circumstances with an emergency kit:

• Gallon zip-loc bags, Newborn collars, Premade snacks/beverages, Layers of extra clothing

  • Purpose: Emergency supplies for various situations, including C-Sections

Whelping Equipment & Supplies

Equip yourself with tools for monitoring and assisting during whelping:

• Camera/video camera, Clock/watch, Delee catheter, Eye droppers, Fetal Doppler or Stethoscope

  • Purpose: Essential tools for monitoring and assisting during whelping

Grooming and Care Supplies

Provide post-whelping care with grooming and cleaning supplies:

• Grooming equipment, Microwaveable disc, Kennel lead, Plastic laundry basket, Hemostats – curved, Hemostats - straight

  • Purpose: Grooming and care during and after whelping

Additional Supplies for Puppy Care

Ensure additional tools are on hand for puppy care and monitoring:

• Nail clipper, Oxygen with regulator and face mask, Paper and pen/pencils, Coffee, Karo Syrup/Frosting/Pedialyte Solution

  • Purpose: Additional tools for puppy care and monitoring

Comfort and Whelping Environment

Create a comfortable and clean environment for whelping:

• Scale, digital, Surgical scissors, Rectal Thermometer and lube, Room thermometer, Towels, soft and clean, Vetwrap

  • Purpose: Create a comfortable and clean environment for whelping

Monitoring Tools

Keep a close eye on the health of the puppies with monitoring tools:

• Video Baby Monitor, Warming Box or Incubator, Whelping box pads (Wonder Fleece, EZ Whelp)

  • Purpose: Tools for monitoring and maintaining the health of puppies

Feeding and Supplement Supplies

Ensure proper feeding and supplementation for the bitch and puppies:

• Dr. Brown’s or MAM preemie human baby bottles, Calcium supplements, Disinfectants, Disposable Chucks

  • Purpose: Ensure proper feeding and supplementation for the bitch and puppies

Conclusion

Implementing the Stokeshire Designer Doodles Whelping Protocol can greatly improve the chances of a safe and healthy birthing experience for your dogs. The protocol is designed to protect and support canine mothers and their puppies by promoting best practices in breeding at every stage of the process.

By following these comprehensive guidelines, you not only ensure the well-being of the dogs in your care but also contribute to the breeding community with your commitment to excellence. However, while this guide provides essential information, it's important to always remain attentive and responsive to the needs of your dogs. May your whelping sessions be as joyful as they are productive!

This guide is a valuable resource for Stokeshire Designer Doodles breeders, providing insights and recommendations for each stage of the breeding process. Whether you're preparing for breeding, navigating through trimesters, or ensuring a safe whelping environment, refer to this guide to have a successful breeding journey.