Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to introduce myself. I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel female. She was just bred a few weeks ago and I am very exited. I have been researching breeding for years now and finally got up the gumption to finally do it. I have two mentors in my breed who are both exited for me as well. My mother owns the stud so she is extatic as well! Baili is due the first week of December, though we don't know exactly what date. She has been staying with my mom because I am out of the state for the time being, I'll be back in time hopefully, we're in Hawaii. Baili has extremely light heat cycles and we didn't even know she was in heat until Gunner, the stud, pointed it out. She bleeds very little and usually keeps all that clean herself, yay for none of those panty liners! She does swell a little though. Both dogs have had their series of tests done by the vet and have exellent backgrounds. Baili should be seeing her vet sometime this week for palpation to make sure. She has been going through some strange behavioral issues since she's been bred. She guards her food, is very clingy, and recently has begun morning sickness. Either she's bred or she thinks she is. This will be her first litter, she'll be three in February. And Gunner is 11 months. We are so exited and I figured a good breeding forum would be another nice asset in addition to my two mentors. I am very exited and have been planning this a long time. Ever since high school, I have wanted to breed, and I've wanted to be a vet since I can remember. I chose the CKCS about 5 years ago, but there was so much to learn, it's taken me this long to get this far. I've had Baili since she was a pup and Gunner was hand picked by Baili's breeder to compliment her few short commings. I grew up on a farm breeding dairy goats mainly so I am familiar with many of the problems that occur durring breeding and birth. It will be nice to scan the forum for anything pertinent to my situation. I have scanned a little and am a little appalled by people who cross breed on purpose. Why do it? Even here in Hawaii, we do not have an overpopulation issue but still, why? I can never understand that. It seems so rewarding to breed two healthy conforming dogs, why not research and do it that way? The cost of whelping doesn't even seem to cover the cost of raising unwanted pups. Look at me, totally off the subject, I'll leave it at that and a hello!

LOL that should be the first week of January she's due!

Hi, and welcome! We hope you also come by our weekly dog breeding chat, Tuesdays at 9 PM Eastern Time (I'm sorry I don't know what that is in Hawaii!). Some GREAT breeders and a couple of Cav folks, too!

Links, info, and a place to sign up for a free email reminder here:

www.doghobbyist.com/DogBreeding.html

Good luck with your expected litter, please let us know how the vet visit goes. Are you going to have an ultrasound done?
-----
Christie Keith
Caber Feidh Scottish Deerhounds
Holistic Husbandry since 1986
www.caberfeidh.com/
Dogged Blog

Thank you for the welcome. I'll ask the vet about the ultra sound. I think she was thinking of an xray as soon as that's possible. She's a mobile vet, one reason we picked her. She's been taking care of our animals for about 10 years and we trust her. I like the fact that the pups and mom will never have to leave the security of home for vet visits! Plus, our vet is so impressed with the dogs, she's buying one of the pups once we know if she's even pregnant! I will see what time that is in Hawaii. I think we're 6 hours different from the East coast, but I'll make sure. Thanks again for the welcome.
Amber

It seems so rewarding to breed two healthy conforming dogs, why not research and do it that way? The cost of whelping doesn't even seem to cover the cost of raising unwanted pups. Look at me, totally off the subject, I'll leave it at that and a hello!

I agree with you 110% on that! Breeding your own litter & pouring your heart and soul into it is the single most rewarding and worthwhile thing I've ever done. With my first litter, I was extremely misguided. I thought I could make a few bucks while fulfiling this, my lifelong dream. It nevr happened. I was hard up for cash but I made the decision to set the mold as to what type of breeder I wanted to become. I could have easily sold all my pups in a week, as that litter was ready to go around this time of year, and X-mas pups were in demand. I did end up selling all the pups, including my favorite. When I sold him, I literally felt I sold my soul, and have avoided doing anything of that sort in all my other breeding endeavors - which are very limited. I only breed a bitch 1-3X in her life, with two litters being average. I'm going to start breeding less, because I want to begin keeping entire (or a significant portion of) litters.
I've since learned that breeders are made or broken several weeks following whelping. Phone calls from prospective buyers, cost of quality food, time, socializing, CLEANING, CLEANING, CLEANING, worming, vaccinations .... cleaning ..... I tell you the cleaning and stupid peopel calling for a 9" mini BEagle as a Christmasnpresent they want to know will make a good outdoor pet can break you!
If I have any advice to offer you, its make sure the pups are moved to a safe area when they are about one month old. This sis one thing I overlooked when planning my first litter, and it literally cost me thousands in damage and undue stress.
I wish you luck and success with this litter!

Thank you so much ChrisX80z. Don't worry too much about the puppies. I have both my teanage brothers making her a whelping box. I wanted one specifically with a double door, you know the ones that you can shut just the bottom half of the door if you want or the whole door for when puppies get older. We've made an apointment for about ten days from now to get xrays so we can count puppies so I am exited about that. Everything seems to be going smoothly ecxept for one thing. She has been eating a TON of food and we think she's getting fat, not just pregnant fat. She's rolly. We don't want to put her on a diet but I know overweight issues can cause complications. She just seems to be hungry all the time and has even started to guard her food(and sleep on top of it) so we have to feed the other dogs in seperate areas of the house. Any suggestions on any of that?
Thanks again,
Bam