You are planning to breed a litter and have a bitch in season, pregnant or with puppies?

I tend to avoid doggy people, shows, training classes as much as possible at these times which means I can be out of it for around five months at a time - what do others do?

Christine

I try and have my litters in the winter when there are no champ shows. :D

I have never shown a bitch once she is mated. If I hae had a show when I have pups it is change of clothing, shown dogs rubbed down with diinfectant soaked cloth, and wouldn't go at all if anything like KC rife.

As I live in a suburb with only a Garden, I still take th3e dogs out and about, and wash their feet on returning home.

People do take in welp bitches to show, not sure it's wise but they do and they win. They also take in season bitches which really gets up my nose but there is no rule to say you can't so they do. It does upset the dogs though and the bitches too, it is very difficult benching a dog if there are in season bitches about, even people who have a in season bitch at home cause some problems, but I don't expect them not to come. LOL. If you want to remain friends with your fellow exhibitors leave the bitch at home if all you care about is winning then you will take her and not let others worry you. :)

Taking an in-whelp bitch to a show makes me wonder whether the welfare of the bitch and potential pups is paramount or the winning :)

Christine

I would agree, I personally dont show bitches in season as an owner of males very annoying but there are no rules to say not to. I would never take a bitch once mated as the risk of infection is too high kennel cough etc. If I have pups at home then as before change cothes wash hand before returning to litter. jo

I didnt show my bitch pre mating, before I knew she was pegnant or in whelp for fear of contamination.Showing is not that important to me that I would plan a litter around shows
Diane

I would never show an in season or in whelp bitch. There is too much chance of picking up infections or possibly a re absorbtion of puppies , and its not fair on other exhibitors. My bitches are often a bit quiet or a bit skittish when in season, so wouldn't show that well anyway. Just think of that CRUD virus going round last year, and also the constant threat of kennel cough which is possibly present every show/gathering of dogs, let alone any specific breeding infections like BHS.