Hi all, I could really do with some of your experiences and opinions on this.

We're planning a litter with my girl, have a Sh Ch sire all lined up for her which is really exciting (after months of poring over pedigrees, taking advice etc etc), and are now waiting for her to come into season during the next few weeks.

After the last couple of days where it's been almost unbearably hot, I'm beginning to wonder just how uncomfortable it might be for my bitch to be pregnant if it should be as hot as it was last year. I have lots of ways in which to keep her comfortable, but as she loves swimming, this would not be an option to her whilst in whelp.

So if she was mated June time and the pups arrived sometime in August, they would be ready to go during October. Her last litter was born in May, therefore we were able to get them outside a lot as they got older. It was however extremely hot weather last summer and the poor little mites were spaced out in the garden (under shade) and had paddling pools and cold wet towels to lie on which helped a bit. This time around they might be born during a hotter spell but it will get wetter/colder as they get older.

In your opinions, is it better to try to keep the bitch cool whilst pregnant, or would it be better to wait until the next season and have her mated Dec/Jan where the pups would be born Feb/March?

Part of me thinks it would be nice for my girl to enjoy the summer with all that entails, but I'm not sure I would prefer a winter litter where they couldn't really get outside, and last time trust me, it was a godsend for them to be able to spend time outside, and also they all housetrained really quickly because of it.

The other reason I'm not sure about waiting is that she had quite a severe phantom after her last season, and I just don't want to take it for granted that we could just wait, that might not be an option for her if this should happen again. She is a med/large breed gundog with quite a thick coat!

Obviously I'm open to suggestion on this, the last few days have made me question whether it's the right thing to do.... I'm having a bit of a dilemma!

Thanks

personally I would never have a summer litter again... I am struggling to keep pups cool, and mum is not happy.. Because she is so hot, she is not eating, she is too hot while feeding pups, and that must be so uncomfortable.. Yes, I may be able to get pups out into the lovely weather, but if its too hot, they will still have to stay inside.. no different to winter litters there..

Having a gundog breed with a good puppy coat, I dont see the problem with winter litters.. they go out for toileting, and a play for 5/10mins, rain or snow.. Its only us humans that seem to dislike the winter weather ;-) 

Pups born in the Winter, are at a good age when the increase in walking co-incides with warmer spring weather, lighter nights etc.. so much more fun to have 6month old pups in the spring.. than Autumn/winter..

No-one can tell you when the best time is for you and your girl to have a litter.. I know many people who hate having Winter litters, although I do understand that for some breeds, Winter is definately not the best time.. but for a gundog.. Winter over Summer everytime

Summer everytime.

We have aircon for the dogs and shaded areas in the garden where the puppies can be contained. Cold floors and shade are all mine have ever needed with aircon indoors.
I find they are cleaner and free to run wild out doors in the cooler parts of the day then indoors during the warmest times.
I will never have a wet winter litter if I can help it....white fluffy dogs and rain dont mix.

I guess it's a balance between keeping mum comfortable and happy and minimising the disaster zone which was my house with the last litter...lol! We do have tiled floors in the 2 rooms the pups would be in mainly, but especially when they're really tiny, I would worry the house wasn't warm enough for them. Difficult balance I know.

Re the gundog comments, I would tend to agree, but my whole garden tends to turn into a complete quagmire when it's really wet, I do have a largish driveway area which is concreted, so they could be contained there.

I guess my main concerns are around my bitch whelping a litter during the height of the summer, which if is during August it would be... although the cooler weather would be just around the corner.

The whelping room would be at a temperature equivalent to a hot summers day anyway so its just the run up to that day, and most sensible pregnant ladies would seek the shade :-)

I did see someone try to have a litter in a conservatory once....... dangerous.

I agree with you KayC, for all those reasons and for neighbour relations too.

Unless you have no close neighbours a growing litter can be quite noisy.  In the Summer this means they can wake up and start with the demented seagull noise at 4am!!

If it is hot they sleep in the day and want to be active very early or into the night.

Much harder to keep them cool than warm.

Also your right in the middle of the show season and missing all the shows in the Summer.

I have a 17 day old litter that should have been born in October.

They will go to new homes end of June/early July.  They won't be able to go out for much exercise until November, and be at their adolescent most bumptious through the winter. 

People can forgive dug gardens and chewed plants more easily than damaged furniture and carpets.

The only plus point is a little less changing of wet bedding, but if you have a crisp dry bit of winter weather, this isn't such an issue, and it's just as bad in a wet summer.

Of course bitches often are not obliging as to when they come in season.

> but I'm not sure I would prefer a winter litter where they couldn't really get outside, and last time trust me, it was a godsend for them to be able to spend time outside,

I have never managed to keep a litter of my breed happy indoors only past 4 1/2 weeks, no matter what the weather (see the snow pics of my Christmas litter of 2008, when a month old).

This would only be an issue with delicate breeds that really feel the cold.  Most other breeds have decent fur coats.

I have often wondered how any breeder rears a litter entirely indoors, and how they cope without soem safe outside play area and shelter.  Mine would be screaming blue murder, if they had to spend more than sleepy time and the odd hour in their indoor pen, even then they would rather go outside and sleep on the ground.

my pups are 3weeks old today and have thick coats ,its so fliping hot in here and the pups are panting ,we are going to get a air con unit for our livin room ,i love early spring better or late summer litters ,mums not to bad at the mo with the weather shes coping alot better than i thought she would.

I'm with tooolz here -winter litters are awful. Tiny toypups can't go outside at all (my latest litter didn't get to set foot outside until over 8 weeks old due to it being so cold and wet), larger pups are hard to keep warm enough when they go out and get absolutely filthy -I filmed once what my house looked like after a littler of 9 had been outside when it was wet.  They miss out on so much, whereas in summer they can spend lots of time inside, lots of time outside, whatever is needed. You have the longer daylight hours as well, not restricting you in the same way. I find it much harder to keep pups warm enough than cool enough.

Only had a litter of two last Novembe and that was a nightmare with the terrible weather.  They couldn't go outside as the snow was deeper than them and Poppy has taken a while to be clean inthe house.

We've always had our litters totally indoors all throughout no matter what the size of the litter.  Though there again the playpen is rather large and enough space for people and the pups to play in.

I cajn't fit a puppy pen larger than 5 feet x 4 feet, where their outside pen is 12 x 10 feet plus a further 10 x 5 feet of kennel floor area.  Also by 8 weeks they are often free to use the rest of the dogs area of garden and kitchen.

Our litter wouldn't be born until perhaps late August (depending on when she's mated) so would in fact be a late summer litter. By the time the pups are up and about it would be late September & October when they go. I know there are pros and cons, but by my calculations, if we are lucky enough to have a show quality pup to keep, she would be 6 months in February so would be right in Puppy throughout the Champ show season. If I leave it until the following season, pups wouldn't be born until March time & would therefore miss all the Puppy Classes at the Champ shows.

We don't have an outside kennel area, but with the last litter fenced off a portion of the garden which was against the garage wall, and also erected a gazebo & had a paddling pool...lol! they had direct access to this area from the kitchen door which worked really well. My main problem with wet winter weather would be the state they would all be getting in coming in and out with mud and wet feet. I have thought about converting part of my garage (electricity & windows etc) as a temporary measure as for future litters I hope to have relocated by then with a property I can adapt to suit needs more...

My main dilemma right now is more about how my bitch would cope with being possibly heavily pregnant in the heat of the summer. I know there is a big chance the summer could be a wash out, but if it's anything like today with her being uncomfortably pregnant, I'd feel bad about being resonsible for her suffering. Luckily we have fully tiled floors which are great when it's hot, and I always wet towels and lay them down. I've just now got back from walking them (10 pm) as I would never take them out in the heat of the day.

Thanks for all your views, it's something I have to make an informed decision about now before any mating has taken place.

Winter is great as it avoids shows but then that is not of interest to the birch.  I much prefer spring and summer.  Air con units can be picked up quite cheaply and set at a particular temperature plus pips get out in the garden more often.  I gave three 5 month old pips just now they gave nee. Lying under the air con unit all afternoon.     

Probably pros and cons to born but I would be picking the areson to suit me and my bitch not the weather.

> interest to the birch

Hey honey...some of your keys aren't working too well ;-)

LOL oh dear that is this silly predict a text on my phone. I must check before pressing send LOL

Pips for pups LOL.

'Pips' is cute

now i understud the pips lol but not the "gave nee" LOL

Oh dear is that ever bad eh.  No more posts from this phone LOL.

Are we expecting a hot Summer?  I don't want to jinx a pleasantly warm season but I'm sure I can remember more wet summer holidays than very hot dry ones :)

Just a thought...

I'm glad you you posted it was from your phone Blue, I thought you had lost it completely there :-D :-D Loving the pips though :-D :-D

I agree with KayC

Much prefer winter litters easy to keep a litter warm where as now I am stuggling to keep my pups cool. I am very lucky that at 7 weeks we can play in the paddling pool or they lay in the sand pit once I have wet the sand. Would hate them to be very small and still in with mum in this weather.

The noise from this litter is worse too as it gets light early so they start playing and screaming earlier...like 4am!!!

Also the noise of a litter in a garden if you have neighbours who like to sit out in the sun can be a problem.

Would definately opt for winter litters

today found another reason for Winter litters.. blasted flies... Poor mum trying to feed pups has being driven to distraction by 3 today..

Litter born in March...all now ready to go to new homes this week...has been very easy to start housetraining them and they have the run of the garden..with loads of shaded areas....fans inside the house to keep them and us cool.

I count a March litter really as a Winter litter. 

Given the choice I like October to March litters.

I've been really interested in this post as my two previous litters have been in March which was a lovely time of year.  I did have one litter in August which resulted in c section and loss of pups.  All I can say from that is that my girl struggled in the last couple of weeks of her pregnancy with the hot weather.  I am contemplating either a winter (Nov/Dec) litter this year or summer litter next year).  I would have to give up my show season plus deal with the potential hot weather so am going for a winter litter and praying for some, albeit cold, sunny days to get them out in the garden.  My pups, like Brainless', are screaming to get out every day from around 4 weeks old so can't imagine having to keep them all indoors!

I am expecting a litter from my large breed working gundog in mid June. I had to do it this way round (Summer over Winter) as I didn't want her to miss the shooting season. She enjoys it so much I didn't think it fair.
She is so far being very good with finding shade for herself. The other reason I thought that the summer would be better is that she is close coated and feels the cold terribly - I thought she would do better rearing pups through the summer, I must be the only person in the country hoping for a cool July and August (not going down too well with the family as we run an Ice Cream business in Cornwall!)
We plan to make a whelping area in our dining room where there is no heat from the sun and once the puppies are older they can have a play pen in the shady garden....  

yes gema i was the same lol hoping for it to be cooler ,the last few days have been a nightmare tho with 3week old pups ive had such a job keeping them cool ,only place i have for them is my back living room and it gets so hot in the afternoon :( we were trying to get our other girl to mate but im so glad she didnt ( 1st try and maidon bitch) me and hubby have spoke about this and will now try and have early spring or autum litters now ,1 of my girls has a season every 4months so i can do this thankfully ,but im so desperate to keep a pup from my other girl ,didnt get 1 i wanted from this litter :( only had 3 bless her! i now carnt wait for the end of summer :-O