Hi all
I have been approached for advice on breeding. A lady who works in a different dept to me has phoned me for some advice for her daughter who breeds gsd's. I can't really give much advice as I have never bred before, Anyway i dln'y know her name so we'll call her mrs x. right so mrs x has got a five year old gsd who has had one litter in the past howvever she has not caught on in her last three seasons, now the dog does get stressed out going in the car and sometimes even sick. Could this be the reason she hasn't got pregnant?So mrs x mum knows I have dog's and wondered what I thought it could be? All i've suggested is that when she goes to the stud again go so far in car then walk rest of way maybe this will calm her down before she get's there. Mrs x just wants other opinions really she has been to vet and there are no obvious reason's for this dog not getting pregnant.
I think I've mentioned evry thing i'm aware of, so to all breeders on this board what do you think?

Alison

With the matings she's missed to, have they all been to the same dog? Sometimes it just won't "take" even if both are fertile.

Hi Jeanjenie
The first two missed were to the same dog the third a different and she's just been on the phone asking again what I think as she's going to another different dog on Sunday. I've told her I'll phone back as i'm asking all my friends on cd, Apparently she's gone on two days I think she said day 14 and 17 I don't know much about breeding so don't know if she's even going on right days. Arn't the matings supposed to take place 24hours apart?

Alison

It's generally best to mate on alternate days as long as the bitch will stand - this can vary from season to season. If she's willing, then it's most likely the right day.

I can only got by experience - my bitch missed to the same dog on three succesive seasons. After that we mated her to his full brother from a later litter (I badly wanted that bloodline), and it worked. But if she's already tried changing dogs....I don't know

Neither do I?
What do you think about the stress factor could that be playing a part?
Alison

I guess the only way to find out if stress is a factor would be for the stud dog to visit her, rather than the other way round?

Has the bitch been tested to make sure she hasn't picked up an infection that's left her sterile?

If she's not sure if she's mating her on the wrong day the vet can test to see when she's "ripe"

HTH,

Fiona
x x x

Hi Fiona
Yes the bitch has been to vets had tests and been given all clear. I think she knows these are right days , was just me double checking with you on here, as I don't know much about breeding.
Does going so far in car then walking rest of way sound reasonable, that's what i've advised so far but wanted cd's opinion
Thanks to you both:)
Alison
Edited to answer agiosdogs
Yes the dog does play and stand quite happily

Bob
If she's been blood tested to get the right day for mating, had pap tests done to check for any infection, and she's happy to be mated and has already had a litter, I just don't know sorry.Unless she has had an infection in the past which has caused her to be sterile...
just a thought / when she caught for puppies last time did she and the dog tie..or was it a slip mating ..if a tie .how long for and did she know the dog at all ?
Tracey

Hi ]
Yes they did tie but I don't know how long for. No she didn't know the dog.
Thanks for all help I am just going to advise drive so far then walk rest of way and suggest having bitch tested again.

Alison

Hi, I dont think stress at the time of mating would make any difference personally, though stress later in pregnancy ( from about 3-4 weeks gestation to 6 1/2 ) can cause re-absorbtion, so if she is mated again I would definately keep her at home once she has been mated and not take her out in the car if she hates it. Has she had any tests ( vaginal swab or smear) while she is actually in season as sometimes infection only shows itself when a bitch is actually in season and cannot be seen when they are not in season.

Hi
with regards to infecton, i only know that she has been tested and is not sterile, I don't know when tests were carried out as this is not my dog. I have only spoke to dog owners mum, so don't really know full facts, the bitch was being mated today so far don't know if tied or not?

Alison
What is/happens with re absorbtion?

Hi alison, re-absorbtion can occur between about 4 and 6 weeks after mating if either the bitch is not 100% happy with her environment for some reason or infection. The developing puppies are literally re absorbed into the bitches system and a bitch who was scanned and definately pregnant, then produces no puppies at all. There is no abortion or anything unpleasant for the bitch or you to deal with, they just dont have puppies after all.
In the wild dog, it protects bitches from carrying full term if there is not enough food around or maybe they are being bullied by another pack member or maybe has a "one off" very stressful experience like a fight or for some reasons conditions are just not right for the individual. It can also be caused by infection, but I feel that environmental factors are usually more likley. Once pregnant some bitches are very sensitive, something may happen that would normally hardly upset them at all i.e. just being the lowest in the pecking order of a multi dog household could be enough for a bitch to re absorb imo.