My Tibetan Mastiff has come in season and we hope for a mating next week, pups would be due middle December, how soon after the birth would you say to getting back into the show ring as we have her American breeder coming over and hoping to show her at Crufts. is there any information on things we can do to keep her into top condition. We do not want to push her, we accept if it is not possible.

Lynn

If your breed is anything like mine, double coated then they wil look their worst coat wise when pups are about 12 weeks old.  My bitch had her pups 12 weeks ago, and is threadbare coat wise, but almost fully fit body wise.  I am hoping she just muight be showable for Midalnd counties in 3 weeks, but it is doubtful wh will grow enoguh coat in 3 weeks.

So my answer would ahve to be at least 4 months from birth of pups, but probably up to 6 months from the birth fror them to look really good if they are a coated breed, which is probably just around when they have their next season.

lucky with TM's they usually have only one season a year that mostly clash with Crufts, thanks for the answer. Looks like I am doomed

lynn

I aghree with Brainless, if she's fit she should be fine body wise, but coat is another matter & there's not much you can do about that!

Our flatcoats take right up to the next season to get their coat back - even then, sometimes you wonder where the tail has gone!

You're lucky if you can have your cake and eat it, in a manner of speaking!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I have found restore absolutely brilliant for getting coats back.  I know mine are short coated which is just as bad as long coated as you can see through to the skin but although the coat still drops it comes back in mega fast time.  I also give mine vetzene from mating onwards.

Absolute nightmare with bitches.

whats vetzene ?

They are conditioning tablets availble in all pet shops.

thanks for that ive never bred a litter so i havent a clue cheers

Jo is right.

Chloe took just under 5 months but we were lucky with her because she never "lost" her tail.  However, Sasha who gave "her all" to her puppies is only really looking fab now - 7 months on.  It is very much dependant on the bitch I think

Becky

Yeo in coated breeds you basically have a bitch out of commission from when she comes into season to when pups are five months old so some 8 months or more.

It is therefore all the more amazing when a brood bitch has a great show record, especialy as the males more often go Best Of Breed for a variety of reasons.

My bitch had pups 26th of April and was entered for Darlington as her first show, alas she was in season then so couldn't go! So her first show after the pups was when the pups were almost exactly 5 months old. She looked wonderful then (and got BOB) and does now, any earlier you could still tell she'd had pups beause of the coat and the teats.

My bitch got BOB exactly 15 weeks post whelping and even though I say so myself never looked better. ;)