After my girl only had two pups, smallest litter in the breed ever in the UK just wondering about fertility, especially as there's recently been a litter of 10 and one of 11 in the breed.

Do any of you give different food, supplements etc. before breeding from your bitch?

What water do your dogs drink? Tap water can have quite high levels of hormones (because of the use of the contraceptive pill) which in places is high enough to change the sex of fish, and it's possible it has an effect of animal as well as human fertility.

has you know i alway put the girls on abc tablet for 10 cover over the mating,blood test them not at the vet send it away,
the girl are always on a high protine diet food ( but fed lease of it beacuse of weight}
vit E is good leading up to season for mating.

I've started feeding my girls Royal Canin HT42D, which is supposed to help with fertility, my last girl had a litter of 7 which isn't overly huge but a good size for a cocker, not sure if it was down to the food though as it's the first time we've used it.

I use this too as soon as any bitch I want to breed from comes into season - have had varying results over the years 2, 9, & 10 - plus a litter due in 12 days which I think will be on the larger side.  I also give Vitamin E - whether it helps, is coincidence or just luck who knows?

I have given wheat germ tablets to my bitches and stud dog before mating, with very good results.

Tracy

I have my girl due in season at the end of next month and this will be her 3rd and final litter and i really want a girl to keep, do you continue with the vit E for matings and throughout the pregnancy or only up to the matings as i want to give this a try as she missed last time and the litter before that was only 2 (very small litter in my breed)

thanks

Get my wheatgerm oil from Dorwest Herbs and they recommend give a week before mating then double on day of mating and then maintenance dose for 3 weeks afterwards.

Tracy

Thanks guys, was advised the same by a specialist today so that's what we will be doing next time.  It's not that I want a big litter but the breed average of 5 would of been nice!  Still they are a strong healthy pair and the girl looks gorgeous and mum's been brilliant so I shouldn't complain!!

I don't know about anything else but three times I have done two matings and each time got a much smaller litter.  I only usually do one mating on day 12 and get into double figures every time.  I also find if I mate one day earlier than day 12 which I have done on each of these matings it has resulted in smaller litter.

The semen can only fertilise the eggs produced, so probly she needs to be mated a little later? ever season can be diffrent.
As you know the most commonest problem is mating to early.

There may be many eggs fertilised, but a lot depends on the implantation stage and how well they space out and how good the environment in the uterus is, and good placentas develop.

Also your more likely to maximise conception by mating for as long as the bitch will stand, thereby getting past the usual reason for failure to get a litter mistiming the mating.

Bitches especially that have had previous litters may stand for prolonged periods, so without blood testing you only have the stud dogs and bitches behaviour to go on, which in these circumstances could be well out, if you rely on one mating.

Mating on alternate days maximises the quality of the studs output.

I've never given my girls any supplements or anything, mated twice on alternate days according to results of pre-mate tests (and confirmed by bitches behaviour) and all 4 of my litters have been well above breed average numbers!

Got it yesterday.  Going to start Lana on it now as she's due in season any time.

was that the wheat germ? where did you get it and how much to give? just getting ready for next season as my girly missed this time.

Yep got it from Dorwest.  Will ask Carmel tomorrow for the proper dosage for you.

ok thanks

Sorry to drag this up.  Was wondering about the wheatgerm oil.  Is it best to use the liquid or the tablets?

I find the capsules far easier - just drop in their food and they're gone!! 

Thank you.  I was looking at the Dorwest Herbs ones yesterday at Paignton show, didn't get any in the end as wasn't sure lol!