Hello
My name is Michael Keenan and I am new to the forum. I am currently working on a research project within University of Ulster Belfast. The research is to look at the problems associated both throughout pregnancy of dogs and during birth of pups. I myself am a breeder who breeds greyhounds and understand the problems and consequences which can come along with breeding. My aim is to get as much feedback from as many breeders as possible in relation to the problems in which they have suffered throughout their breeding careers.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. I can be contacted through the forum itself here or on email at keenan-m12@email.ulster.ac.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many Thanks
Michael

What sort of problems are you looking for Michael? Losing litters, etc

Michael....a list of questions may help give you structured answers.

2007, ddb 8 born 6 survived 1 fade 1 born still very small and deformed self whelp
2009 ddb c section 7 born 2 still inc one stuck/too large caused section. Bitch then spayed
2011 ddb 5 born 3 still (dam out of 2009 litter)
2012 ddb 10 born 4 still 1 fade bitch now retired ("")
2012 pug 7 born natural litter all healthy :-))) textbook
2014 6 born 2 still 1 CP pts self whelp (dam out of 2012 litter)

Sorry for the delay in replying folks

I myself breed greyhounds and understand the problems associated with breeding. I understand some pups are still born at birth and I am aiming to do something to stop this. My aim is to design a product which attaches to the dog during pregnancy. This product will be taking a constant read of the dogs temperature and once the dogs temperature level drops the breeder will be notified immediately via text message. After receiving feedback from vetinary surgeons they made me aware that the first sign of a bitch going into labour is a drop in temperature this being the reason of the method being incorporated into my design. With the device notifying the dresser at the earliest stage im hoping that the breeder being there from the earliest stages of the births will minimise the risks of loss to both mothers and puppy's. The first stage of my project is to research the matter before design can begin.

Many thanks for your help
Michael

I think any responsible breeder will not leave a bitch unsupervised in the late part of pregnancy and some puppies losses are inevitable, it is why nature has provided spares so to speak.

Assuming all pups at term are viable whilst still in uterus, it is birth by whatever means that is dangerous. 

I know of some breeders overseas that prefer and advocate Elective C sections for  all births, as they get all pups out live, and advocate it for all breeds, including my own normally easy whelping breeds. 

The same attitude has seen a huge rise in levels of human C sections.

Do we really want to see our dogs eventually unable to give birth naturally???

Now if there was some way of detecting inertia, as opposed to trying to detect the point at which birth should occur in next 24 hours (though useful) won't save puppies that can die within a short time if placentas detach, or there is malpresentation.

I agree 100%

My idea was just to give us all a heads up on when the time was near.

That's easily done by taking the temperature twice or three times daily for the last week of pregnancy. Far safer, I'd have thought, than having a 'device' permanently attached to the bitch.

Surely if you know your bitch well enough you'd be able to see when she is about to start whelping without needing 'gadgets' attached to her?

My losses have other than c sections have always been delivered by myself and just one of those things. I am there!

I'm asuming this device is aimed at people who have there pregnant girls in kennels rather than keeping them in the home where they will be with them 24/7. Surely a breeder will know the expected due date and could just stay with the girl and keep watch over her, would be much easyer and I'd guess more comfortable for the bitch than strapping a device to her.

I can't really see the need for such a device, even to an inexperienced breeder, the imminent signs of labour are rarely missed. I also cannot see how a device would work across the board for all breeds anyway. The only way to attach something to a dog is by the skin (surely?) So how would this work for a particularly hairy breed like mine where a collar isn't even able to make skin contact, not even close. And I certainly would want anything strapped around the belly of a heavily pregnant bitch (speaking from a woman with a 9 month old baby who still has the pain of being heavily pregnant at the forefront of her mind), the thoughts of any more pressure on there just seems so uncomfortable and unfair, particularly when it's unnecessary.

Yes it is more aimed at larger breeding kennels to breeders who wont have the time to spend all their hours with one particular brood. I wish to thank you all for your help and advice on the matter and will incorporate all opinions into my project.

Many Thanks
Michael

> it is more aimed at larger breeding kennels to breeders who wont have the time to spend all their hours with one particular brood

I think you'll find many breeders would consider your target market to be the sort of people who shouldn't really be breeding, if they can't give each bitch and litter the time and individual attention they need.

aimed at larger breeding kennels to breeders who wont have the time to spend all their hours with one particular brood

the sort of people who shouldn't really be breeding,

I would imagine this device would not be that cheap and that type of breeder - above - would probably need to buy 6 - 8 -more, some at least would regard it as an unnecessary expense and put up with the 'wastage' that they have at present.

Reminds me of a YouTube video I saw of a large State of the Art breeding facility in Australia.
Tour guide said " they are so excited every morning to open up the shed doors see what has been born in the night".

Made my blood run cold.

When you say you breed greyhounds, are you talking about dogs used for racing or showing? Are you actually hands on with your bitches or do you "just own them" and leave the actual breeding side to your trainer as this is the impression I'm getting from your post.

There is a world of difference between most of the contributors on here that breed and commercial kennels that churn out litter after litter to make money.