Does anyone have any suggestions how to raise the fertility in bitches? Also are small litters genetic. My bitch had two bitch puppies and her dam only had four (usual amount in a litter is 6 to 9). So I just wondered if there is anything you can administer to increase her fertility.
The stud dog used is not to blame, other litters he has sired have all been reasonable sizes.
She is on a good well balanced diet and has had 'Dorwest Keepers Mix' added on a regular basis. We don't have any problems as such but I would just like to know if I can give her anything before we think about mating her again.

Wheat germ oil for Vit E(?)I think

Or you can just use Vit E capsules from Holland and Barrett.
You should give them weeks before the bitch is mated though.
I havent ever used them but have been told it works.

Corect timing of mating will also have a big effect. Though often people say a dog has sired large mlitters, uless he is sub fertile the actual number of pups have nothing to do with the male. Think about it, the average ejaculate will have millions of sperm. These can only fertilise the ripoe eggs available.

Mate too early and the sperm are dying off, mate too late andsome of the egs will have deteriorated too much to be fertilised.

With a bitch like yours I would have premate tests and mate her 1 and 3 days after ovulation. A bitches eggs are ovulated in an immature state and take around 48 hours to be fertilizable, and stay in good shape for up to another 48 hours. Bitches will ovulate all eggs over about 24 - 36 hours.

Also, if you mate as early as the bitch will stand happily and only have one mating- in my experience you will get more bitches but maybe not the biggest size of litter. If you can mate again 48 hours later then you should get the best of both worlds - higher proportion of bitches ( if thats what you are hoping to keep, then in theory there may be more to choose from) and the second mating should up the numbers of males. Female sperm swim slower and live longer.

Oh drat!! :( Will be interesting to see what my Jozi produces as she wouldn't stand until the 4th day after ovulation. I kept saying I am about due a litter of all males (when I desperately want a bitch to keep) as I have had a predominance of bitches in previous litters!

Brainless, Its only a theory, losely based on fact and "averages" come into play too. I think its based on; that the male sperm get there fast and arrive near exhaustion and die off hanging about waiting for the follicle to ripen, wheras the girlies arrive later ( of course) and hit the spot!! As always, its my vet who is due the credit for this - as he's the one who told me. I have often said when he retires I'll give up breeding. Luckily we are about the same age!!

One bitch owner I said this to, who was thinking of bringing his bitch on the 13th day cos he was busy (!!!!), did come earlier. She was mated on the 11th and 13th day and had 7 bitches! Another time I had a bitch cytology tested and we went a day earlier than my vet suggested, but the dog wasn't available (showing) the following day. She had 4 boys!!!! I expect you'll get an evenish mix - like most of us do most of the time!! What's the average litter size for your breed if you dont mind me asking?

Thank you for all your replies. I really do appreciate your help.
I did give her Dorwest's Wheatgerm capsules as advised on the container, when she came into season and doubled up just before mating, again as instructed. She was mated twice, the 2nd mating 3 days after the first. she was still quite willing to stand though for him.
So its not a genetic problem then?
What is the opinion on mating each day for as long as she will stand,. Is this feasible or should mating do it?

From what I have learned it makes no difference if a bitch is mated every day from standing. I had one bitch mated four times which was way to many times of course, its just our dog got to her the fourth time by accident. She had the same amount of pups as in her first litter.
I dont know if their is a rule to mating to many times. But its not needed. Also the bitch will tire from being mated. I think twice is about right.
I had a bitch mated just the once and she had 10 pups. The same bitch was mated again by a different dog and had just 7 pups. However the days were different. The first time she was mated day 10 the second litter day 13. Because the stud could not see us any sooner.
I was told that if you give a dog Vitamin E it will boost sperm. Its used in human males to boost infertility and its being used in dogs now.

I have averaged out at just under 6 reared, but I think 6-7 is average, though litters up to 15 have been known.

In recent times 10 is a very large litter.

I have reared litters of between 3 and 9 pups. The most frequent number has been 4 and 7! (actually thinking about it I have never had a litter of 5, 6, or 8) :)

Litter size depends on how many eggs are ready at the same time as the sperm is viable. I'm told sperm can survive inside the bitch for 5 days after mating, so however many eggs the bitch releases over the two or three days of ovulation will determine the amount of embryos. Not all of them will implant, and of those that do, some may resorb ....... The best day for mating varies from bitch to bitch, and from season to season in the same bitch. Get the right day, and only one mating will be needed.
:)

Thats what I was led to believe also, Jeangenie. So other than giving her plenty of wheatgerm capsules is there any other ways to help up her egg production? Or could it be that she is just low on fertitlity, period? Would you also give her the wheatgerm before she actually comes into season and if so how long before?