been less. And if she had known more about whelping, she would have known that Dinky might need help taking care of the babies. Very young bitches that have C-sections seem to be the likeliest to be bewildered or frightened by their pups, and likelier to snap at them or run away from them than to nurse and groom them. Hand-raising pups, incidentally, is almost as much work as raising a human infant. So what should you do, if you are interested in breeding? Start by thinking long and hard about the number of unwanted dogs that are euthanized in shelters across the country, and ask yourself whether you want to risk contributing to that problem. If you are sure you can find good homes for every pup, then learn as much as you can about the dogs that interest you, and take everything with a grain of salt, especially if you read it online. Learn what problems your breed is subject to (and every breed has some). If you can, find someone who has experience breeding good healthy dogs, observe and learn. Ask your veterinarian whether the dog you have in mind is a suitable specimen for breeding. Remember, however, serious and tragic problems can occur for even the best prepared breeders and the healthiest dogs. Breeding dogs can be a complicated and expensive project, and it is not right for every owner.
31 Fall '11
Dr. Tremelling practices emergency and critical care medicine at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Hospital in Port Washington. Her family is owned by a Rough Collie, two cats and a cockatiel.
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Megan Tremelling, DVM