A normal canine pregnancy lasts approximately sixty-three days following conception. Signs of pregnancy include increased appetite, weight and breast size. Dogs with false pregnancy can also exhibit these symptoms, however. Veterinarians can usually diagnose pregnancy through abdominal palpation at twenty-eight days or by using ultrasound or X-ray tests.
Once pregnancy is confirmed, it's time to review special feeding requirements and what to expect before, during and after the birth with your veterinarian. You should also be briefed on how to recognize and respond to an emergency.
A few days before she gives birth (known as whelping), the dog may refuse to eat and start to build her nest, where she plans to have her puppies. Unless you introduce her beforehand to a whelping box, the delivery room may be your closet, the space under your bed or any number of places you would probably consider inappropriate.
A whelping box should be sufficiently large to accommodate a comfortable stretch for the dog. It should have low sides and be placed in a warm, dry/draft-free and secluded place. Place towels or other soft material in the bottom of the whelping box. Fresh newspapers are also fine and may be easily removed and replaced as they become soiled during whelping. Once whelping is completed/ however, you should replace the newspapers with something that provides better footing for the puppies.
Shortly before whelping, the dog's body temperature will drop to 99 degrees or lower (normal temperature for a dog is between l00 and 102.5 degrees). By this time, you should have shaved her belly, where appropriate, to allow the puppies to find the nipples. If she has a long or dense coat, you should also shave and clean the area around her genitals.
Approximately twenty-four hours after her temperature drops, she can be expected to enter the first stage of labor, when the cervix dilates and opens the birth canal for the passage of puppies. At this time, she will pant, strain, appear restless or may perhaps vomit. Vomiting is normal at the onset of labor, but persistent vomiting may be a sign of illness. This stage of labor is followed by actual abdominal straining and production of the puppies and placentas.
Most dogs give birth easily, without the need of human help. Each puppy emerges in its own placental membrane, which must be removed before the puppy can breathe. The mother usually takes care of this by tearing off and eating the membrane, and then severs the umbilical cord. After delivery, she will lick each puppy to stimulate its breathing.
Frequent licking, which continues for three weeks or so, also has another vital function: it stimulates the puppy to excrete waste. Without maternal assistance puppies cannot do so. At the time of birth, new mothers are also busy cleaning their offspring, warming them and allowing them to suckle. It is very important for the puppies to suckle soon after emerging from the womb. Suckling lets them ingest colostrum - a milk-like substance containing maternal antibodies which is produced in the mammary glands just after birth. Colostrum helps the newborn puppies fight infection in their early days while their own immune systems mature.
Melissa & Doug Meadow Medley - Golden Puppy
Eight full inches of puppy love are stuffed into this cuddly canine. Contrasting ears and tail, and a bright red gingham bow add visual interest to this sweet-faced pup. Give its belly a gentle squeeze and listen to the woof!
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Also known as "crossbreeds" or "hybrid dogs", designer dogs have gained quite a bit of popularity over the past couple decades. Although some people attribute the name "designer" to other luxury items such as designer sunglasses and designer handbags because of their trendiness, the name actually comes from the fact that these new dog breeds were designed for specific purposes.
A designer dog is an orchestrated mix of two purebred parents - but each parent is a different breed. The goal is to create a dog that combines the desirable traits of each breed while leaving the lesser desirable traits and genetic problems behind.
It's a Poodle World
Many hybrid dogs are a cross containing a poodle to combat one of the most common undesirable traits of dogs: shedding. Contrary to popular belief, shedding causes most of the allergy problems for people who are allergic to dogs - not the fur itself. When a dog sheds its fur, tiny pieces of skin shed along with it. A protein in this skin (dander) causes the allergic reactions. More shedding = more dander = more allergies. Poodles are considered less allergenic because they only shed their skin every 20 days or so, lessening the symptoms of allergies for their people. Poodles are also known for their intelligence and agility, which make them very good candidates to be one half of a designer dog breed.
Not Always According to Plan
It sounds easy: just breed two different purebreds and you'll get an extremely smart, hypoallergenic dog that doesn't shed very much and has a sweet temperament. This doesn't always happen. A litter may only contain a few pups with all of the desired traits; this type of purposeful breeding does not guarantee that each of the offspring will all be exactly the same. It's imperative that the health and lineage of each purebred parent is checked to ensure the best results. Unfortunately, puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders just trying to cash in on this trend don't bother with health checks and try to churn out as many designer dogs as they can for a profit.
For those people who are critical of breeding designer dogs, designer dog proponents are quick to point out that today's purebred dogs were often hybrids of other dogs at one time. Breeding dogs for specific traits is not a new practice.
10 Popular Designer Dogs
There is a large list of designer dog breeds out there, but here are 10 of some of the most common types that you may recognize:
1. Labradoodle: Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross
2. Goldendoodle: Golden Retriever and Poodle cross
3. Maltipoo: Maltese and Poodle cross
4. Puggle: Pug and Beagle cross
5. Schnoodle: Schnauzer and Poodle cross
6. Bugg: Boston Terrier and Pug cross
7. Pomapoo: Pomeranian and Poodle cross
8. Poogle: Poodle and Beagle cross
9. Porkie: Pug and Yorkie cross
10. Cockapoo: Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross
Designer dogs are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, however the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) recognizes many of these hybrids.
A More Perfect Pooch?
Some people might think so, but most dog lovers would agree with the fact that all dogs are equally perfect, whether they're purebred, mixed without intention, or hybrid. Dogs are wonderful companions no matter where they come from and deserve our love and a happy life. For those people who want a dog in their lives but have extreme allergies, designer dogs can definitely fit the bill.
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