Most you know, my girls are in Guardian homes. A guardian home has a few requirements, like keeping vaccinations up to date, and flea/tick meds. That allows me to rely on Mommas being healthy. The guardian homes are for all purposes the Momma's home. They look after the day to day things, like love and adventures. They are placed on a contract for 2 litters (after 2 years of age plus hips/elbows clear from dysplasia). 

In an average litter of 5, I choose a future Momma (placed for free in a Guardian home), I also donate Service Dog potential pups and look for homes for the pet quality. By choosing the best temperament pups to be future Mommas and Service Dog hopefuls, I aspire to better the program. The pet quality pups are given the same first 8 week treatment. Complete with outings, sensory opportunities and socializing with dogs and people. That builds the most confidence, problem solving, biddable pups ever. That's the Duty Dog Advantage when selecting a puppy. The pet pups fee cover vets, microchipping, worming, vaccines, treatments, dna testing of sire/dam, ofa testing (and the ones who fail), the website, and social media. It covers food and sensory items. It covers outings and the motion sickness protocol. The program is self sufficient. (other than my time). 

Frankie is in heat and will be picked up on Sunday for breeding. I tell families to expect 10 days, I return the girls as soon as possible. This is their show. We change acts, on their say. They can refuse, be in a false or split heat. They can hate the sire to be. Their window can close quickly and be missed. 

I breed the dogs once a day, 2 days in a row. That's it. No repeated mounts or attempts. There is no need. Science tells us it takes time for the male to rejuvinate supply.  Sperm can survive 5-7 days in the females reproductive tract. Eggs are viable for 4-7 days after ovulation. Those 2 factors skew the due date. On average, here birth happens around day 58 from mating. 63 being full term (count starts at ovulation). 

Once a dog is bred, they are returned to their home. Typically I retrieve the Moms at 6 of 9 weeks pregnant. This timing allows her family to spend more time with her and gives her time to settle in here prior to labour. Frankie will come back at 8 weeks. She is always so excited to see me and her family has her used to going with other people. She simply isn't stressed about it, so I will give her an additional 2 weeks at home. 

I think now is a good time to also talk about the mating procedure. I don't do progesterone testing (the dogs are already hormonal and stressed being away from home), a trip to the vets daily to have this tested seems absurd; particularly when you account for Mother Nature already having a system in place. I also refrain from any restraint, including my hands or the equipment they call the rack (Walmart sold these up til 2023). This happens naturally or not at all. Daily the two dogs are put together, Frankie will either consents or not. That's my progesterone test. Females only allow a mating when the timing is correct. 

They grow fast inside Momma's belly, I'll be posting a weekly "what 's going on this week" 

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