63 Day Perpetual Whelping Chart
BRED: (JAN): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28293031 DUE: (MAR): 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Apr 1 2 3 4
BRED: (FEB) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2728 DUE: (APR) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 May 1 2
BRED: Mar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031 DUE: May 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jun 1 2
BRED: Apr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2930 DUE: Jun 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Jul 1 2
BRED: May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031 DUE: Jul 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Aug 1 2
BRED:Jun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DUE: Aug 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Sep 1BRED: Jul 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031
DUE: Sep 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Oct 1 2BRED: Aug 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031
DUE: Oct 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Nov 1 2
BRED: Sep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2930 DUE: Nov 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Dec 1 2
BRED: Oct 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031 DUE: Dec 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan 1 2
BRED: Nov 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DUE: Jan 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feb 1
BRED: Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28293031 DUE: Feb 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Mar 1 2 3 4
The “Pick of the Litter” is very important in determining what type of German shepherd puppy your looking for and what purpose the dog will serve for you and/or your family?
Those with some knowledge most likely know that it means “the first pick puppy”, it does not however mean the best German shepherd puppy in the litter for YOU.
Please be certain and consider wisely for what purpose will your dog have in his new home and environment. If you are not looking to show your German shepherd dog or use him/her in your breeding program then your chances are far better in choosing the right puppy that best fits your needs and your lifestyle, this would be the PICK puppy for you and the best puppy as well…
- A family pet may be the one who is most laid back, does not lack confident with an excellent “sound” temperament.
- A competition quality dog (show or schutzhund) must have balanced temperament, with show conformation and breed standards on both parents. Should possess strong character and drive. Alert and willing to please attitude.
- A breeding quality dog should have an excellent pedigree with dam and sire in the champion position. The genetics of this litter should have an excellent health records. The puppies should have a confident character, both drives, positive aggression and super sound temperament. The parents should be within the breed standards with rich pigments (even at an older age).
- The grand parent are the key in breeding super dogs. Obviously, you would want to know who the grandparents are as-well.
By: Gunbil German Shepherds
German shepherd dog and your family
If your considering a German shepherd puppy (German Shepherd) as a family addition, please make sure that this breed is the best fit for the situation. The German shepherd dog is strong in body, spirit, and mind. A German shepherd dog need much attention, love, and firm guidance as they grow, which they do so very quickly.
German Shepherds are very sociable dogs. They need attention and companionship. The German shepherd dog does not do well if left in isolation from people and other companion animals.
German shepherd make excellent family and companion dogs, although they sometimes pick one person as their special person, they can relate well to all members of the household. If they are raised with children, they will develop an abundance of tolerance to the grabbing and poking of tiny fingers.
Line Breeding
What is line breeding?
Line Breeding is the process whereby relatives are bred to one another in a breeding process.
What species line breed?
Many species line breed naturally. Many don’t due to the sheer number of available mates. Humans play a role in the line breeding of many species.
Why do people purposefully do line breeding?
When you line breed, you specifically plan to “set” characteristics in the progeny. Sometimes the breeding does not go to plan, and the characteristics you wanted the progeny to inherit do not come through, while some previously recessive (or hidden) characteristics can come out.
What are the advantages of line breeding?
- You know what you are getting (mostly).
- It gives you the opportunity to “set” desired characteristics in your lines which you hope will be easier to replicate in future generations
What are the disadvantages of line breeding?
- Sometimes it does “set” some characteristics in your lines that you don’t want. These then are usually very hard to lose.
- Sometimes it doesn’t work, and none of the progeny are worth carrying on with. In such case, the progeny are best spayed/neutered and placed in pet homes.
One of the interesting outcomes of line breeding is that you can get to see if your dogs carry a health problem that you did not know about. This means that you can then plan better in the subsequent litters. However, on the other hand, you may be left with a litter of pups with a severe health problem. The key is to be honest to yourself about the health problems in your lines. Then you can work to get rid of them. It is pointless to put your head in the sand and try to ignore your health problems.
Please note: every single breeder has health problems/risks in their lines. If you find a breeder that thinks their dogs have no health problems then I want to meet them now! For questions and comments, contact us by clicking here, and filling out the form.
What is outcrossing?
When we outcross, we take two completely unrelated lines and breed them together. This is what I call “Jackpot mating”. The chances of getting something good out of such a breeding are remote. However, if the breeder is planning ahead, this may merely be a step in a longer term strategy. For outcrossing to work, the next logical step is to breed close again to the line.
When you outcross you basically leave it up to great randomness about what the babies will look like. You will NOT get the best charactertics of the mother and the father. In all likelihood, you will get a very average looking litter or worse.
In order to outcross successfully, you have to understand that within every breed there are different types. For example, in boxers there are great differences between the US type and the English type boxer. To outcross a US and a UK boxer together, you are unlikely to have a very good result. However, if you outcross a UK with an Italian type boxer, you will probably get better results all other things being equal.
So, when you outcross, please be sure you understand type, and that you have chosen which type you prefer. If you decide to bridge the gap between types, than that is a step which will probably take you the better part of 10 years to gain the success you are striving for.
One of the fallacies of cross breeding is that the genetic diversity you get will give you a better pup. This is completely unfounded in any scientific study. What you do get, is a lot of “unknowns”.
Example of Line Breeding:
Example: A breeder is developing what she calls are her “lines”. Let’s call her lines “Boomerang”. She really likes a dog call “Figjam” from another set of lines. The figjam lines have nothing in common for at least 10 generations. To breed a Boomerang bitch with a Figjam dog would be called an “outcross”. It is unlikely that the progeny out of such a breeding would be anything great. However, if the progeny was put back to either a Boomerang or Figjam animal, then the progeny from that mating would in all likelihood be better. The breeder than achieves the aim of getting Figjam into her lines, while maintaining her own lines.
Should I line breed?
Any decision to breed a species should occur after a lot of thought and research. It should not be something that is undertaken lightly.
These are the sorts of questions you need to consider:
- Are the dogs I want to line breed together of good quality? (this quality should be proven in the show ring)
- Do I have photos of the animals back several generations? (this will help you see which characteristics are carried)
- What will I do if the breeding is a disaster and none of the progeny has the characteristics I am looking for?
- Am I breeding to the most suitable dog for my lines, or the most popular one in the breed at the moment?
Furthermore, there are loads of “old-timers” in every breed that will be prepared to help you make these decisions. There are plenty of people around you that can and will help you as long as they can trust you with the information that they give you.
If you are new to dog breeding and are looking for a mentor, you may want to join the dog mentor email list, where such assistance can be found….. just click here.
How close should I line breed?
In-breeding is when you breed very, very closely. eg: brother-sister breedings.
The fundamental question you need to ask yourself before every breeding is – why am I doing this, and what do I hope to achieve?
I would love to be able to give you a definitive answer to this question, but really, the answer will come to you after considerable thought and research. Breeding is not an easy undertaking, and comes with considerable responsibilities. I think long and hard before I make such decisions. Right now, I am undertaking a strategic move where I’m going to an outcross – but which looks very similar to my breeding – and then will breed back along my lines. This is a decision based on the very tight lines I already have, a small gene pool, and a completely unsuitable gene pool from other local breeders.
by Jane Anderson (http://www.learntobreed.com/linebreeding.html)
Considering a German shepherd puppy
A dog depends on its human owners for care, conditioning and love. This dependency is rewarded many times over with the dog’s unquestioned devotion and heart-felt affection.
A dog quickly becomes a family member and as such it must be able to fit in with the family’s lifestyle. If it is the wrong breed of dog, brought home for the wrong reason, and/or one that fails to meet your expectations, then instead of the animal becoming a beloved member of the family, it could become a burden and an outcast. With careful consideration about the needs and requirements of different breeds and thought as to how this pertains to your own lifestyle, the end result will be four-legged loving companion that will bring you much joy and happiness for years to come.
There are 147 different AKC recognized breeds of dogs. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some breeds have long hair, others are short-haired; some need lots of room to run, others just a small yard; some require laps to sit in, others are more independent. Before bringing a dog home to become a part of your family, you should ask yourself the following questions and write down the answers. Then seek a dog that best meets your responses.
A PUPPY
- Do you know how big it will grow? D
- do you have enough room, both inside and outside, to meet its exercise needs?
- do you know how active it will be?
- will its temperament and personality fit your own?
- will it constantly need attention?
- do you have the time to train the puppy?
- is it easy to housebreak?
- are you prepared to forego other activities in order to tend to the pup’s needs?
- can you afford the necessary vaccinations and visits to the veterinarian?
AN ADULT DOG
- can you provide sufficient daily exercise routines for the dog?
- do you have time to spend taking care of the dog’s emotional needs?
- are there special dietary needs?
- are there any health problems that you should consider and be aware of?
- do you have a safe place to keep the dog when you are not at home?
- will its coat require special care and professional grooming?
ARE YOU PREPARED
- spend quality time with the dog.
- make personal sacrifices in order to see to the dog’s needs.
- feed, groom and house it properly.
- be forgiving if it goes to the bathroom where it should not.
- deal with dog hair.
- take it to training classes, if necessary.
- treat the dog as a four-legged member of your family.
- accept the responsibilities of dog ownership.
POSITIVE REASON TO OWN A DOG
- a companion who asks no questions, makes no judgments.
- someone who loves you regardless of who you are, what you do or how much money you have in the bank.
- to come home to a presence that immediately fills the room with love and devotion when you walk through the door.
- To live a life that is mindful while being minded, loving while being loved, and caring while being cared for.
In short, dogs are man’s best friends and most faithful companions, but they do bring with them responsibilities and obligations that must be considered by anyone thinking about getting a dog.
