Superfaetation

The bitch having a compound uterus is capable of impregnation by two or more dogs during the same heat, and will produce in one litter pups clearly distinguishable as the produce of different sires. The appearance of these uterine brothers and sisters in the litter of a bitch that had been put to a valued dog of her own breed is, of course, most annoying, and in all cases must be the result of another having had access to her. Frequently this arises from the carelessness of servants, and it is always safest to keep the bitch under lock and key, for with the slightest chance given she will steal away in search of a mate of her own selection. Only in one or two other ways, so far as I know, can these objectionable strangers in the litter be accounted for. These ways we will now consider.

Stud Dogs And Their Services

Having selected and engaged the services of a stud dog, unless the owner is a man in whom you can place implicit confidence, either go with the bitch yourself or send a confidential agent.

The mere " dog fancier" is too often a man who considers his gains only, and does not hesitate to substitute one dog for another when to do so will ensure him a fee, and when the pups disappoint expectations the blame is laid on the dam. The true dog-lover, being really interested in dogs and their improvement for their own sake is above the temptation to practice such a fraud, and if his dog is temporarily disabled from any cause will, of course, honestly say so.

In like manner, having higher objects than gain, he will not only let it be known that approved bitches only will be allowed to visit his dog, but will exercise a wise discretion in carrying that resolve out, rigidly excluding all worthless animals, which, put to the best dogs, it is hopeless to expect to bring forth anything but weeds and thereby deteriorate the breed.

Breeding New Varieties

Of the very numerous varieties now classified at our dog shows many are of quite recent production. The very plastic nature of the dog, the readiness with which those breeds, the most widely different in physical features, mate with each other, and the great facility with which varieties can be altered or modified, give a wide scope for the production of new varieties.

This is specially the case in toy dogs; and I am of opinion that breeders are not sufficiently speculative in this direction, for I am convinced any intelligent man following the principles established, and setting out with a definite purpose, would find his pursuit as successful as interesting and profitable. To give one instance only, why should we not have as many various coloured Pomeranians as we have Italian grey-' hounds ? Some of the handsomest Pomeranians I ever saw were a deep reddish fawn. A few years of judicious breeding would, I am convinced, establish a variety of any desired hue.

Age At Which To Breed

House dogs and others leading a very artificial life often have the functions of reproduction developed at an early age. I had a terrier that, from inattention to the fact that she was in heat was not secluded, was the mother of four pups before she was nine months old. As a rule, the smaller breeds mature earlier, and are in season at an earlier age than the larger breeds, and in all breeds there are individual differences in this respect, but most bitches are in season once before they have attained their full size, and they should in such case be invariably put by. It must be evident to all that, whilst her own frame is still in process of being built up and matured, she is not in the best position to nurture whelps.

During the first oestrum which appears after the bitch is full grown, if the season of the year is suitable, she may be bred from if in perfect health; if she is not, breeding is better postponed.

It should also be known, too, that the selected dog is in health and free from mange or other skin affection of a contagious nature; also that on neither side is there hereditary disease, which, although not shown in the dogs themselves, is likely to be developed in their offspring.

Large dogs, such as mastiffs, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, otter hounds, deerhounds, greyhounds, etc, should not be bred from under two years of age, and even in small breeds it is better they should be almost, or quite, eighteen months old.

Although oestrum does in many cases come on twice a year, the breeding and rearing of two litters a year, or even of three in two years, is too exhausting on the system of any dog. No bitch should be allowed to breed oftener than once a year.

Best Season For Breeding

Although pups are born at all seasons, they are not always reared, and late autumn and winter ones are often rickety, and from my own experience, and that of many friends, I believe they rarely ever possess the amount of vitality of. spring and early summer pups.

The spring is Nature's great reproductive season; winter the natural time of rest from and preparation for the process.

In the spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin's breast, In the spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest.

And, in plain prose, in the spring only does the dog undomesticated breed. Not only is it, therefore, the time most natural, but I believe, as a rule, the strongest litters are then thrown, and there is the obvious and very great advantage that the progeny have before them the genial influences of summer in which to grow and prepare to do battle with the numerous ills of puppyhood.

Summary

If you aspire to be a breeder, in contradistinction to a person who has dogs that breed, before forming an alliance between two dogs, consider the whole subject as I have endeavoured to explain it, with all other information bearing on it available to you; and having, as you must have to be a breeder, a clear and definite object for your attainment, weigh the various influences at work and their probable effect in forwarding or retarding that object and act accordingly.

Axioms for Breeders - The following, bearing on the physiology of breeding, may, at least by the inexperienced, be safely accepted as axioms and acted upon until such time, should it ever arrive, that by extensive experience and careful observation he finds one or more of them to be wrong. They represent the result of experiment and observation by the most capable, and, as accepted laws by our best breeders, should carry weight with the tyro.

"Like breeds Like;" but this must be considered in conjunction with other laws and influences at work.

"Breeding Back," or the law of Atavism, often asserts itself unexpectedly and suggests the necessity of a careful inspection of pedigrees.

"In-and-in Breeding " is useful as a means of establishing and confirming type, but if persevered in to excess produces loss of physique and excessive nervousness.

"Superfoetation and Antecedent Impressions." - A bitch is capable of having two sets of pups by different sires in one litter. The sire of her first litter often gives an impress seen in pups in subsequent litters, and even strong mental impressions produced by the bitch being enamoured with a dog denied connection with her sometimes influence the form and colour of pups the produce of another dog.

Breed from fully developed and healthy animals, and in the spring or early summer only.