Breeding - This article was written by Harry W. Lacy, Kennel Editor of American Fancier, especially for this book:

"Young bitches often exhibit symptoms of an inclination to breed at the age of eight or nine months, but it is not advisable to do so until they have come in season the second time. Remarks we made last week against the advisability of resorting to the services of too young a sire apply with even greater force when a youthful bitch is under consideration. Stunted and puny puppies are almost sure to be produced from a young mother; and the injury they are likely to do her constitution is incalculable. It must be borne in mind that for weeks before birth her system is sorely taxed to provide them with nourishment, and after the shock of labor is gone through there is further strain upon her until they are weaned.

"The first symptoms afforded by a bitch that she is likely to be soon ready for breeding purposes is a desire on her part to romp and play with any dog she meets. This may possibly arise from merely exuberance of spirits, but it is always well to keep a close eye upon her as soon as any undue levity is observed in her conduct. It is most desirable to use every endeavor to keep the animal away from all risk of being got at by strange dogs; and when the matter is placed beyond doubt all former precautions should be doubled if possible. It must be remembered that there is not only a great risk of dogs getting into the place where the bitch is confined, but that she will probably be equally anxious to escape from her kennel, and some bitches have performed almost incredible feats in their endeavors to do so.

"She should, if at a distance, be sent off to the kennels where the dog is standing, a day or two after the earlier symptoms appear, so as to be in time. If despatched by public conveyance, it is imperative that she be securely confined in a box or basket from which escape is impossible. All breeders should be impressed with the absolute necessity of exercising the greatest vigilance when they have bitches by them under such circumstances. For several days after the bitch has visited the dog, the precautions for isolating her must not be relaxed, or all her owner's hopes may be marred by her forming a connection with a stranger.

"Having selected a proper mate for his bitch, and sent her to him, all anxiety is removed from an owner's mind for some time at least; for during the first period of going with young, the bitch will require no special diet or attention. During the latter portion of her pregnancy she is peculiarly liable to chills; every care should therefore be taken to avoid any risk of her taking cold, and all washing operations and violent exercise must then be suspended. Our own experience has taught us that in the majority of instances it is almost impossible to tell whether or no the bitch is in whelp until the third or fourth week, and on many occasions we have known breeders to be in doubt for a much longer period.

"A week or so before the date on which it is expected that she will whelp, the bitch should be installed in the quarters in which it is arranged the interesting event is to take place. The reason for this is that dogs must get used to a kennel before they will make themselves at home in it, and this feeling is peculiarly perceptible in the case of a bitch who has recently whelped; for in many cases she will try and carry her puppies (greatly to the damage of the latter) back to her old quarters rather than let them remain in a kennel to which she is unaccustomed. Having got her reconciled to her change of abode, the locale of which should, if possible, be away from the other dogs, so as to let her have more quiet (but warmth and absence of draught are even more essential than isolation in most cases), and supposing the time of her whelping to be near at hand, it is desirable that the bitch should be provided with a diet of a more strengthening character than that which she has been in the habit of receiving. This need not consist entirely of meat or other heating foods, which can only tend to increase her discomfort in parturition, but may be made of scraps well boiled or stewed, with the addition of bread, meal, or rice, which in their turn will absorb the gravy or soup and form, in conjunction with the scraps, when the latter are chopped up, a meal which is both wholesome and nutritious. A few days before the puppies make their appearance a considerable change is usually perceptible in the bitch; the presence of milk can be detected and a considerable enlargement of the stomach takes place. Her behavior, too, clearly indicates that she is uneasy and in pain, and in many instances the appetite entirely fails, and the bowels become confined. In the latter case a mild purgative of either castor, linseed or sweet oil must be given. The first-named remedy is sometimes too powerful an aperient for a bitch in such a condition, as, in the more delicate breeds especially, it is apt to cause severe straining, which would injure the puppies. Before resorting, therefore, to castor oil, an experimental dose of either linseed or sweet oil might be administered, which, if it succeeds in acting on the bowels, will have satisfactorily accomplished the owner's object; and as the lubricating power of all three oils is essentially the same, the internal organs will be equally benefited by either medicine."

It is a good plan to treat the brood bitch thoroughly for worms before being put to the dog; and stud dogs should be periodically treated for these pests.