Let's Talk Bostons - Issue 12 - September 2016

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let’s talk

CONTENT 14 let’s talk

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14 let’s talk INTERVIEW

Corina munch hessenvilla boston terriers

28 let’s talk POINT OF VIEW one question, many breeders. WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW?

38 let’s talk DETAILS

Canine Herpes Virus (CHV) by pamela preston

48 let’s talk REPRODUCTION Troubleshoot Your Way to Breeding Success by gale golden


let’s talk

INTRODUCTIONS Welcome Boston Lovers to the 12th issue of Let’s Talk BOSTONS Magazine. We are so excited to present you with our special articles and advertisements. Here you can see some of the best breeders of the world. This time around, we interviewed the German breeder Corina Munch from the kennel name HessenVilla. We also have interesting articles from Pamela Preston and from our new collaborator, Gale Golden, creator of the Breed Right program. And our stunning cover dog is the super hunk Diesel! Don’t forget that no matter if you are online or on the go, you can find a copy of our magazine to browse. You can connect to www.LetsTalkBostons.com and read any of our issues on your computer or tablet. Or you can order a print copy from us straight through our website.

Our next issue will be the last one of the year, around December! If you would like to brag about your wins, don’t forget to reserve your ad space with Fernanda at ads@LetsTalkBostons.com See you guys soon! And have fun in Baton Rouge, y’all! Love from...

Fernanda Barlow, Matthew Dover, Vivianne Mello Let’s Talk Bostons Team

LET’S TALK BOSTONS Creative Director Vivianne Mello info@LetsTalkBostons.com

Advertising Director Fernanda Barlow

Collaborators Corina Munch Gale Golden Pamela Preston

Photography Fernanda Barlow Svenja Vonostrowski The Dog Sport Photographers

Send us a message! info@LetsTalkBostons.com www.LetsTalkBostons.com facebook.com/LetsTalkBostons

ads@LetsTalkBostons.com

PICTURE BY: svenja vonostrowski www.boston-bandito.de


LET’S TALK advertisers AUSTRALIA CACCAVIELLO, Jane (Louali) ............................... 34-37 SHERIDAN-MCVICAR, Rebecca & Gary (HyGamble) .... 34-37

COLOMBIA GALLO, Santiago Lopez (SALOGAS) ..................... 24, 25

CZECH REPUBLIC KOSINA, Petr (baloonek) ............................. Back Cover

GERMANY OSTROWSKI, Svenja .................................................... 68

NORWAY RASMUSSEN, Laila (mollyville) ............................ 20-23

USA

PHOTO: PUNKROCKSTARS.NET

ALEXANDER, Linda (alexander’s) ............................. 19 ARANTES, Giovanna (CARAMURU) ........................ 54 BARLOW, Fernanda (CARAMURU) ........................ 53-57 BURGESS, Merrilee (touch of magic) .................... 30, 31 BUSSEY, Cyndi (mystic) ........................................ 52 CARTER, Victoria .................................................. 40, 41 CORMIER, Elizabeth ............................................... 10, 11 FISHER, Lauren (windy ridge) ............................... 8,9 GRIZLO, Barbara (TARA) ......................................... 32, 33 HAYES, Nina (zapa) .................................................... 7

KENNEDY, Sarah (KENNEDY’S) ................. 8-11, 58, 59 KENNEDY, Vicki (KENNEDY’S) ................................. 58, 59 MACK, Maryanne (SIDESTREET) .............................. 46, 47 MARTIN, Jani (EQ) ................................................. 42, 43 MELLO, Vivianne (VIXBULL) ............................. 53, 55-57 MOORE, Jill & Glenn (jingle) .................................. 42, 43 PRESTON, Pamela (CHRIMASO) ................................ Cover QUINLAN, Grace (quinlan) ..................................... 58, 59 SCARF, Peg ............................................................. 12, 13 STAGLE, Leslyn (Iowana) ................................... 42, 43 STAHMER, Marie .................................................. 8, 9 TERRY, Diana (TOUCH OF MAGIC) ............................ 30, 31 TRENT, Sheryl ........................................................ 40, 41 WALTER, Jerrilyn & Kevin ...................................... 40, 41 ZIBEL, Stacie ......................................................... 32, 33

CLUBS & BUSINESSES Let’s Talk Bostons ....................................................... 44 Big Bad Bostons ....................................................... 45 Sierra Gold Boston Terrier Club ............................ 51


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let’s talk

INTERVIEW

Interview with Corina Münch HessenVilla Boston Terriers, Germany Corina has dedicated a big part of her life to raising, training and showing beautiful and sound Boston Terriers in Germany. You may know her only by her kennel name, HessenVilla, and the gorgeous pictures of impressive Bostons that carry that name. Let’s Talk Bostons magazine invites you to read about her thoughts and preferences about our breed, in this exclusive interview with Corina.

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Let’s talk about heads. Do you believe that the length of the “nose” detracts from the breed’s signature expression? Yes, in my opinion a Boston Terrier should not lose its origin expression, but we have to be careful regarding the ability of the breathing and have to give attention, that the nostril are open naturally. Unfortunately, most of all think, that a good breathing is regulated by the length of the nose, which is wrong. Breathing sounds and a bad breathing is as incorrect as a long, small snout.

Being the Boston a “head breed”, do you believe that more focus should have been given in the standard to other aspects such movement? A perfect topline and a good movement is as important as the expression of the head.

Can you tell us how you can compare the Bostons from when you started in the breed to the bostons that you see now days at the shows? Nowadays there are many more Bostons in Europe than at the beginning. At the beginning there were about seven bostons at an exhibition. Nowadays there are about 40 to 120 at major events. Many newcoming breeders bought several bloodlines and types of Bostons, that makes the breed that different. Often you have been asked, if all dogs are Boston Terrier, at a dog show. This trend is not good how you probably can imagine.


Let’s Talk INTERVIEW - Corina Münch

Breathing sounds and bad breathing is as incorrect as a long, small snout. What dog was the most influential in your breeding program back then? Why did you choose that particular dog/bitch? Ch. Kennedy’s Ted Williams Way, he is the origin Boston Terrier from the USA and bring my breed a good Type!

How would you compare the European Bostons to the American Bostons? In Europe we have just as good or just as bad dogs as in America. But in Europe we have a Protection of Animals Act. This means f.e., that after having the second C-section, a bitch is to take out of breed. This is the reason why many breeders are looking for bitches, who are taller. They hope, that these bitches were able to give birth naturally. But it depends on the pelvis and a lot of other things. In Europe you can find different types of Boston Terrier. I think to get an equality close the standard, we have a lot of breeding work to do and Europe should model themselve on the USA. For example: in Germany the dog has to have a tail. Furthermore we have to give attention to the dogs teeth. Sometimes I am shocked, when I have to realise, that dogs with a docked tail got placed or won, against the standard, others who are correct weren’t placed. Good quality dogs haven’t had a chance to get nominated as Champions because of having too small teeth. It doesn’t matter if they are close the standard. So, there is a lot of work to do, breeding close the standard and not trying to create a new type of Boston Terrier. In Europe can’t crop the ears. We must look the dogs and they have to have perfect natural ears, like standard asks for.

For you, what importance is it for a boston terrier to have a clean coat free of ticking? I prefer a boston terrier to have a coat free of ticking, because I realised, that it passes from one generation to the next. Therefore I would never sell any puppy, who has a coat full of ticking to another breeder.

Let’s talk about judging. Tell us how was your experience judging in American Soil? It was very interesting and the American point system is very profitable for the breed. In Europe the most judges give their attention to the markings and forget the characteristic of this breed. It has given me a lot of knowledge and was fun to judge in the country of the origin.

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Let’s Talk INTERVIEW - Corina Münch

Who are the dogs that have impressed you in the ring? It is no so easy, I see much lovely Dogs in Europe and in USA too. I like much and I will not forget someone.

If a Boston Terrier is correct in every way, would you consider a mismarked Boston? Yes, I would very much like to try breeding with a mismarked Boston, just to get more knowledge about the genetic. In Germany it is forbidden.

Bites, as many other structural aspects, can change as a puppy develops. Puppies can start out with a level bite or an undershot bite. As a breeder, would you favor one over the other? I would always prefer the one with the level bite, because while it is growing, it becomes an undershot bite often.

What dogs of all times do you think that made the most impact in our breed in a positive way? Ch. Kennedy´s Ted Williams Way, Ch. Kennedy´s Wild Rock N´Roll with HessenVilla , Ch. Irish Cream Beauty Gremlins , Ch. HessenVilla´s Amorosa del Primo Cavaliere , Ch. Cara Mia von der HessenVilla

What is a goal that you feel you have not yet obtained in breeding that you would like to achieve? Well, I have been working to get the same type of Bostons as close as possible to the standard. As all breeders, I have a dream of a perfect dog, who presents himself happy and beautiful in a ring, who produces perfect and healthy puppies, etc. As I said, I am still working on it, it still is a dream....

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Let’s Talk INTERVIEW - Corina Münch

If you had a chance to suggest something to be changed in our standard, what would it be? For me it is perfect as it is.

You travel a lot all over the World showing your beautiful Bostons, what do you think that breeders should be focusing on to improve the breed? First of all, the topline, the anatomy, the ears, and the head! I always see Bostons who have no strong pasterns and no muscles. A lively and friendly dog should the Boston Terrier be and sometimes I see some, who are not belonging to this behavior.

Would you use a dog in your breeding program that has outstanding virtues, but that possesses on major fault? If it is affecting the health I would not. If it affects the beauty or if it’s a mistake regarding the standard, one could think about it. But it depends on the fault. You have always to think about wether this is affecting the breed and the next generations.

What is your process to decide which of your puppies are show potentials? Anatomy, expression, character, head and last but not least the markings. Before the puppies are not seven weeks old, I never decide.

What breeder or kennel do you feel has been a good mentor during your time breeding/showing Bostons? Sarah and Vicki Kennedy has been good mentors, they helped me with the handling and trained me. In your opinion, what is the single worst mistake a Boston Terrier breeder can make? Breeding with dogs who are not up to the standard. Especially bitches should have been “perfect”. One has to be critical to himselve and his breeding program. Not every dog has been a dog for breeding.

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Do you believe health testing should be enforced by the club or encouraged by felow breeders? In moderation, yes it should be enforced by the club to exclude some risks in future. In Germany we have to test the patella luxation. Genetic is teaching us some new things, some day. All my dogs are tested of the early-onset hereditary cataract and other defects within the eyes. But this does not be a guarantee for the next generation.

What emphasis do you feel health testing plays in our breed? The breathing is one of the most important things in the breeding program. All dogs should be able to breath and play on warm days.

Do you think unaccepted colored bostons will someday accepted by AKC and FCI shows? I don’t like colored Bostons and in my opinion they should not be accepted by AKC and at FCI shows. But if they are becoming accepted, I don’t know. We should be pleased with the colours brindle, seal and black.

How do you feel about the offspring of unaccepted colored bostons being allowed to show in FCI and AKC shows? Well, a judge is just able to judge about things he is seeing right then. A judge has not to look for the pedigree. Breeders should listen to the reason.

We know that success attracts a lot of gossip and it is no secret that you have bred some of the most desired bostons in the World. What are some of the funniest things you have heard about yourself? Generally it is a phenomenon, particularly in the world of breeders. Strikingly, people who are talking a lot and who produces trouble, have not done a lot for the breed and for a breeding program. Life is what you make of it. Everyone has the same chances. One goes his own way or he doesn’t and stuck. There are some fishermen’s stories about my person, almost told from people neither I do know. If one thinks, he will become rich because of being breeding Boston Terrier is on the wrong track! He has no idea how much it costs, getting new dogs, visiting exhibitions etc. As a breeder you have to learn, to ignore these people, who are just full of envy. You have to work hard for reaching your goals. Groups at social networks are avoided by myself. I had to experience there, that anyone wrote any fishermen’s stories about my person (about a faked account). All you can do is to maintain a distance from things like this, because it is just meaningless gossip. My family is the most important thing in my life. To have good friends are also essential. People who are trying to wear me, annoying and lying to me, are not worth to receive any attention.

What has been the biggest honor or archievement in your breeding life? I am very proud, that many dogs out of my breed has been showed sucessfully and most of them has got their Champion titles in different countries. Five Bostons out of my breed were placed at the Crufts 2015, what makes me very proud and happy. Of course, BOB’s and BIS makes me as breeder as proud as their owners.

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let’s talk

POINT OF VIEW What is the most important thing you’ve learned as a Boston Terrier breeder?

Linda Alexander (ALEXANDER) - GA - usa One top Show Boston from a male dog does not make him a Stud Dog. They have to throw nice puppies from several bitches, you have to follow what he is producing. This where attending the National is so important. A stud dog that produces few faults can be successfully line bred or inbred to strengthen the look and quality of what you want to produce.

Grace Quinlan (QUINLAN) - MA - usa I think what I’ve learn to be the most important, is to health test your dogs prior to breeding and track common issues that you prefer to breed out of your line.

Maryanne Mack (SIDESTREET) - MA - usa Never to make sacrifices on health in favor of what wins. Health is the most important aspect of breeding, and should be the foundation of a breeding program.

Jill Moore (JINGLE) - mi - usa The world is very very small and the dog world is smaller. Do unto others because if you start knocking someone’s lines or dogs it WILL come back to bite you with a vengeance.

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PICTURE BY: svenja vonostrowski www.boston-bandito.de

Sheryl Sindt (HiFly’n Bostons) - CA - USA I am a new breeder and have only had two litters. The most important thing I have found is make sure you have your timing correct. Progesterone testing to get the timing right.

Candy Oliver (blossomsandbeaus) - WA - USA Oh boy. I’ve learned so much! And still have so much to learn, so maybe that’s it? - That there is never an end to the knowledge, there will always be more, new, important things to learn. Being humble enough to always desire to learn, and do better, to never think we know it all. Being humble and thankful to always have the opportunity to learn, has been one of my favorite parts of breeding Bostons. I’ve had amazing mentors, both in what I desire to be, and what I never want to become. It’s such a fine balance between head and heart with Bostons. Remaining objective while loving them so much, and living with them as members of the family. It’s a tricky balance!

What about you? Do you have any tips or questions that you would like to see here? e-mail us your suggestion: info@letstalkbostons.com

DANIELLE CAMPBELL (CAMPBELL CLAN) - CA - usa The most important thing I’ve learned is to follow my gut, 99% of the time my first impression on a situation is usually accurate.

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let’s talk

DETAILS

Canine Herpes Virus (CHV)

What Do I Need to Know About It? by Pamela Preston

C

anine herpes virus (CHV) is a viral disease that often results in death of puppies, sometimes whole litters, at a young age. A lot of us breeders have said we’ve had a puppy that had fading puppy syndrome, but it was really CHV, we just didn’t know it. CHV, aka fading puppy syndrome, is the number one cause of newborn puppy mortality.

It is actually fairly common and is thought that nearly 50% of dogs have been exposed to it at some time in their lives. Many of those exposed are infected for life, but the adult dog is generally asymptomatic with no visible signs. Just like herpes in humans, CHV “hides” in nerve cells and reactivates periodically – usually during high stress times such as breeding and whelping. That being said, the biggest concern is for breeders as it is usually pregnant bitches and puppies that are affected as the symptoms are more severe. The reason the virus is such a problem in puppies is that it replicates at temperatures of less than 98.6˚F (37˚C), and since puppies cannot self-regulate their body temperatures until they are about three weeks old, if their environment is cool, any virus they have in their body can quickly multiply and cause CHV’s fading puppy syndrome. As the puppies get older and can regulate their body temperature, the virus is less severe and results in fever and respiratory issues that can usually be treated. Since adult dogs have a normal body temperature of about 101˚F (38.5˚C), the virus is generally dormant and virus cannot replicate, so usually causes no noticeable problems. This is why it is critical that puppies are kept very warm and most breeders supplement the heat by using heat lamps, heating pads, heating discs, and blankets.

TRANSMISSION

PICTURE BY: svenja vonostrowski www.boston-bandito.de

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In adult animals, it is generally transmitted through aerosol and direct contact such as sniffing, licking, sneezing, coughing, nosing, and sexual activities between an infected and an uninfected dog, but can also be transmitted through eating affected materials. Affected males that are shedding will have the virus in their semen, which means it can be transmitted via artificial inseminations as well as live/natural breeding. Affected bitches that are shedding the virus have it in their vaginal secretions. Puppies generally get it in the


IT IS CRITICAL THAT PUPPIES ARE KEPT VERY WARM.

birth canal or from secretions (nasal and oral) of the dam shortly after birth but the virus can pass through the placenta as well. And given the close proximity and interaction, they puppies can also spread it to other puppies in the litter. However, just because one puppy is infected, does not necessarily mean all of the puppies in a litter are.

SYMPTOMS Symptoms for puppies include weak suckling or failure to nurse, various neurological signs, abdominal pain, crying, soft green or yellow feces, and breathing issues. Usually, these puppies die within a day or two severity of the disease. Adult dogs (non-pregnant) usually have no symptoms; however, sometimes there will be respiratory disease (coughing, wheezing, etc.) or genital sores, or in rare cases, CHV has been associated with eye problems. Infection in pregnant dogs can cause infertility, still birth, absorption, abortion, and affected puppies with the fading puppy syndrome. Should these bitches be bred again? There are differing schools of thought. One thought is these bitches should not be bred again as they are carriers and since breeding and whelping stress-induced times for a bitch, the dormant virus can become active again and very easily have affected puppies again; however, another belief is that the virus becomes dormant with a strong immune system, which could result in unaffected puppies. This is a decision only a breeder can make; however, on both counts, it is recommended that the bitch not be bred to the same stud and if the second litter (with a different male) also produces affected/fading syndrome puppies, remove her from the breeding program.

TREATMENT & PREVENTION Right now, there is no precise treatment for CHV. All treatment is focused on supportive care. The prognosis for puppies 1-3 weeks of age is very poor, so this means prevention is the better option. Puppies older than three weeks of age can be hydrated, force-fed, and given anti-diarrheal medication. Other steps which can be taken include ensuring that the correct ambient temperatures are maintained for the puppies

once they are born (remember that the virus likes to replicate at low temperatures of less than 98.6˚F/37˚C). Bitches can also be isolated at least three weeks before and three weeks after birth (whelping). It’s important that good hygiene practices are always followed when around your pregnant bitch, such as washing your hands before and after touching them, wearing different clothing when around them, not wearing outdoor shoes near them, and limiting the number of people who come into contact with them and this goes double for those of us frequenting dog shows during the last trimester of and shortly after birth. A vaccine is available in some countries (NOT the United States), which can be given to pregnant bitches. The vaccine stimulates immunity against the virus, which is then passed on the pups in the mother’s milk, therefore protecting them in the first weeks of life. Surprisingly, CHV is one of the very few things that any veterinarian can identify with a quick necropsy of a dead puppy (i.e., it does not have to be a full-blown, very expensive necropsy). The vet can easily see mottling on the kidneys, which is completely diagnostic for CHV. If one of your puppies dies suddenly, refrigerate the body (do not freeze it) and have your vet take a look at it as soon as possible. Once it is determined that the death was caused by CHV, your vet can provide you with guidance for raising the body temperature of the other puppies in the litter. Keep your babies warm and safe! Until next time…

Pamela Preston Sources: Drs. Foster and Smith Ron Hines, DVM PhD The Merck Veterinary Manual Mary Wakeman, DVM WebMD

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You can enjoy our issues both DIGITALLY on your computer or tablet at www.LetsTalkBostons.com and in PRINT as a hard copy. Order yours today on our website and collect it forever!

Our thirteenth issue will be out in December 2016. Want to be a part? Don’t miss out! Reserve your pages today. E-mail us: ads@LetsTalkBostons.com Ad guidelines + rates on our website.

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BOSTONS a quarterly publication

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Calling all Boston Lovahs! big bad boston is proud to announce the launch of our new online apparel brand this June. Be the first to ordah our wicked awesome stuff.

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let’s talk

REPRODUCTION

Troubleshoot Your Way to Breeding Success – Part One

by Gale Golden, Creator of the Breed Smart Program – 4 Steps to Bigger Litters and a Better Breeding Program

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irst, thank you to everyone who responded so positively to our first article on building a successful breeding program. Because of your great interest, I want to address in this article and the next one some common challenges I get from readers. This should help many of you quickly turn your breeding frustrations into breeding sensations!

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE PRICE? As early as the turn of the 20th century the sport of breeding pure bred dogs was reserved for the rich. Kennels were on large estates…had 50+ dogs…were staffed by a kennel manager…were a pastime…a diversion for folks who did not need to work full time and had unlimited funds to play. In some parts of the world, it is still that way…sigh. But more typically, today’s modern world breeder is a much different demographic. Typically, they are middle income, raising a family without a staff, working full time and with some discretionary income for the sport, but it certainly is not unlimited. The folks I meet at shows around the USA generally meet these criteria with a few exceptions. Let’s face it, breeding dogs is not cheap and comes with a price! It takes an inordinate amount of time - like having a fulltime second job. It’s emotional - sometimes involving life and death of our beloved dogs or puppies. And, of course, it takes a bit of money - and I know you all have unlimited time and the money tree in the backyard like me…right!? If you aren’t willing to pay the price in time, emotion and dollars, this might not be

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the best aspect of the sport for you. There are so many ways to play this great sport.

ARE YOU FRUSTRATED or ELATED? If you are putting in the effort described above and your program is still not getting results, I know you fall in the “frustrated” category. And, guess what you are not alone! Every breeder experiences frustration. This is because breeding is a skill…a journey…there are no shortcuts. Great breeders aren’t born knowing instinctively what to do. They learn from the school of “hard knocks” and from trying new things and making mistakes. But, what separates productive breeders from others is RESPECT FOR THE JOURNEY.

START WITH A GOOD DOSE OF RESPECT A longtime family of famous breeders who I stay in touch with regularly, recently thanked me for an update and commented I had “respect for the journey.” Honestly, I felt I had been awarded the gold medal of breeding! What do I mean by respect for the journey? It varies if you are a new breeder or an experienced one. As a new breeder, you need to recognize, you don’t know very much! You likely bought a dog, spent time finishing them by yourself or with a handler and then marched off to the local repro vet for your first breeding cycle. But, it isn’t their job to teach you…it is your job to get educated. If you don’t know how, there are tons of resources to learn – mentors, books, classes, etc. Much of it is free or low cost! The American Kennel Club website has a whole host of classes to help you learn genetics and more (visit www.akc.org). It is a great


PICTURE BY: svenja vonostrowski www.boston-bandito.de

once i started tracking their whole cycle, the guess work disappeared. clinical signs

most active

cycle stage

length typically 6-7 months

in your girl

hormones

proestrus

approximately

Vulva swells and a red (bloody) discharge begins and intensifies Male dogs show interest but girl generally does not allow mating.

estrogen rises and peaks

blood discharge reduces or even stops. girl may “flag” and likely allows mating.

luteinizing hormone (lh) spikes in a 24-hour period indicating ovulation and progesterone begins to rise.

bleeding ceases. false pregnancy can result near the end of this cycle.

progesterone continues rising whether girl is mated or not. ends abruptly or with a whelping in a pregnant state.

4 stages of a canine

oestrus

DIESTRUS

aneSTRUS

9 days approximately

9 days approximately

45 days approximately

3-4 months

placed to start. I highly recommend the ABCs of Breeding by Claudia Orlandi as a good grounding in the science of genetics for the non-scientist. I occasionally repeat it myself as I learn more from the course each time. If you are a more experienced breeder, respect for the journey means you are on a lifelong quest to learn more and hone your skill. Just like breeding better dogs, it will take time to hone your craft. A master breeder with respect for the journey knows how to listen to advice…they are not afraid to ask for help. They never stop learning. In our Breed Smart seminars, I have had folks with a longer and stronger breeding record then I attending as a student. I recently had a student do a 1:1 seminar at my home with 20 years of successful breeding behind their belt. Their quest to continually hone their skill and become craftsman at the art of breeding identifies them to me as having “respect for the journey.” If you are one, I salute your program! Whether you are new or experienced, I liken the “respect” aspect of our sport to Sudoku which takes mastery and skill. Not Pokémon Go where you are blindly following some phone screen instructions. Get “respect” and you are more than halfway to becoming more successful at the craft.

uterus shrinks down and repairs. vulva swelling shrinks back to normal.

follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) rises falls signaling the body to begin pro-estrus.

CASE STUDY #1 – THE IRREGULAR CYCLE Ok – let’s dig in. I have created a hypothetical case study from the hundreds of questions I get. This does not represent any one case or situation. In future articles, we will discuss other situations. Let’s start with a girl who does not cycle normally. What does a normal cycle look like? From start of one cycle to start of the next, the timing of a full cycle can vary from 6-7 months. A full canine cycle has four stages. Each one has a different length reflecting different hormone activity. Hormones rise, peak and fall as a sort of hand off to the next stage. They are like runners in a relay race. Here is what happens and to your girl ad the hormones do their dance. Is my girl normal? If your female follows this pattern you are in luck. Your girl falls right on the average. Nothing would be required for you to do except to track the phases and breed at the right times. More on that in another article. If your girl has a longer cycle than this is, I wouldn’t be too worried about this as long as it is regular. I have had bitches come in every 9 months or even once a year and still am able to get a pregnancy with lots of healthy pups. Keep in mind this is “average” and your girl may fluctuate. Regularity is the key to watch for.

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pregnancy. Here are a few results I have achieved or have been achieved by my students. “Cocker Spaniel at five years old with irregular seasons and even some that are silent has a consistent pattern of failure to conceive. She is supplemented with Estrumate and has two litters of 5 and 7 puppies.”

When is my girl not typical? I have seen atypical cycles fall in three distinct areas irregular swings, “split” seasons and “silent” seasons. They all indicate something is off with the typical hormone pattern. Sometimes this is problematic and sometimes you are able to secure a pregnancy. Here is what to look for Irregular seasons - If one season is 6 months long then the next one is a year later and then it jumps back to 8 months… that indicates the hormones aren’t running the typical race. It may not be cause for concern if you are still able to secure a normal pregnancy. But if you are not, it is worth a second look. “Split” seasons -This is when your girl starts a season then appears to stop and then starts again. There may be just a few days or even a few weeks between them. It is always the second or later season that is fertile. But, it does indicate the starting and stopping of hormone cycles are off the norm. Again, it can be a problem if you can’t secure a pregnancy. But, if you can, count your blessings and move on. Silent seasons – This can be tricky to detect because when a season is silent there is typically no blood to indicate the start of Proestrus. But fear not, it is not impossible to detect. Watching for other signs and tracking can give you a heads up the fertile period is about to begin. Once you have compared your female to the average, the fun begins! If you are average…whoopee! Move on to determine your breeding timing. If not, you may have extra work to do. If you breed and get no puppies, then you might want to think about a way to normalize the hormone dance. This is definitely something to discuss with your vet. Over the years I have tried numerous things to normalize the hormone dance with mixed results. I also have mixed feelings about breeding girls who have atypical patterns as the reproductive ability is highly inherited. More on that in “Decision Time.” The most reliable way I have found to naturally normalize hormones without a lot of fuss is by using a product called Estrumate. Estrumate is a mix of supportive herbs added daily to your female’s food. It is typically used during Anestrus and Proestrus but you stop it when you start breeding. Estrumate can be started at any time once you are sure you do not have a

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“French Bulldog at four years old with only a singleton pregnancy in 4 attempts with reproductive vet oversight is put on Estrumate and nets 5 puppies then a second litter of 4 puppies.” “Boston Terrier at six years old with no conceptions and numerous attempts with reproductive support is put on Estrumate and produces her first litter of 5 puppies.” Is this coincidence? Maybe. But, I have heard and seen numerous conceptions happen after its use. Does it work on every single dog…no! But your job is to sleuth out what is happening with your cycles, try something different and put those methods that are successful in your breeder bag of tricks. Estrumate is inexpensive and is available through Natures Farmacy. It can be ordered online at www.naturesfarmacy.com. Your reproductive specialist may also want to recommend various techniques to try.

DECISION TIME You are a dedicated breeder and despite your best efforts with numerous attempts and with the help of a reproductive specialist, you fail to get a conception. It is time to decide when to move on. In my old days, I kept going and going…but now, since the development of the Breed Smart method, I give it three strong attempts. If no conception occurs, I conclude there must be an abnormality and certainly don’t want to propagate that. I remove the girl from our breeding program. I recently spayed a beautiful French Bulldog champion after three strong attempts with no conceptions. Post procedure, my vet told me her uterus was normal but was as large as a German Shephards and was quite squished in there. I was convinced she was conceiving and not holding the pregnancy, probably due to the abnormal structure. I think I made the right decision. We each have a different tolerance for missed breedings and you will find the factors that work best for you…but now, you won’t be guessing, you will do it with knowledge! In the next issue, we will focus on another area I get a lot of questions - timing your breedings. In the meantime, if you have questions you can reach me through our website at www.morganmanorfrenchies.com. I look forward to your feedback, comments and questions. We are better together!

Till next time, Gale


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