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Kennel Notes - More on Pregnancy Management by Keith Erlandson

Last week I discussed the theory, expounded by some American authorities, that it can improve the working ability of a litter if the dam is worked during pregnancy.
I have no concrete ideas regarding this theory but many years ago I had a bitch, Macsiccar Auchtertyre Donna, who was in whelp to F.T.Gwibernant Ashley Robb. I ran them both in the Spaniel Championship at Blenheim. Robb picked up third place and Donna, although she ran an excellent trial, received nothing.

However, the resulting litter produced three Field Trial Champion bitches but whether or not keeping her in work had any bearing on the quality of the litter, I cannot quantify.
The mating to Robb was repeated the following year but she was not in whelp during the shooting season, yet the litter contained two Field Trial Champions (one of which won the Spaniel Championship) and three trial winners, so this makes the theory of litter enhancement by shooting over the bitch in whelp even more difficult to pin down.
However, a positive advantage of working a bitch in whelp would be that she would be far fitter than a bitch that simply had lain in the kennel and had minimal exercise. The fitter bitch could well experience the easier whelping.

(posted 28/07/2003)

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Kennel Notes - More on Pregnancy Management by Keith Erlandson

More tips during pregnancy.
(You are on this page).

Kennel Notes - Care During Pregnancy by Keith Erlandson

Tips during pregnancy. (28/07/2003)
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Importance of Eye Colour When Breeding by Keith Erlandson

Tips on eye colours. (28/07/2003)
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Having Your Bitch Mated by Keith Erlandson

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