Interest in LGD puppies in VA? Also, breeding tips?

[secuono]

I'm wondering if there is any interest in LGD puppies for 2016 in and around Virginia?

We may be breeding our Maremma/GP to our pure GP within the next year.

I have never dealt with dog or cat pregnancies. Sheep, rabbit, bird, fish, guinea pig, cricket breeding, care and through births and raising them. But this is new to me. Have been doing research for awhile now, but would like personal opinions and experienced advice and tips.
Do dogs need pregnancy vaccines like horses get or special feeding/vitamin additions?
Can you externally check for retained puppies like you can with rabbits, guinea pigs and sheep?
Can you go after stuck pups like with sheepor is that immediate vet only?
What do I need on hand from start to end?
When do I need to contact the vet to make sure they know I may need them with birthing difficulties?
Any OTC drugs or supplements that can be used to help the female a coyple weeks before, during and after?
Anything else livestock related that may be related to dog breeding?
I know about copulation tying and length of pregnancy. But does breed or size of the dogs have anything to do with length of pregnancy? I know a few other animals tend to have shorter or longer pregnancies than average depending on breed or size.

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About the potential parents.

Both are working dogs, live with sheep full time. They also watch over horses, hogs and ducks currently. Neither have ever jumped, dug out or otherwise escaped their fencing, wonderful with new born lambs, too. Stocky, healthy, level-headed, proper bone structure and can discriminate between real threats and purely innocent passersby.

Male has been excellent with lambs, adult sheep, ducks, hogs, piglets and horses since coming to our farm as an adorable two month old puppy. He has never needed any correction when dealing with the stock. He likes to stay in with the sheep when the female alerts and runs off towards the predator(s).

Female grew up with the same animals as the male, but also rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, guinea fowl and goats. She needed a little guidance with chickens (normal), but never harmed any. She is extra gentle with rabbits, guinea pigs, newborn lambs and other small and defenseless mammals. She has alerted and watched over weak wild birds as well, fallen Black Bird fledglings are a yearly event she diligently cares for. She has been fine with the shearers, except when the worker was handling heavily pregnant ewes, then she was up and barking, pacing and very concerned about her ladies, but never aggressive towards the shearer. She also prevents the horses from rough-housing to hard with each other or overly pestering the other stock.

 

[Latestarter]

If for no other reason than we're fixated on pics, could you share a few of the potential parents? How big are they? When would the pups be born (approx)? The parents sound like real good LGDs...

 

[BlessedWithGoats]

@Southern by choice @Samantha drawz @purplequeenvt
Tagging some people that may be able to answer your questions!

 

[samssimonsays]

My Experience is slightly different, We had an oopsie with our 65 pound collie and our 150 pound GP/St Bernard (St. Pyr is the male). We had her in for an xray of the pups to see if she had more than 4 because any less and she may not have been able to pass them. We did not do anything different for her in pregnancy aside from our natural wormer around 2 weeks before and then puppy food mixed with her adult food the week leading up to delivery and since she is nursing 8 pups she gets the puppy food mixed half and half with adult food free fed because that is what she is used to otherwise along with a dinner of scrambled eggs and I rotate between chicken and beef (raw) every night for her dinner. She has not lost weight (yet) and is producing plenty of milk for her little oinkers. All wwe needed was old towles, an infant aspirator and old blankets (she is a house dog and still managed to miss the only part not covered by blankets AND had one on the couch) But I did not have to do anything aside for help the last one take a breath with a couple taps on his back as she went for the afterbirth before his sac. We needed the vet to know about ours due to the size difference and possible need for a c-section.

 

[secuono]

If for no other reason than we're fixated on pics, could you share a few of the potential parents? How big are they? When would the pups be born (approx)? The parents sound like real good LGDs...

Here's some pics. Have countless pics of them growing up.

 

[secuono]

Oh, I don't have a livestock scale, so I don't know how much they weigh. Based on feel alone, they would be 90+ easily.
I can measure their height tomorrow. But from comparing sheep heights to them, they are at least 25in tall.

 

[babsbag]

Beautiful dogs.

I love raising puppies. I had 4 litters of LGDs and just recently spayed the female. There are always risks with breeding and the older the dog is the more the risk and Sigueme is worth mush more to me than puppies so we quit while we were ahead.

As far as shots, just make sure the dam is current on her regular dog vaccines and rabies. If she is in good health and weight you really don't need to do anything extra, you don't want her fat. Vitamins never hurt; I did give them when I would remember. I could never feel for retained pups, but I don't know what to feel for, I also wouldn't be comfortable going in after a pup, but maybe people do it, not sure. Probably the fear of a retained pup is my biggest concern and for a good week after birthing I watch mama like a hawk, checking for lack of appetite, odor, change of color, etc. My vet always knew the time was close but I never needed her, I also knew of an emergency clinic if I needed them.

As far as what to have on hand...lots of towels and puppy pads are good for birthing on. A baby suction bulb might be good too but I never used one.

I always had a good experience and did other litters years ago of Dalmatians. But it is always a risk, you could lose a good dog for some pups. You have to take that into consideration. And once the pups are born your work has just begun. There is the constant cleaning and monitoring (and worrying). Then when they get to where mom doesn't clean up after them you have to take over that job too. Pups will step in and wear pooh quite frequently.

And don't forget a safe place to birth and raise the pups. Near the livestock is great, but not with them. But yet mom needs to be able to come and go and do her job while the pups stay confined. Can be a challenge. And look at the weather too. I have had them so hot had to use a mister on them, it was 114°. And the flip side, freezing cold and under heat lamps.

Not trying to talk you out of it or scare you, just want you to have both eyes open going in. I sell mine at 10 weeks but many breeders so 12-16 is better so this is a huge time and money commitment..they EAT and the pups need to be wormed quite frequently the first few weeks. Being a breeder and a GOOD breeder are not the same. You have a responsibility to your dog, the pups, and the potential buyers.

Now have fun, that is the main rule or isn't worth doing.

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks for the pics! Good looking animals! I really think you should do the "balance on the bathroom scale while holding the dog" thing...

 

[secuono]

Thanks for the pics! Good looking animals! I really think you should do the "balance on the bathroom scale while holding the dog" thing...

I've done that while holding sheep.

 

[Latestarter]

Well dang! If you can do it with a sheep, why not a dog? LOL