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Hormone-sparing sterilization (vasectomy or ovary-sparing spay) retain hormones associated with possibly better health and behavior.

Do dogs have belly buttons? Yes, and learn how to find your dog's belly button and its purpose, plus what health issues to look out for when examining it.

If you have made the decision to breed your bitch, congratulations, welcome… and take a deep breath! You are about to embark on an ambitious, demanding pursuit. It requires time, study, hard work and emotional fortitude. Here's everything you need to know about preparing for your first litter. First Things First Because your puppy buyers […]

There might be a lot of questions swirling around your head if you're planning for your first litter of puppies. Being a first-time breeder can be overwhelming if you don't know what to expect. But we tapped Margaret V. Root Kustritz, DVM, Ph.D., DACT, professor of small animal reproduction at the University of Minnesota, to […]

You didn’t breed your female during her last heat cycle, yet she acts and looks like she is pregnant. Her nesting instinct has kicked in, and her mammary glands are swollen as though in preparation for lactation. A false pregnancy may be to blame. “Essentially all dogs that go through estrus, or have a heat […]

If you're just getting started in dog breeding, it's important to have a veterinarian on your team. Breeders who partner with veterinarians have the assurance of knowing their questions will be addressed by an expert who shares their best interests and wants to help them optimize the health of their breeding animals and puppies. Purina veterinarian […]

Can dogs sense pregnancy? Because of their powerful noses, it's believed by many that a dog can detect a change in a woman even before she does.

Have you seen the movie "March of the Penguins" and learned how male Emperor penguins incubate the eggs, keeping them warm and protecting them throughout the winter? Well, male dogs aren’t anything like that. In fact, one could say they have virtually no paternal instinct. This wasn’t always the case, however. Did the Dog's Paternal […]

By Nancy Pemberton, AKC Breeder of Merit Rowan Border Terriers One of the most important things to do for your pregnant bitch when the time for her to whelp approaches is to provide her with a safe place for her puppies. Not only will it make her feel more secure, it might be a matter […]

Avoiding malnourishment of a bitch from the pre-breeding phase to parturition is vital to the health of both the bitch and her pups. We are all aware that good nutrition and proper prenatal care play important roles in ensuring the birth of healthy human children. The same is true in ensuring that our canine friends […]