You’ve decided that it’s time to add a new canine family member. Congratulations! You understand that a puppy is forever and, accordingly, you want your puppy to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. You know that you need to ensure that your puppy comes from a reputable source, but you aren’t…
Category: Dogs
New Research on Timing of Spay/Neuter
For decades, the standard approach to spay and neuter in dogs has been to have it done asap – ideally before a female’s first heat cycle or before a male has the opportunity to breed. The given reason for this approach was that it would decrease the pet’s chance of cancer – specifically mammary cancer…
Why I Want to Trust Vaccines Given by Dog Breeders and What's Standing In the Way
Imagine you are a small animal veterinarian (aka…me). You love puppies, and you’re excited to see that you have a new puppy appointment scheduled this morning. You walk into the exam room to meet the newest member of your client’s family and are immediately greeted with excited wiggles and kisses. After a few moments of…
All Dogs Deserve Basic Training (And Some Great Resources To Get You Started)
The number one reason that dogs are relinquished to shelters is behavioral, and unfortunately many behavioral issues are actually training issues. Therefore, I truly believe that basic dog training saves lives! Sometimes when I’m talking to a client during a puppy visit, they look very confused when I mention training. When I say that all…
The Birds and the Bees and Me With a Pipette: Methods of Insemination
Fundamentally, producing puppies involves combining oocytes (eggs) and sperm. However, there are actually multiple options to accomplish that task. When you’re first getting started, it can be overwhelming to keep track of the lingo, but this article can help! When discussing methods of insemination, there are two components: the processing of the semen itself (none,…
Basics of Canine Breeding Management Every Breeder Should Know
I believe that canine reproduction is a team sport. When I’m working with a client, we need to trust each other and to be on the same page every step of the way. For that reason, I believe it’s very important that responsible breeders understand the “why” behind our breeding management decisions. Maybe it’s my…
To Store or Not To Store - A Brief Introduction to Canine Semen Freezing
The following article was originally written for the Scottish Terrier Club of America (STCA) Handbook. For more information on requesting scientific content for your own breed club publication, please contact Dr. Kristina at kbaltutis.dvm@gmail.com To Store or Not to Store A Brief Introduction to Canine Semen Freezing By Dr. Kristina Baltutis and Dr. Joseph…
6 Tips To Save Money While Still Being A Responsible Breeder
For many breeders, breeding dogs is a labor of love and not a way to make money, but they still find themselves balancing the decisions they make in their breeding program with their bank account. Below are some tips to help the responsible hobby breeder save a few dollars without sacrificing their commitment to being…
What I Feed My Dogs and Why It Isn’t Grain Free
When I’m advising a client on what to feed their dog, there are several factors I take into consideration: the dog’s age, breed, weight, body condition score, pre-existing medical conditions, etc. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I’d like to address a few of the ones I hear most commonly. The MOST IMPORTANT…
Thinking About Breeding Your Dog So The Kids Can Experience the “Miracle of Birth?” Do This Instead.
I know you have the best dog ever (none of you are wrong), so it makes sense that you want another one just like her. She’s great with your kids, and maybe you think it would be valuable for them to experience “the miracle of birth.” You’re thinking about breeding her, maybe just one time.…