Barbara Fitzgerald, an AKC Breeder of Merit and a prominent figure in the world of herding dogs, brings unparalleled knowledge to our “Ask a Breeder” page. With years of experience judging prestigious events, authoring insightful articles, and training top-performing border collies, Barbara is here to share her expertise. Whether you have questions about breeding, training, or caring for your dogs, submit your inquiries below and tap into Barbara’s wealth of knowledge!
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The Internet offers an infinite variety of whelping box designs for dogs, some with hidden drawbacks and many with expensive add-ons. And while many offer free delivery, few offer free delivery on returns, making a wrong purchase an expensive mistake. Most of these whelping boxes are large and bulky, hard to repackage and expensive to ship. To help you navigate the endless loop of offerings, we have reviewed the best whelping boxes for dogs with an eye towards safety, value and sanitation. - Nursing Mother Dog Has Sores On Her Mouth, Urine Scald
Have you noticed irritation on your nursing mother dog’s mouth? Pink or red sores may occur, especially when mothers have large litters or are mothers of large breed puppies. If a nursing mother has sores on her mouth, it is not because she is doing… Read more: Nursing Mother Dog Has Sores On Her Mouth, Urine Scald - Newborn Puppy With Deformed Legs Inverted Hind Leg Syndrome
Newborn puppies with deformed hind legs, that appear as backwards feet, is termed inverted hind leg syndrome or congenital metatarsal hyperextension. This is a fairly common disorder among the various defects of newborn puppies. It typically happens in larger litters, where puppies are crowded in… Read more: Newborn Puppy With Deformed Legs Inverted Hind Leg Syndrome - Whelping Puppies: What to Do When A Dog Stops Giving Birth
Whelping puppies is a stressful time for both the mother and her owner. Delivery often begins in the middle of the night or early in the morning, when everyone involved already feels exhausted from a night on puppy watch. Throughout the whelping process, mothers normally… Read more: Whelping Puppies: What to Do When A Dog Stops Giving Birth - How to Help Deliver A Stuck Puppy At Home Safely
As a breeder with 20 years experience whelping litters, I was appalled by some of the weird and frankly bad advice on how to safely deliver a stuck puppy at home. The info that exists on the Internet, advising owners to use a towel to… Read more: How to Help Deliver A Stuck Puppy At Home Safely