First Time Breeder

Your first litter is exciting and, in equal measure, nerve racking. Most of the anxiety comes from not knowing what you will need at three in the morning, and the fix is straightforward: gather the right kit early, learn what normal looks like, and have your vet's after hours number written somewhere you can find it.

This collection is put together for exactly that. It brings together the essentials a first time breeder reaches for most, along with the reference material that explains the why behind each one.

The Kit Worth Having Ready

A prepared whelping kit saves you assembling twenty small items under pressure, and it covers the basics of cord care, drying and hygiene in one box. Add accurate puppy scales that read in grams, a thermometer and hygrometer so you can monitor the nest environment, coloured identification collars to tell similar pups apart, and plenty of soft towels for drying. Keep milk replacer and a nursing bottle in the cupboard even if you never expect to need them, because the night you do is not the night to go shopping.

Knowledge Before the Whelping Box

Gear only takes you so far. Read up on the stages of labour, the signs of a pup in trouble, and normal weight gain before your girl is due, so you recognise them rather than looking them up mid whelp. Breeder handbooks and other breeding resources are worth working through in the weeks beforehand. Agree a plan with your vet in advance, including when to call and when to travel, and remember that anything involving a pup's health is their call rather than something to work out alone at 2am.

Expecting your first litter? Explore the RPBA collection for first time breeders and go into whelping day prepared.