Puppies!

'C' pups born in June 2024! L-R: Cola, Chubby, Collin, Calvin, Circe

If only we could plan puppy litters purely based on appearances!

In reality, a lot of factors need to be considered when planning an intentional litter. Both parents should have even temperaments - in the kennel and on the line - a strong motivation to pull, a good appetite, and no significant health issues. Ideally, their pedigrees are well-documented to avoid inbreeding.

List of Desirable Traits:

• High motivation - a natural drive to run and pull.

• Good appetite - especially important in winter when energy demands are high.

• Intelligence and leadership ability - crucial for guiding teams.

• Good pedigree - known lineage on both sides helps reduce the risk of inbreeding depression.

• Tough feet - essential for winter work. Fragile pads can crack or collect snowballs, which is painful and may require medical care.

• Thick, weather-resistant coat - for warmth and protection in cold conditions.

• Overall health - both parents should be free of major hereditary issues that could affect the pups.

How do the Heats work?

Most females come into heat about twice a year, roughly every 6-8 months. They remain 'in heat' for 2-3 weeks, progressing through the following stages:

• Proestrus (7 - 10 days): Swollen vulva, bloody discharge, not yet receptive to mating.

• Estrus (5 - 9 days): Fertile period; discharge often becomes lighter or straw-colored, female will accept the male.

When in heat, some females will lean against kennel fences to attract males or wail loudly, while others seem a bit under the weather and keep to themselves. Males can also become distracted by a nearby female in heat - sometimes even turning mid-run - so training schedules and team dynamics often need adjusting.

Pregnancy and Recovery:

• Gestation length: Around 63 days (about 9 weeks) from ovulation to whelping (a female dog giving birth).

• A litter is usually 4 - 8 puppies, but it can vary.

• The mother can normally run and train as usual for the first month of her pregnancy, but after that, she will need to conserve energy and rest while her body changes.

• After whelping, she’ll be focused on nursing and caring for the pups for at least 6 - 8 weeks.

• Most kennels avoid training or running the mother until the pups are weaned - roughly 3 - 4 months off in total.

Breeding is ideally planned for spring or summer, so the mother’s downtime doesn’t overlap with the peak sledding season. After all, a female good enough to breed is usually highly valued as a working dog too