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The Midwoofery Breeder Blog
Evidence-based answers for responsible dog breeders
How often to breed and when to start breeding
Like many other things we used to do, when science is finally applied to our profession and we get information from good data, we realize th
Got milk? A guide to calcium during and after whelping
There's a lot of misinformation about the best source of calcium and not much about how much to give during whelping
When a newborn puppy won’t eat
Here’s a quick summary of what to do with a neonate that won’t latch on and eat right away.
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From the Author
Whelping and newborn care, and how to read what your dogs are telling you.
Both books are on Amazon.
How to Count Puppies on an X-Ray
A vet who was never wrong on a puppy count taught me her method. Here’s how to read puppy x-rays, where puppies hide, and how I use the count on whelping day.
AI Puppy Buyers: What to Do When the Inquiry Isn't All Human
More puppy inquiries are being written by AI, not by the buyer. That changes how breeders need to read, screen, and respond. Here's a practical plan.
Dog DNA Test Wrong Breed? Why Results Show a Breed That Isn't in the Pedigree
Your dog's DNA test shows a small amount of a breed you know isn't in the pedigree. Here's why close cousin breeds get mixed up, and when it's worth a closer look.
California AB 506: What the New Puppy Deposit Law Means Even If You Don't Live in California
California's AB 506 makes a puppy contract void if it has a nonrefundable deposit and the buyer is in California. What the law says, what's going around that isn't true, and what nobody knows yet.
Any idiot with an internet connection can write about legal matters. Reporting for duty.
Take my read on all this with whatever grain of salt you have handy, and talk to an attorney who actually does California animal law.
Here's what I can tell you.
Why Bite Inhibition Is the Wrong Thing to Teach Puppy Buyers
I make three guarantees on my first call with a prospective family. Their puppy will bite them. Their puppy will destroy something they love. And their puppy will have accidents in the house. What I can't guarantee is that yelping and going limp will teach that puppy to bite softly, because that's not how any of this works.
Breeding for Good Whelpers: The Trait We Forget to Select For
We select for hips, coats, and temperament. Almost nobody selects for a dam who can whelp and mother on her own. Here’s why that matters, and what to track.
What's the Deal with Your Dog Eating Placentas? A Breeder's Guide to the Whelping Box's Strangest Snack
Most dams eat at least a few placentas during whelping. There are real benefits, real downsides, and the question of how many matters a lot more than whether she eats any at all. Plus a question about post-whelping loose stool that I haven't seen anyone else ask, and one weird thing I learned about human placenta recipes while researching this.
Why “Health Tested Parents” Doesn’t Mean a Guaranteed Healthy Puppy
Quick answer: Health testing on the parents lowers the chance of inherited disease in the puppies. It doesn’t get rid of that chance completely. Knowing what testing does and doesn’t catch helps you ask better questions and have realistic expectations. When you start looking at breeders, you’ll see phrases like “fully health tested parents” or “all clearances done.” That’s a good sign. It also doesn’t mean what most people think it means. What does “health tested” actually me
Clinical vs DNA Pre-Breeding Testing: What These Actually Tell You
Quick answer: Health testing comes in two flavors. Clinical tests check the dog itself, like hip x-rays and heart exams. DNA tests check the dog’s genes. DNA tests can completely rule out some specific diseases when both parents test clear. But for most of the common stuff we worry about, like hip dysplasia, slipping kneecaps, and most heart defects, there’s no DNA test that clears a dog. For those, testing lowers the risk. It doesn’t get rid of it. Most of us know to run hea
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