MolassesLass Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 For the breeders: Would you compete in active dog sports - agility, herding, frisbee etc. - with a 3 week pregnant (if at all) bitch? Also, would you train/exercise the dog sport (or active fetch) at home with same? For the trainers: Would you be comfortable having a 3 week pregnant (if at all) bitch competing/training in active dog sports or fetch? Is there risk to the embryos or mum from the stretching through the body that happens in these sports/activities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 My primary concern would be heat stress ML. Maternal heat stress can increase embryo mortality. I'd certainly not be doing anything more active than obedience and definitely not in warmer weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 It depends on the dog, it's fitness & the activity. I have seen a number of dogs continue at the same level for the first 3-4 weeks & then slow down a bit. Often the dog will tell you when it's time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgie_cat Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I didnt actually think they were allowed to compete while potentially preggers (not that anyone would know for the first few weeks!!! If no test can tell if dog = preg then I cant imagine it being an issue with the other dogs) - also know a lot of people dont like having preg dogs out in high risk of contamination areas for the first 4 wks - was told it = bad in this part of development... have more recently (after Lana did an injury) been discussing the possibility of increased injury probs during pregnancy - not that she was preg but was simply musing about that idea in relation to seasons also... Having said that - I think that to continue with a similar or slightly lessened (never pushing to more than usual or more than they want to do) training is fine - they need to keep up muscle tone to make delivery easier anyways - if dogs had to become instant coach potatoes to successfully carry a pregnancy then I think the species wouldnt be around so much... so I would train (as long as she was happy and most likely on small jumps or no jumps if this was an issue) but would not trial - thought there was a rule on that honestly... perhaps that is just our club (and possibly more for the safety of the bitch from disease than for the distraction factor - not sure) Bridget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I certainly wouldn't/didn't with my girl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 (edited) I'd certainly not be doing anything more active than obedience and definitely not in warmer weather. Thanks. Having said that - I think that to continue with a similar or slightly lessened (never pushing to more than usual or more than they want to do) training is fine - they need to keep up muscle tone to make delivery easier anyways - if dogs had to become instant coach potatoes to successfully carry a pregnancy then I think the species wouldnt be around so much... so I would train (as long as she was happy and most likely on small jumps or no jumps if this was an issue) but would not trial - thought there was a rule on that honestly... perhaps that is just our club (and possibly more for the safety of the bitch from disease than for the distraction factor - not sure) I agree on keeping muscle tone - VERY important IMO. I've never heard of any rule about in whelp bitches and competing in anything. I'm trying to make it genereal but for the specific case I'm asking about, we're talking canine disc and there are no rules about pregnant bitches.*** In my experience, there is no attraction to in whelp females as there is with in season bitches. also know a lot of people dont like having preg dogs out in high risk of contamination areas for the first 4 wks - was told it = bad in this part of development... There are varying thoughts on when the most important times are but in this case I'm asking specifically about exercise levels only (stretching harming embryos to be even more specific), please leave out any disease considerations. I certainly wouldn't/didn't with my girl Did you do anything in the way of exercise or did all activity stop post mating? ETA: *** - This does not mean the sport would allow a heavily pregnant bitch to compete, we have a general rule that would allow officials to deny entry to any dog they felt would be in physical danger by competing. Simply meant we didn't have a rule directly disallowing in whelp bitches from competing. Edited August 28, 2007 by molasseslass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I'm neither trainer or breeder so hope you don't mind my input! I'd just be pulling back on sports that require high speed and balance - mainly because as the bitch gets further into pregnancy her weight/balance etc start to change. And if it's something the bitch is used to doing - eg leaping after a disc/ball in a particular way the muscles and mind are trained to do it one way...but weight and balance may distort how the body can do it - eg increased chances of landing badly etc. However keeping the disc low and lessening the leaping might at least continue the bitches enjoyment without increasing any risk? Same with agility for example - minor increased effort might be required to go over jumps, seesaw might be affected differently etc which could cause injury or create avoidence later down the track. Acting as trainer I would be comfortable allowing a possibly 3week term bitch train and possibilty compete in some sports - however it would depend on bitch and owner. Depending on the activity i'd be comfortable working/training a bitch at that stage however i'd be likely to soften the more active sports (eg low flying discs etc) as/if the pregnancy progressed until it was just low level activity at home. Just my take on things anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Mal Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I certainly wouldn't just in case. If a Bitch knows she is in whelp and thinks her activities will be normal (doing agility etc), it's possible she could ingest the pups, thinking she couldn't cope being active and in whelp. It depends on the dogs instincts and some ingest out of stress too. Just my opinion though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyland Mist Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hi, My dogs compete in whelp in conformation as well as obedience, upto the point where I can see them slowing down. It shouldnt make too much of a difference if the bitch is fit and healthy. I tend to drop flyball and Agility early as they can over heat the bitch, and can cause injury if the dog has a fall. From about five weeks i give them free runs and let them dictate there own pace. It makes fo whelping a lot easier if the Dam is fit. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 I'm neither trainer or breeder so hope you don't mind my input! Not at all, the subheading was to attract those people rather than tell others not to post - not that it worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 As a breeder I tend to leave my girls at home after they have been bred. I don't believe in showing in whelp bitch not matter what sport. They certainly don't become instant couch potatoes but I avoid anything that places stress on them and also places with a high population of dogs. It is easy to dismiss the risk of disease but they are more open and susceptible to infection. Instead I tend to normally exercise them and keep them as fit and toned as possible without stressing them. I definitely would not even consider jumping or flyball at any stage in their pregnancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I would say no to agility and flyball, but then again some bitches show no signs of being in whelp and most are not confirmed in whelp at that stage. Half the time they are still racing around like fools anyway. I will show my bitches in whelp, I don;t have a problem with that and in all likelyhood I will be showing a bitch this weekend and possibly the next and she will be three weeks this weekend, if indeed she is pregnant. I think she is and my only concern would be her overheating but the weather is still cool and she will be comfortable to compete for the next couple of weeks. After that I'm sure she will be huge and that will put a stop to that. You cannot exhibit a bitch past 6 weeks, I don't know if that ruling extends to other sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgie_cat Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I think past six weeks (for a normal preg - for small litter that doesnt show could be diff) it wouldnt matter if there was a rule or not - they wouldnt be very competitive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bordacollies4me Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 a very interesting topic and one i am most interested in as i have a bitch who is possibly in whelp 2 weeks today and i am deciding whether to compete with her this weekend , i have sent my entries in but have limited her to 3 runs, she needs one more clear round for her first title and if we achieve this which is her first event i may consider scratching the next two..... i do know of a Bc who competed in Agility up until week 7, she was very much in whelp and she had slowed down quite a lot, produced 7 healthy strong pups, one of which is my youngest BC.... also know of others who have competed in Agility up until weeks 3-4 with no problems...then are rested for the rest of the pregnancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I still did excercise Bella with on lead walks etc and that was the limit. The VCA used to have a 2 day breeders seminar before it became compulsory. A vet who is also a breeder and agility/obedience competitor also did a talk. This question actually came up and I remember quite clearly she said she has known of dogs competing in agility during the first weeks of pregnancy but said she wouldn't do it with her dogs. I figure it is not worth the risk and there is always plenty of time after the pups to continue on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bordacollies4me Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 my youngest is to go to the vet this week for vacc , have decided to take my other girl and seek vets advice as to whether i should or should not compete...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I have had two litters and on both occassions we were still competing in obedience and agility up until the bitch was 6 weeks pregnant and nobody would have known she was carrying puppies (both litters were born in October). At 6 weeks she ballooned and so training was replaced with walks to the local oval where she could do as much/little as she wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bordacollies4me Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 I have had two litters and on both occassions we were still competing in obedience and agility up until the bitch was 6 weeks pregnant and nobody would have known she was carrying puppies (both litters were born in October). At 6 weeks she ballooned and so training was replaced with walks to the local oval where she could do as much/little as she wanted. yeah i have been seeking advice on this and all advice i have got was that the bitch will let you know when she isn't coping, and the fact that she regularly trains and competes in Agility will help..... only thing is would you compete with a maiden bitch up until 6 weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wylie Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 My very first litter my bitch was training on a regular basis for both tracking and obedience. We went to a tracking weekend when she was 7 weeks along. She tracked like a dream all day for the three days we were away. She wanted to track. She was given ample oppurtunity to rest or not track. She was actually worse when i had my young boy out barking and carrying on as she was being left out. No one believed she was 7 weeks along. She whelped naturally and easily. Vet said it was because she was so fit and healthy at the time. I think each bitch is an individual. Some will want to work and participate and others will want to be even bigger couch potatoes. I also know of 2 other bitches that were herding at 6 weeks. Both doing multiple runs a day in HSAsd and HSBSd with some passes. Both whelped naturally and with ease. One had 11 puppies and the other 8 puppies. I think that we all know our bitches and know when to ease off. Think about human athletes many continue on with training but taper it down slowly the further along they get. They dont lose a lot of condition and then return to there chosen arena not having lost huge amounts of training time and are able to get back to where they left off quickly and with seemingly little extra effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 (edited) I also know of a bitch who tracked at 7 weeks, had the pups that night 1 week early and they lost most of them (and had vet's blessing). I just think that the dogs should have a few good years in them still if they are having pups so a few months isn't going to hurt. I knew before I bred I had no intention of competing Bella while pregnant. I know that nothing may happen, but the dogs don't choose when to go out to do agility etc, we make that choice for them. Edited August 31, 2007 by helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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