Yes, dog breeding may start with 2 dogs ready to go at it. But it starts way before the breeding. Its should starts months/years before the breeding takes place. This is just a sample that comes from my big book of breeding. This is copyrighted and can't not be used or distributed without my permission and written consent.

I always start with simple breeding checklist.

Is your bitch:

• Show Quality
• A Champion
• Have both parents and grand parents that are champions
• Free of hereditary disease
• Mature enough to breed (2 years and has already had 2 heat cycles)
• Tested today as a free from brucellosis

Is your stud:

• Show Quality
• A champion
• Have both parents and grand parents that are champions
• Free from hereditiary disease
• Parents and grand parents teasted and free from hip dysphasia
• Mature Enough to breed (Over 1 1/2 years old, Idealy age of 2)
• Tested today as free from brucellosis

And you need to meet ALL of the following criteria:

• You already have homes for all the pups - before mating
• You have found a dog that meets all the points in the section above relating to the requirements of the bitch
• You are prepared to offer a lifetime guarantee (or at least two years) for health of the pups
• If, during tge lifetime of the pups, any need to be returned for whatever reason, you take that pup (now adult dog) back and find a home for him/her.
• All non-show quality pups are sold with a spay/neuter agreement
• All prospecitive buyers have been fully screened by you
• You are goinf to offer support and advice to your puppy buyers for the life time of the pup
• You have the money to cover the stud fee, possible c-section and complications, vaccinations, and still get no income from the sale of any pups.
• Have you consented with the breeder of your bitch/dog and sought their advice?

Now that's just a starting point. if you can't or won't meet these criteria, perhaps breeding your dog at this time is the best for you or your dog.

I always get a pre-breeding examination done on my bitch. I get cultures, sesitivity, and white blood count tested. I have her thyroid tested and most important brucella tested.

Estrus In Dogs (Heat Cycles)

Estrus ("heat") is the mating period of female animals. When estrus occurs, animals are said to be "In heat" or "In Season." Dogs generally have their first estrous at 6-12 momths of age. Some females of the large breeds, however, may not have their first estrus until they are 12-24 momnths of age.

The complete cycle takes about 6 months, resulting in 2 estrous periods each year. Indivual variation occurs, but a given females's patter tends to be repeated regularly.

The Estrous cycle can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Proestrus: this stage begin with the appearance of vaginal bleeding. It normally lasts from 4 to 9 days. Male dogs become very interested in the female, however, she willnot mate with them.
2. Estrus: This is the stage the female will accept the male and conception can occur. The discharge is more yellowish than bloody. Ordinarily, the stage lasts 4 - 13 days. Your female will stand and hold her tail to the side when you touch her back or a male tried to mount.
3. and 4. Metestrus and Anestrus: These 2 stages are periods of ovarian activity, but no significant outwards signs. False pregnancies frequently occur during metestrus.

Normal Gesation in Dogs

Gestation is the period when the young are developing in the mother's uterus. In dogs, gestation normally lasts 9 weeks (63 days). However, puppies may be delivered between 58 and 68 days.

Normal Birth in Dogs (whelping)

Preparation:

Begin preparations for delivery of puppies before females give birth. A whelping box should be provided for the mother to begin sleeping in to ensure the puppies are born in the area you have chosen. this box should be relatively small with sides 6 - 8 inches high to keep puppies from crawling out of the nest. Place the box in a secluded yet familiar area of the home, away from traffic, to allow the mother solitude.

Newspapers make excellent bedding because they can be changed easily, are asorbent, and be shredded by the mother as she makes her nest. If materials such as old quilts, blankets, rugs or towel are used, they must be wahed frequently.

If you want to know more precisely when the delivery is near, check the rectal temperature of the mother twice daily starting the 58th day. Normal rectal temperature varies between 100.5 and 102 F, within 24 hours before the onset of labor, the recal temperature drops nearly 2 degrees.

Labor and Delivery:

Labor in the bitch can be divided into 3 stages. The second and third stages are repeated with the birth of each puppy.

Stage 1: During the first stage, the mother seems extremely restless and very nervous and often seeks seclusion. She may refuse food even if offered her favorite treat. This stage may last 6 - 24 hours. This is good tiem to excerise the mother to allow her to urinate and defecate.

Stage 2: In the second stage, contractions and expulsion of the puppies begin. Usually, a small greenish sac of fluid protudes from the vulva. This is followed by the puppy attached to its placenta.About two-thirds of all puppies are born nose first, stomach down, and one-third are born hindquarters first. Both presentations are considered normal in dogs. After delivery, the mother opens the sac, cleans off the pup and severs the umbilical cord. You may have to preform these functions for the mother. Make sure the sac is removed from the puppy immediately if it is unbroken during delivery.

Stage 3: The third stage of labor is the resting stage which follows each delivery. Mild contractions and delivery of the afterbirth occur in the stage. This stage usually last 10 - 30 minutes, but it may range from a few secound to an hour.

Obstetric Care:

After a pup is delivered, remove all membranes covering the puppy, clean the face and remove mucus from the mouth and nose. Rub the puppy with the clean towel to dry it and to stimulate respiration and circulation. After a few minutes of rubbing, the puppy should begin to squirm and cry loudly.

The umbilical cord should be tied an inch away from the puppy's body with a fine thread and then cut on the side of the knot away from the puppy. Apply a drop of iodine or merthiolate to the cord end after its cut.

Assisting with the birth:

If a puppy seems to be lodged in the birth canal  and the mother cannot expel it, rapid assistance is necessary. There may not be time to call your veterinarian and drive to the hospital.

Grasp the puppy with a clean towel and exert steady, firm tration. Do not jerk or pull suddenly. Traction may have to be applied for as long as 5 minutes. If you cannot remove the puppy, call the veterinarian.

Behavior of the mother:

During whelping and nursing, your pet may not be her usual self. She may get very nervous and filled with a sense of protectiveness for her new family. Any aggression she may exhibit usually fades as time passes. Please be aware that this can be towards anyone in the household. Keep children or visitor at bay and should not be left alone with the bitch.

Notify the vet if any of the following occur:

• You cannot remove a puppy lodged in the birth canal
• There is a strong, persistent labor without delivery of pup.
• There is weak, intermittent labor for 6 hours without delivery of a pup.
• It has been more then 4 hours since the last birth and it is probable that more puppies are still inside.
• There is a greenish-black discharge and no labor or puppies within 3-4 hours. The greenish-black color is normal, but such a discharge should be followed very soon by the delivery of pups.
• The pregnancy last more than 65 days.

Care of Newborn Puppies

General Information:

During the first few weeks of the newborn's life, the mother provides the necessities of warmth, nutrition, and stimulation. The owner's responsibiltiles consist of careful observation to detect problems before they become serious. Room Tempature should be at least 70 F. The puppies should be kept off cold floors because chilling can be fatal to young puppies.

Nursing: A well fed healthy puppy has a round stomach and seems content. Notify the vet if the puppies seem uneasy or cry frequently.

Crying: Extended crying is usually a sign of trouble and should be reported to the vet immediately.

Tail Docking/dewclaw removal: Puppies of breeds in which these procedures are done, should be presented at 2 - 5 days of age.

Eyes: The puppie's eyes should be open at 10 - 14 days of age.

Weaning: Soon after the puppie eyes are open, pan feeding of milk may be started. Other foods may then gradually be added.

You can get more information from my huge whelping breeder book, Buy it in Ebay Store