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Responsible breeders know that maintaining a healthy weight for their bitches is vital to their breeding programmes. But keeping track of all your dog weights can be extremely challenging when it’s added to your never-ending to-do list as a breeder.
Weight tracking is often discussed in the dog breeding world in the context of puppies. And, while logging litter growth is absolutely essential, the conversation about weight is rarely centred around the adult breeding bitches.
That’s why we’ve created this guide that solely focuses on tracking the weight of bitches.
Why is maintaining a healthy weight for breeding bitches important?
Maintaining an optimal weight for your breeding dogs not only ensures their individual health, but also paves the way for a successful breeding programme:
Enhanced reproductive health
The link between nutrition and reproduction is well known.
Healthy weights contribute to regular oestrus cycles in females, increasing the likelihood of a successful mating.
Meanwhile, obesity can lead to reproductive issues and complications, so maintaining a healthy weight for your bitch is vital for promoting her fertility.
According to The American Kennel Club, bitches should not be overweight and should have good muscle tone before breeding.
Healthier, happier bitches.
Research by the Purina Institute shows that dogs who maintain a healthy weight, enjoy a significantly longer, healthier life.
In the study, 48 Labrador Retrievers were tracked throughout their lifespan. Purina found that maintaining an ideal body weight from when they were puppies increased the dogs’ lifespan by 1.8 years and significantly delayed the onset of chronic diseases associated with ageing.
Meanwhile, The Kennel Club stresses the impact of obesity on a dog’s general health, saying being overweight can result in:
- A shorter lifespan
- Heart and breathing problems
- Hormonal and joint issues
- An increase in the risk of cancers, skin disease, incontinence, UTIs and more
How much should my breeding bitch weigh?
Every breed is different; therefore, what is classified as a “healthy weight” differs between breeds.
The American Kennel Club has created a comprehensive breed weight chart here.
How to maintain a healthy weight for breeding bitches
Maintaining a healthy weight for bitches requires a lot of care and attention:
- Tailored nutrition plans that consider her age, breed and health. See our guide on tracking your dog’s diet.
- Daily exercise – come rain or shine!
- Regular weigh-ins and weight tracking.
- Routine veterinary checkups.
Add this to the enormous number of plates you’re already spinning as a breeder (especially when you have a litter on the ground) and you’ve got a recipe for overwhelm and exhaustion.
While we can’t guarantee mud-free dog walks or speed up the time it takes to wrestle your four-legged friends on the scales, we can help you get control over your breeder admin without the fuss of spreadsheets and notepads.
Imagine a way of logging all your dog weights in just a few taps on your phone.
Now, imagine those numbers being magically turned into interactive weight graphs so you can instantly spot any abnormalities or changes in your dog’s health.
The bonus – you can easily share your bitch’s weight charts and health information with your vet, health professionals, stud dog owners and other breeders.
The best bit?
This is possible and it’s all FREE with Breedera.
Create a weight chart for your breeding bitch
From speaking with many dog breeders over the years, we know that many manually create their own weight charts in spreadsheets or notepads.
But, naturally, this can tedious and time-consuming to set up, maintain, share and access.
Breeders need a weight tracking solution that’s designed for them.
With Breedera, you can:
Log dog weights in a few taps
It’s simple and straightforward to add your dog’s latest weigh-in details to the app. In fact, we’ve seen breeders do it with one hand while they’re petting their dog with the other.
Simply tap your dog’s name to add a weight.
Spot bitch weight gain and loss sooner
Our interactive weight graphs help you visualise your bitch’s weights and instantly spot any changes.
Access your dog weight charts anywhere.
Bring up your dog’s weight chart any time you need to check or add a new weight.
Share with dog weights with your vet.
Easily export print and share with vets, licensing bodies, puppy families and other breeders.
Disclaimer:
*The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content shared here is based on thorough research, personal experiences and the collective knowledge of the dog breeding community.
While we strive to offer accurate and up-to-date information, the field of veterinary medicine is constantly evolving, and individual cases may vary. Always seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your dog’s health or well-being.
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Breeder record keeping, made easy.
- Track weights, feeds and treatments
- Plan heat cycles and estimate whelp dates
- Printand share records and charts
By Courtney Farrow
Courtney supports Breedera with all our online content. Specialising in heart-led copywriting for purpose-driven brands, she is passionate about Breedera's mission to make responsible breeding practices easy and rewarding and champion more traceability and transparency in the pet industry.