Pregnancy & Whelping
Dog Pregnancy Week by Week: The Complete Timeline
What happens in each of the nine weeks of dog pregnancy: when to confirm, when to increase food, when to X-ray, and when to set up the whelping box.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
The dog breeding blog
Practical guides for people who actually run a breeding program — written for kennel life, not generic pet advice.
Reproduction and whelping
Everything from a maiden bitch’s first season through go-home day: the heat cycle, timing a breeding, pregnancy week by week, and what to expect during whelping.
Running the business
The parts nobody warns you about: dog breeding contracts, managing puppy buyers, pricing, record keeping, and whether a litter actually made money.
Prefer a calculator to an article? We keep a set of free tools for breeders — due dates, heat projections, litter profitability, contracts, and more.
Pregnancy & Whelping
The Dog Whelping Box: Sizing, Setup, and DIY Plans
What a whelping box is, how to size one for your breed, why pig rails matter, and how to build your own — plus when to set it up so she actually uses it.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Pregnancy & Whelping
Signs of Labor in Dogs: The Three Stages of Whelping
The temperature drop, nesting, and the three stages of canine labor — what normal whelping looks like hour by hour, and the warning signs that mean call the vet now.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Pregnancy & Whelping
Signs Your Dog Is Pregnant — and How to Actually Confirm It
Early signs of dog pregnancy week by week, why home pregnancy tests do not work on dogs, and the three veterinary methods that actually confirm a litter.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Pregnancy & Whelping
Whelping Supplies Checklist: What to Have Ready Before Labor
A complete whelping kit checklist for dog breeders: what you need for a normal whelping, what belongs in the emergency kit, and when to have it all assembled.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
Can a Dog Get Pregnant When Not in Heat?
No — dogs can only get pregnant during the fertile window of a heat cycle. But silent heats, sperm survival, and misread timing explain the surprise litters. Here's how.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
Do Male Dogs Go Into Heat? What Intact Males Actually Do
Male dogs don't go into heat — they're fertile year-round and react to cycling females instead. What intact male behavior means and how breeders manage stud dogs around females in season.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
The Dog Heat Cycle: A Complete Guide for Breeders
The complete dog heat cycle guide: all four stages explained, how long each lasts, when your dog is fertile, and how breeders track cycles accurately.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
How Long Do Dogs Stay in Heat? A Day-by-Day Timeline
A dog's heat typically lasts 2–4 weeks, with fertility peaking in the middle — usually around days 10–14. A day-by-day timeline for breeders, plus when the risk actually ends.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
How Often Do Dogs Go Into Heat?
Most dogs go into heat about every six months, but breed size changes everything. How often dogs cycle, why "dog periods" differ from human ones, and what counts as irregular.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
Signs Your Dog Is in Heat: What to Look For, Stage by Stage
Swollen vulva, bloody discharge, flagging, clingy or restless behavior — the physical and behavioral signs a dog is in heat, stage by stage, and which ones mark peak fertility.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
Silent Heats, Split Heats, and Irregular Cycles in Dogs
Silent heats hide in plain sight, split heats stop and restart, and some cycles just run odd. How breeders detect and handle the heat cycles that don't follow the textbook.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
When Do Dogs Go Into Heat? First Heat Age by Breed Size
Most dogs have their first heat between 6 and 15 months, but breed size shifts the window from 6 months to 2 years. What to expect, and why you shouldn't breed a first heat.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Heat Cycles
When Do Dogs Stop Going Into Heat? Age, Ethics, and Retirement
Dogs don't have menopause — intact females cycle for life, just less regularly with age. What changes in senior cycles, spay questions, and when responsible breeders retire a dam.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
General
How to Design a Perfect Dog Breeder Logo
Explore the key elements for crafting a dog breeder logo. This guide dives into symbolism, color choices, typography, and other crucial aspects to ensure your logo accurately represents your dog breeding business and resonates with your audience.
Hannah Clarke
Content Director
Tips/Tricks
When Do You Breed a Dog? A look into the Estrous Cycle & Progesterone Monitoring
Unlock the mystery of when to breed a dog with a deep dive into the canine estrous cycle. Understand the vital estrus phase and discover the power of progesterone monitoring with our dog breeding app. Master precise breeding schedules for optimal outcomes.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
General
Our Litter Management Tool
Explore tools designed for dog breeders to optimize litter management. Enhance profitability, track puppy details, and make informed decisions. Perfect for breeders of all levels.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Managing Your Puppy Waitlist with Custom Tagging
Discover how to use custom tagging with our contact manager and account tracker for efficient puppy waitlist management, including specific sire/dam requests.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Mastering Kennel Record Keeping with Custom Tagging
Uncover the power of custom tagging for efficient kennel record keeping. Streamline dog management with unique tags for health, breed, and training.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
General
Upcoming Updates to Our App
Discover the latest app updates: enhanced litter & puppy management, visual charts, stability boosts, and a revamped interface for optimal user experience.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Templates
Dog Breeder Contract Template
A guide to dog breeding contracts: what a puppy sale agreement should cover, how it differs from a stud contract, and a free fill-in-the-blank template you can adapt.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Improve Your Social Media Marketing with Tagging
Maximize your dog breeding connections with the power of tagging in the Contacts Manager. Enhance engagement and nurture every relationship effectively.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
General
How to Promote Your Dog Breeding Business
Discover strategies to promote your dog breeding business using social media, websites, SEO, ads, and dog shows. Boost visibility & connect with enthusiasts
Hannah Clarke
Content Director
Tips/Tricks
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Linebreeding: A Practical Guide
How to linebreed without concentrating problems: understanding COI, reading a pedigree for common ancestors, health testing that matters, and knowing when to outcross.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Making Your Dog Breeding Program Profitable
Maximize your dog breeding programs profits using strategic tagging in the accounts manager with litters. Unlock profitability tips and insights!
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
General
Line Breeding in Dogs: A Close-Up Look
Explore line breeding in dogs: its benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations. Dive into pedigrees, breeders choices, and what puppy buyers should know.
Hannah Clarke
Content Director
Tips/Tricks
Preparing for Your First Litter: How Tagging Streamlines Everything
Maximize your first litters success with integrated app features. From health tracking to notifying waitlists, navigate breeding preparations effortlessly.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Templates
Stud Dog Breeding Contract Template
Free stud dog breeding contract template (PDF and text) plus a clause-by-clause guide: stud fees, return service, health testing, and the terms every stud contract should cover.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Navigating a Parvo Outbreak: Using Tagging, Tasks, and Health Tracking for Efficient Puppy Care
Learn how to manage a Parvo outbreak in puppies using tags, health tracking, and tasks. Efficiently handle prevention, care, and expenses. Stay prepared!
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Managing Puppy Buyers: From First Inquiry to Go-Home Day
A practical system for handling puppy inquiries: screening applications, running a fair waitlist, taking deposits, and keeping buyers informed from first email to go-home day.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Financial Management with Custom Tags in Dog Breeding
Explore how custom tags in our dog breeding app streamline financial management. Dive into tag combinations for expenses, income, tasks, and overviews.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Tips/Tricks
Tracking Urgent Health Checks, Tasks related to new litters, and Dog Training with Custom Tags
Explore the power of custom tags in dog breeding management. Dive into Litter-Task Synthesis, Urgent Health Checks, and Training & Socialization tags.
Aaron McKeehan
Founder
Ready to Simplify?
Join Breeders Companion Now.
Begin your journey with us. No more data chaos, just simple, intuitive software to manage your breeding business effectively.