Shows and bitches with puppies

I am keen on knowing the rules in your country for the time that has to be gone after whelping to show the bitch.

Is it alright to show bitch if the puppies are still with the mother or is alright when the puppies are 8 weeks old.

I don't think we have any rule to stop you showing a bitch who has had pups.

I would rarther let the bitch wean the litter and get over the raising and looking her best again before thinking about showing her again.

In france we can't show bitch who's waiting babys and all the time she gave milk to them !
yesturday i was on show with an Ireland judge, we saw a female of 3 years old, babys borned in august the last year, it was a teriifical vision ! the dog was so skinny all people around the ring was shocked ! she wasn't walk as she would be as she was tired ! (it wasn't a schnauzer ...) the jugde made his work but we saw he was confused about it ...
For me this dog would have " no qualify" it wasen't in good form to be jugded ....

If the pups were born in august, surely she would have been back in good condition by now? No reason she should be skiny

In august it should be alright then the pup is already 6 months. But if she is not fed properly during weaning she will suffer for a long time.

My first liltter was in september 2008 only 1 puppy though but the bitch was in good condition in Desember and now she is fantastic looking. But for the bitch that are with puppies now, 5 puppies she will take a long time to recover she is very feminine and she is so skinny even though she is fed 3 times a day and she is on BARF. Her strength is good though and she can go for run on her phapse of course for about 1 hour. But for shows I will be happy if she is in good state in the autum.

I think it is many factors that play a role for their recovering aftir whelping. But is is alwasy sad when the bitches are still weaning the pups or do suffer from los and still they are put up for shows.

I think it is up to you if you want to show you female after 8 weeks of whelping. If you think that she is in good condition than I don´t see the problem.

Some bitches recover well after puppies (1-5) while others take a longer time to get in to shape.

Here is one great recover. My female FIN CH Imbrez Hot Why Not "Iida" won BOB at Kokkola International Show 2007 under judge George Kostopoulos. She whelped a litter of 7 puppies only 4 months before this show, and nursed the litter at least 6 weeks. You can see nipples hanging under underline, but it didn't matter at the show. It was her third and last litter.




(P.S. BOS was beautiful male Multi CH Lamigras Black Top Secret)

In Norway a bitch cannot be shown if she 1 - is more than 6 weeks pregnant, or 2 - has puppies under 8 weeks old.

I think in Germany we shouldnt show pregnant or feeding bitches.

But I guess its all depending on female. My black lady was looking her best after 6 weeks puppies -very fit and in good sportiv mood.
And my white girl needed over 1 year to reduce over-weight she gained. She is like women after kid is born - going very fat with hanging tits...
I am dreaming to have skinny mother-dog...

I one´s showed my white female SUCH ISCH Dynamic Dolce Vita of Roxy´s Pride 8 weeks and few days after litter of two pups, she was BOS and got CAC and CACIB so I dont see anything wrong with this if the female is in shape.

Aren't you concerned about bringing home some disease that was picked up at the show? Even something like kennel cough can cause problems for young pups

Jo wrote:Aren't you concerned about bringing home some disease that was picked up at the show? Even something like kennel cough can cause problems for young pups

Yes, if I have young pups in my home while I go to shows I always try to sterilise or disinfect the dogs before coming home. Kennel cough is not found in dogs in Iceland but Pavro and other disease are, so you cant be to careful.

Jo wrote:Aren't you concerned about bringing home some disease that was picked up at the show? Even something like kennel cough can cause problems for young pups

I have also other dogs visiting shows....We cant protect puppies 100% from everything anyway.
Till now I had only twice infections after show and we saw sick dog before in ring, so we knew what to expect.

Esther wrote:

Jo wrote:Aren't you concerned about bringing home some disease that was picked up at the show? Even something like kennel cough can cause problems for young pups

Yes, if I have young pups in my home while I go to shows I always try to sterilise or disinfect the dogs before coming home. Kennel cough is not found in dogs in Iceland but Pavro and other disease are, so you cant be to careful.

That is not quite true, Kennel cough is found in Iceland and has been known to be transmitted at our dog shows. My dog caught Kennel cough and needed treatment last year.

Guðbjörg