Whelping Services – Why I Don't Offer Them and Why I Have Concerns

Breeding a litter is a huge responsibility, and that responsibility begins long before your bitch goes into labour.

As someone who provides canine pregnancy ultrasound scanning, I regularly receive calls and messages from people who have bred their bitch, often for the first time, and suddenly realise they have absolutely no idea what to expect when she goes into labour.

Some don't know the signs of labour, how long things should take, what is normal, what isn't, or when veterinary intervention might be necessary.

My first thought is always the same: surely these are things that should have been researched and considered BEFORE allowing your bitch to become pregnant?

Breeding puppies is not simply a matter of putting two dogs together, waiting nine weeks and expecting a litter of healthy puppies to arrive without complications.

It requires knowledge, preparation, commitment and, above all, a willingness to take responsibility for the welfare of your bitch and her puppies.

I am occasionally asked whether I offer a whelping service, and the answer is no. Whilst I appreciate that some people offer these services with the very best intentions, I have several concerns about relying on someone else to deliver your puppies.

What Happens if You Cannot Contact Your Whelping Assistant?

Imagine this scenario.

Your bitch goes into labour at two o'clock in the morning. You have arranged for someone to come and whelp her because you have little or no experience yourself.

You pick up the telephone. No answer.

You try again. Still no answer.

Perhaps that person is already attending another whelping, dealing with an emergency, is unwell, has their telephone switched off or simply cannot get to you.

What do you do now?

You have a bitch in labour, potentially puppies arriving, and absolutely no idea how to manage the situation.

Even the most reliable person cannot guarantee they will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And, of course, bitches have an uncanny knack of choosing the most inconvenient time to have their puppies!

What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?

This is another major concern of mine.

Whelping is a natural process, but it is not without risks. Puppies can become stuck, contractions can become ineffective, a bitch may require an emergency caesarean section, or a newborn puppy may need immediate assistance.

Even experienced breeders can encounter complications they have never seen before.

Now imagine you have employed someone to whelp your bitch and, sadly, a puppy dies, or worse still, you lose your bitch.

Who is going to get the blame?

Very often, I suspect, it will be the person who attended the whelping.

Questions will inevitably be asked. Did they act quickly enough? Should they have recognised a problem earlier? Should they have advised veterinary intervention sooner?

Yet some complications can develop very quickly, and even with prompt veterinary treatment, not every bitch or puppy can be saved.

It is an enormous responsibility for anyone to take on, particularly if they are not a veterinary professional.

Experience Is Not the Same as Veterinary Training

Someone may have whelped dozens, or even hundreds, of litters, but that does not make them a veterinary surgeon.

There is a world of difference between assisting with a normal delivery and recognising or treating a serious medical emergency.

A whelping assistant cannot replace your vet, and owners must understand that certain complications require immediate veterinary attention.

If your bitch needs a caesarean section, medication or emergency treatment, it is a veterinary matter, not something that should be managed at home by an unqualified person.

Relying on a whelping service must never delay the decision to seek veterinary help.

The Stress on Your Bitch

Another consideration is the bitch herself.

Whelping is an instinctive process, and many bitches prefer a familiar, quiet environment with people they know and trust.

Introducing a stranger into the home, particularly when labour is already underway, may cause unnecessary anxiety.

Some bitches are perfectly happy with visitors, whilst others become unsettled or protective of their surroundings.

Stress can interfere with normal labour, and the last thing you want is to make an already demanding experience more difficult for your bitch.

What About After the Puppies Are Born?

This is something else that concerns me.

The whelping assistant arrives, helps deliver the puppies, collects their fee and leaves.

What happens next?

What if a puppy isn't feeding properly? What if the bitch becomes unwell? What if a puppy starts losing weight or the mother shows signs of mastitis?

The responsibility doesn't end when the last puppy arrives.

The first few days can be particularly demanding, with puppies requiring frequent monitoring and sometimes urgent veterinary attention.

If you have relied entirely on someone else to manage the birth, how confident will you be in recognising problems once that person has gone home?

The Financial Implications

Breeding is not something to undertake without financial preparation.

An uncomplicated litter can be expensive enough, but an emergency caesarean section, veterinary treatment for the bitch or intensive care for newborn puppies can result in bills running into thousands of pounds.

Paying someone to attend a whelping does not remove any of those responsibilities or costs.

Every breeder should have access to a veterinary practice offering emergency out-of-hours care and sufficient funds available to deal with complications.

If you cannot afford emergency veterinary treatment, you really need to reconsider whether breeding a litter is the right decision.

What Should a First-Time Breeder Do?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and even the most experienced breeders once whelped their first litter.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being inexperienced, asking questions or seeking guidance. In fact, I would much rather someone ask questions than struggle in silence.

However, there is a big difference between seeking advice and expecting somebody else to take complete responsibility.

Before breeding, I would strongly recommend finding an experienced, responsible breeder who is willing to mentor you, preferably someone familiar with your breed.

Learn about the stages of labour, the signs of complications, basic newborn puppy care and when veterinary assistance is necessary.

Speak to your vet beforehand, discuss emergency arrangements and make sure you have everything prepared well in advance.

An experienced mentor can be invaluable, but you should still have sufficient knowledge to recognise when something is wrong and know what action to take.

Why I Do Not Offer a Whelping Service

I have been involved in breeding dogs for over 20 years, and I know from experience that no two whelpings are necessarily the same.

I have seen straightforward births and I have seen complications. Experience teaches you a great deal, but it also teaches you that things can go wrong, sometimes with very little warning.

I provide a canine pregnancy ultrasound scanning service, and I am happy to offer general advice at the time of a scan. I can also perform a post-whelping ultrasound check to look for possible retained puppies, although a scan cannot rule out every complication.

However, I do not offer a whelping service, nor can I assess a bitch in labour over the telephone or through messages.

It would be irresponsible of me to try to diagnose a problem without examining the bitch, particularly when veterinary intervention may be urgently required.

And I certainly would not want someone delaying veterinary treatment because they were waiting for me to answer a message.

My Final Thoughts

I am not suggesting that everyone offering a whelping service is irresponsible. There are undoubtedly knowledgeable, experienced people who provide valuable assistance, particularly when working alongside veterinary professionals.

Nor am I suggesting that breeders should never ask for help. Quite the opposite.

But I do question whether relying entirely on a paid whelping service, because you have no idea how to manage the birth yourself, is a sensible or responsible approach to breeding.

You cannot guarantee that someone else will be available when labour begins. You cannot assume every birth will be straightforward, and you cannot hand over your responsibility simply because you have paid someone to attend.

Get advice, find a mentor, learn as much as you can, have your vet's emergency number readily available and be prepared for the unexpected.

Above all, remember that your bitch has no say in whether she is bred.