How long before my wolf hybrid has puppies?

[Tabbycat7801]

My German Shepher/Wolf Cross went into heat about a month ago. We have problems keeping a stray male dog out of our yard. She was in heat for about 2 weeks. Now, a month later she looks really fat and her tits are a little bigger than normal. Im really starting to think she might be pregnant. How long do you think I have before I will expect puppies? Any advice?

[Tabbycat7801]

I was recommended to add "puppy food" mixed with my dogs food while she is pregnant. What do you think? Are scraps bad for her while she is pregnant? What do you recommend feeding her while she is pregnant and after she has her pups?

[lankeela]

Some people do use puppy food, as it is higher in protein.

Here is a link to a GSD breeders site - although they are obviously agents for the food they recommend, any high quality kibble food would have the same result. Scraps should be kept to no more than 10% of her diet.

I think you have Purina available in the States. They have several different stages of food. Check with your local pet store or call their manufacturers to find out what they recommend.

[lankeela]

Sorry, forgot to put the link!

http://www.videxgsd.com/pregnant_bitches.htm

[robotics]

Just been reading the link to breed or not to breed, thank you for providing those links, I hope they will both educate the buyer and the seller.

What a fab article.

[Sazel192]

I just wanted to know how the dog managed to get into your garden? if your garden is secure then how did the dog get in there ? if it's not secure then why would you let your dog out there without you or a family member watching her or even better take her out there with a lead?

I'm just curious :)

[kaylamay]

Good Lord! Is everyone is through bashing Tabbycat?
Sorry about your problem, I dont see how everyone can completely blame you what were you supposed to do. This kind of thing happens even when we neither expect nor want it to. Why should the pups be aborted? How cruel! the pups are at least 1/2 way through gestation. Seems that would also be rather traumatic for the mama. Tabbycat sounds like she has her head on right and would take good care of the pups and help the mama out when needed. We had a beloved Jack Russell while growing up and she some how got out and mated with all things a lab mix! Her pups were born via C/secttion as they were too big. We did not plan that on happening, but it did and we handled the situation for the best.
Good Luck Tabbycat.
Mikala

[Tabbycat7801]

Thank you for your response. I'm done replying to any comments bashing me. I hope everything went well with your dog after her csection! Everyone at some point in their lives have something happen that they dont plan. I believe that everything happens for a reason. This was a lesson for me to learn......Thanks again for your reply

[CrazyWolfman]

For wolves the gestation period is 60 to 63 days but I don't know how this will vary considering there is no way of telling what percentage of genes were transferred from the wolf in that particular breeding. This is also the reason why putting a percentage of wolf genes to a wolfdog is a load of rubbish - personally I wouldn't trust any breeder who does it as they probably don't know what they're on about. Often people assume that 50% will come from each parent but actually this can vary from a 0% wolf to 100% dog ratio to a 100% wolf to 0% dog one (admittedly though a mid range value is more likely than these extreme examples).

In your defence though it is worth pointing out that genetic problems are most likely to occur if genetically similar dogs are bred, crosses are more often than not less prone to health problems than purebreds.

With reference to the barrage of criticism I'd just like to say that there is not sufficient evidence that you are a poor owner for me to join in, however it seems relevant to say that there is now a great deal of responsibility upon you to find good owners. Far too many wolfdogs end up being chained up in a back yard or put down. I don't condone the owning of one intrinsically but owners have to be very special and dedicated people in order to meet the behavioural needs of them, so please choose very carefully - for the dogs' sakes.