The effect of mating method and mating season on the number of puppies and determination of some reproductive parameters in Pomeranian dogs

Abstract

In the present study, the 3-year breeding behavior of the parent dogs in a Pomeranian farm was followed, and the effects of season and insemination method on their reproductive performance were investigated. The gestation period was 62.4 days, the age at which sexual maturity is reached was 404.4 days and the average period between two estruses was found as 205.2 days. The mean number of offspring, and the mean number of male and female puppies were found as 3.4, 2.15 and 1.4 respectively. The stillbirth rate was found as 1.4% and the survival rate to 1 year was 83.3%. The pregnancy rate, the average number of female puppies, the number of stillbirths and the total number of offspring were found to be similar in naturally and artificially inseminated females (P>0.05). While 47.6% of estruses were seen in the spring-summer months, 52.4% were seen in the autumn-winter months (P>0.05). The mating season did not affect the number of female offspring, the stillbirth rate or the total number of offspring (P>0.05). However, when compared to the spring-summer months, the mortality rate of females up to 1 year of age showing estrus in the autumn-winter season was found to be significantly higher (P<0.01).