- 1). Become familiar with the breed standard and only breed dogs that conform to the standard in both structure and temperament without major faults. If your dog has a minor fault, choose a mate that can offset and complement it.
- 2). Check the health of both sire and dam along with their parents and grandparents, including testing for inheritable health problems. Like many large dogs, pointers are prone to hip dysplasia. Have their hips graded and certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Since pointers can carry several heritable eye problems, have their eyes checked and certified by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).
- 3). Run a thyroid panel on both sire and dam to rule out underlying thyroid problems and only breed dogs in perfect health, without skin problems or allergies.
- 4). Budget for traveling or sending your dog to be mated, unless you find a suitable mate locally. Another option is artificial insemination with frozen semen, in which case you may have to start researching suitable mates up to a year in advance.
- 5). Schedule regular visits to your vet with your pregnant English pointer and feed her a high-quality diet. She will require a little more food than usual as the pregnancy progresses.
- 6). Prepare a whelping box several days before she's due to give birth. Place it in a warm, comfortable part of your home. It should be large enough for her to stretch out in, with sides high enough to prevent the puppies crawling out. Plastic wading pools, lined with towels or blankets, make good whelping boxes.
- 7). Handle the puppies daily, to get them used to the feel and scent of humans. Although puppies are blind and deaf at birth, the benefits of handling and interacting with them as they grow will help them become confident, sociable adults. Early imprinting stays with a puppy for life.
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