And why “guesswork” is costing breeders litters In modern canine breeding, success shouldn’t rely on hope or guesswork. Yet surprisingly, many breeders still assess semen quality by eye alone — a quick look down a microscope, a rough estimate of movement, and a “that looks fine” decision. The problem? Subjective assessment is unreliable. And when you’re working with valuable stud dogs, frozen semen, travelling bitches, or tight progesterone timing… “looks fine” simply isn’t g

These support groups are not public forums and they’re not for random advice or keyboard experts. They’re safe, moderated support spaces exclusively for people who have trained with ProPet® Training or historically trained directly with me, Lorna Foley. The groups exist so you can: Ask questions without judgement Sense-check scans, cytology, pregnancy signs, and outcomes Get practical, experience-based guidance Learn from others who’ve had proper training, not guesswork No dr

Understanding the canine breeding cycle

EDUCATIONAL POST Understanding Vulval Changes During the Canine Heat Cycle During the canine oestrous cycle, changes in the vulva are driven by hormonal fluctuations — not guesswork, myths, or “rules of thumb”. In pro-oestrus, rising oestrogen causes increased blood flow and fluid retention, resulting in a vulva that appears swollen, smooth, firm, and shiny. Despite the obvious physical changes, the bitch is not yet fertile at this stage. As the cycle progresses into oestrus,

I’m seeing more of these “automatic ovulation detectors” being advertised for dogs, so I want to clear up some confusion before anyone wastes money or misses a mating. These handheld probes do not detect ovulation. Ovulation in the bitch is driven by hormonal changes (progesterone rise). It cannot be accurately identified by measuring vaginal moisture, conductivity, resistance, or “numbers on a screen”. Those values can change for many reasons — discharge, irritation, probe p

Dog breeding has changed significantly over the years. What was once based largely on experience and tradition is now guided by improved understanding of genetics, pregnancy monitoring, neonatal care, and animal welfare.

Accurate timing. Better breeding decisions. Fewer mistakes. If you’re breeding dogs, assisting with mating, or working in canine fertility, guesswork has no place in your decision-making. Canine vaginal cytology is one of the most valuable, low-cost diagnostic tools available — when it’s done properly. This course teaches you exactly that. The Canine Vaginal Cytology Course from ProPet Training  is designed to give you real, practical competence, not just theory you’ll forget