25 Essential Products I Use in My Welsh Springer Spaniel Breeding Program

Breeding dogs is incredibly rewarding—but it’s also demanding, and the right products can make a huge difference in the health, safety, and efficiency of your program. Over the years, I’ve found tools that I trust and rely on with every litter of Welsh Springer Spaniels I produce. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your process, here are the top 30 items I use and recommend in my own breeding program.

Breeding & Whelping

1. Revival Animal Health Breeder’s Edge Oral Cal Plus
   Fast-acting calcium is important to keep on hand for whelping and incase of eclampsia. When the dam is acting nervous or uncomfortable after whelping, calcium can help. Oral Cal Plus acts fast in an emergency. I use this more for whelping, but always keep it on hand. 

2. Digital Thermometer with Flexible Tip
   Used daily as we approach labor. Starting two weeks before the due date, I start to take the dam’s temperature three times a day and record it. Once her temperature goes under 98°F,  the puppies will be born within 24-36 hours.

3. Pet-Ag PetLac Powder for Puppies
   High-quality formula for supplementing or bottle-feeding. It’s important for dog breeders to keep formula on hand incase of something happening to the mother that keeps her from feeding her puppies or a puppy needs supplemental feeding.

4. Whelping Box (EZwhelp or Custom PVC Design)
   EZwhelp and PVC whelping boxes are the easiest to sanitize. The least expensive PVC whelping boxes were originally created to be outside garden boxes. You’ll find that the same boxes are available as garden boxes for a better price.  

5. Basic Whelping Supply Kits
   A basic whelping kit with many of the must-haves for delivering puppies. Gloves, scissors for the umbilical cords, umbilical cord clips, puppy colors in different colors for identifying puppies, and more are all important supplies you will need when whelping puppies. These kits are very inexpensive can be easier than buying all those supplies individually.

6. Sunflower Lecithin Powder
   Use Sunflower Lecithin Powder to prevent mastitis. This is my secret weapon to never have to deal with mastitis again. Since starting to use this starting with my second litter, I’ve not had another case of mastitis again. 1 tsp twice a day is all you need for a Welsh Springer Spaniel. 

Puppy Care & Health

1. Pyrantel Pamoate Dewormer
   Safe and effective for early deworming. Puppies should be dewormed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks before going to their new homes. 

2. Doc Roy’s GI Synbiotics
   Supports gut health for puppies and dogs of any age. Can be used when puppies have diarrhea, when weaning, or when transitioning to their new homes. 

3. Disposable Exam Gloves
   Essential for clean handling during whelping and early care. 

4. Puppy ID Collars (Velcro or Snap Style)
   Puppy ID colors come in different colors and help you identify puppies, track development, and monitor individuals in large litters.

Feeding & Cleaning

1. Weaning Dishes (Stainless Steel)
   Shallow and perfect for group feeding.
2. Washable Whelping Pads
   I use these instead of disposable pads—more eco-friendly and cost-effective.
3. Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover Dog
   Seriously, this stuff works.

4. SNiPER Hospital Disinfectant Spray, Odor Eliminator and All-Purpose Cleaner
   Non-toxic, pet-safe cleaner for pens, floors, and supplies.

5. Rescue Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator Wipes
   Clean crates, toys and litter boxes to disinfectant and kills viruses and bacteria. Disinfects four times faster than other infectants. Rescue can be harsh on hands. I recommend using gloves when cleaning with rescue. Also, available in liquid form in one gallon or one-quart spray bottle.

6. Digital Puppy Scale
   Track weight gains daily—especially critical for the first two weeks. Weight puppies at birth and twice a day to track weights to make sure your puppies are growing on target.

Grooming for Litters

1. Chris Christensen Just Divine Mist
   Helps with brushing and conditioning puppy coats. You should spray the coat before each brushing to stop coats from breaking and keep the coat healthy.

2. Newborn Nail Clippers with Light
   Essential for those tiny nails that grow fast! Use these for the first week or two after the puppies are born to keep puppies long nails from scratching their dam.

3. LuckyTail Pet Nail Grinder
   Super quiet and low, vibration, electric dog nail grinder with 2 LED lights. Great for introducing puppies to a nail grinder or dremel. 

4. Ion Whisper Quiet Lite Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer
   Makes puppy baths easier when you can dry them without the fear of a loud hair dryer. This dryer isn’t the most powerful, but it definitely does the job without the noise that can scare young puppies. Make sure to use it in cold or medium heat. Do not use high heat on a puppy.

Socialization & Enrichment

1. Avidog Protocol Supplies
   Avidog Essentials still offers some of the products I use as an Avidog breeder. I send all m puppies home with an Avidog tagline which can be used attached to your puppies collar in those first few weeks or even month to help maintain control while giving you’re training your new puppy.
2. Puppy Culture Books and Supplies
   Clickers, mats, scent work kits—whatever system you follow, these help raise confident pups.
3. Madcap University Online Puppy Training 
   Virtual training programs for breeders and new puppy owners. With Open Arms and a Level Head is a great program for new puppy owners to get a solid foundation in all the things you’ll want to teach a new puppy. The programs for breeders are From Newborn to New Home and The Joy of Singletons. These programs are very easy to follow and contain great videos of litters being raised by the people who created this program.   

4. Dog Agility Wobble Board
   Wobble Boards are a great way for growing puppies to learn about balance and develop confidence that things moving under their feet don’t have to be scary.

5. Balance Board
   A balance board is similar to a wobble board. Both balance boards and wobble boards give puppies exposure to movement and help them learn body awareness, but a balance board is different in that it doesn’t move in any direction. It is similar to a teeter totter in that it only moves in two directions. Early exposure to a balance board can help prepare your puppy for a future career in agility since it does emulate the movement of a teeter.

6. Noise CD for Sound Desensitization
   Vacuum sounds, fireworks, thunder—get them used to life early. I use these sound CDs starting as soon as my puppies can hear. I start out with the sound very low and gradually increase the volume each morning until the puppies go to their new homes. By that time, the volume is on full blast and the puppies don’t bat at eye when they hear sirens, doorbells, babies crying, and more.

7. Puppy Agility Tunnel
   I rotate textures like crinkly mats, tunnels, and artificial grass to build confidence. Puppies love the tunnels and can often be seen chasing each other around, through, and over it. Occasionally, their moms get in on the action and run through the tunnels too.

Puppy Care & Containment

1. Indoor Portable Puppy Playpen
   Perfect for letting litters explore indoors or outdoors safely.

2. Wipeable Puppy Pee Mats
   For supervised exploration during early enrichment.

3. Camera Monitor for Whelping Room
   Lets me keep an eye on the litter without constant interruptions.

4. Amcrest Webcam
   4MP ProHD indoor WiFi, security IP camera with pan/tilt, two-way audio, night vision for remote viewing. Four-megapixel @30FPS, wide 90° FOV, IP4M-1041W. Available in white or black.

Final Thought: Having the right gear doesn’t just make breeding easier—it also improves outcomes for both the dam and her puppies. These products are staples in my own program, and I trust them to support healthy development and reduce stress.