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Spring has arrived in Australia, bringing warmer weather, longer days, and a surge in breeding activity. Whether you’ve been planning your next litter or just want to get your space back in shape after winter, now is the perfect time to get ahead.
From parasite protection to whelping area setup, here’s your practical guide to preparing your breeding environment for a safe and successful spring season.
1. Refresh Your Whelping Space
If you’re expecting a litter this season, your whelping area is priority number one. After a damp winter, even indoor spaces can accumulate dust, bacteria, and mildew.
What to do:
Deep-clean all surfaces with pet-safe disinfectant.
Replace or rotate old bedding, towels, and mats.
Wash and sun-dry heat pads, covers, and any soft items.
Ensure good ventilation and natural light (but avoid drafts).
Make sure your whelping pen is still secure, easy to clean, and positioned away from noise and foot traffic. If you’ve stored items away during winter, inspect everything for mould or pest signs before reuse.
2. Reinstate Your Parasite Calendar
Fleas, ticks, and worms become far more active in spring, especially in warmer and more humid parts of the country.
Checklist:
Apply or check due dates for tick and flea prevention (for both breeding mums and other dogs in the home).
Begin fortnightly worming for any new litters from 2 weeks of age.
Wash bedding frequently to avoid reinfestation.
If you’re in a high-risk area (e.g. coastal QLD or NSW), consider adding a tick check to your daily routine — especially during the peak months of October and November.
3. Audit Your Supplies
Now’s the time to restock before the season kicks into full gear. Spring tends to be busy with puppy enquiries and new litter arrivals, so having everything ready saves time and stress.
Suggested stocktake:
Clean towels, puppy pads, and vet bedding
Feeding bottles and puppy milk replacer (if needed)
Disinfectants and gloves
Puppy scales, record sheets, microchipping forms
Brochures or handover materials
Running low on your PetsOnMe brochures or handover pack templates? Let us know and we’ll send more your way.
4. Prepare for Early Socialisation
Puppies born in spring benefit from longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures, and increased social opportunities — all key ingredients for early development.
Even before they’re ready to go outside, you can:
Introduce calm household sounds (TV, washing machine, voices).
Start gentle handling and routine checks (ears, paws, mouth).
Allow short visits from family or trusted friends after 3–4 weeks.
Once they’re vaccinated, use spring weather to gradually introduce supervised play in safe, outdoor spaces.
5. Update Your Breeding Calendar
Map out any planned litters for the next 3 months, schedule vet checks in advance, and note any key deadlines (e.g. microchipping, vaccinations, or registering litters).
Also consider whether you’ll be taking time off in December or January — spring litters placed in homes around Christmas may require a bit of extra support or education for new puppy owners.
Final Thought
Spring is an exciting time for breeders — full of energy, new life, and opportunity. A little early preparation goes a long way in helping you stay organised and giving every litter the best start possible. Consider sending your litter home with two months complimentary pet insurance, there is no cost to provide this! You can learn more about PetsOnMe’s VIP Breeder Program to see if could be suitable for your litters.
If you need support, more handover materials, or just want to check your process, the PetsOnMe breeder team is here whenever you need us.
