A new session of each course opens each month, allowing you to enroll whenever your busy schedule permits!
How does it work? Once a session starts, two lessons will be released each week, for the six-week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends.
Keep in mind that the interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes 2 weeks after each lesson is released, so you’re encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The Final Exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the Final Exam has been released, you will have 2 weeks plus 10 days to complete the Final and finish any remaining lessons in your course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
Week One
Lesson 01 - Prebreeding Assessment and Management
Wednesday
In this lesson, you'll learn how to select parents for your breeding program by using blood tests, radiographs, and physical examinations. You'll receive a primer on genetic disease and then learn all about management of the breeding pair, specifically vaccinations, deworming, and nutrition.
Lesson 02 - Female Reproductive Anatomy and Disorders
Friday
How well do you know the female dog's anatomy? Besides learning the difference between the uterus and the oviducts, you'll look at the physical abnormalities that plague the female dog. You'll also find out how to diagnose infections and how those infections can impact fertility.
Week Two
Lesson 03 - Male Reproductive Anatomy and Disorders
Wednesday
In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the male dog. He's a far more important contributor to the gene pool than the female. You'll delve into reproductive diseases that strike the male, such as cryptorchidism and Brucellosis, and conclude with a look at maladies such as testicular and prostatic disease that strike the geriatric male.
Lesson 04 - The Reproductive Cycle and When to Breed
Friday
When is the right time to breed a female dog? Though this is a simple question, the answer eludes many people. In this lesson, you'll examine the reproductive (estrous) cycle of the female. You'll discover myriad ways to pinpoint the most productive time to breed.
Week Three
Lesson 05 - Natural Breeding and Artificial Insemination
Wednesday
In this lesson, you'll explore two methods of breeding—natural and artificial. You'll be able to tell when there are problems with natural mating. When you look at artificial insemination, you have to know how to collect and evaluate semen to ensure the male is fertile. This lesson will cover how to do that as well as techniques for insemination.
Lesson 06 - Reasons for Female Infertility: Uterine and Ovarian Disorders
Friday
By now, the female has been bred and you expect a pregnancy. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen every time. This lesson focuses on reasons for infertility in the female, such as pyometra and cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
Week Four
Lesson 07 - Reasons for Female Infertility: Effects of Abnormal Estrous Cycles
Wednesday
You'll now turn your attention to the hormonal fluctuations that influence fertility. You'll examine silent heats, persistent estrus, and a variety of other abnormalities. You'll even go over a few problems with sexual behavior.
Lesson 08 - Reasons for Male Infertility
Friday
In this lesson, you'll review some of the important reasons for male infertility. You'll begin by finding out why the male may not want to mate, such as having arthritis in his spine. Next, you'll look at semen production and the negative effects of such things as prostate infections. You'll conclude the lesson with a review of a male reproductive examination.
Week Five
Lesson 09 - Pregnancy Diagnosis and Care of the Pregnant Bitch
Wednesday
Assuming everything has gone right, you now have a pregnant dog and you have to take care of her. What should she be fed? Should she be vaccinated? What diseases could strike her during this time? You'll look at two specific examples you need to watch for—diabetes and pregnancy toxemia.
Lesson 10 - Whelping: Normal and Assisted (Including Cesarean)
Friday
It's time for puppies! In this lesson, you'll learn what to expect during whelping. You'll find out what's normal and when to suspect complications. Of course, the lesson wouldn't be complete without examining how to solve a whelping problem. You'll learn what you can do and how a caesarean is done.
Week Six
Lesson 11 - Postpartum Disease
Wednesday
Many people breathe a sigh of relief once the puppies are born, but for some dogs, this is when the problems really begin. This lesson's topic is postpartum disease. These diseases include mastitis, metritis, and hypocalcemia—a condition where the blood calcium drops to dangerous levels.
Lesson 12 - Neonatal Care: Birth to Six Months
Friday
This final lesson is all about puppies. You'll look at the importance of the first drink of milk. You'll find out how to evaluate if they're getting enough food, and what to do if they aren't. You'll also look at how to keep them warm so they aren't chilled. The lesson and course will conclude with an itinerary that shows you what to do for the first six months of a puppy's life.