A few years ago I was nudged to the computer when I changed jobs. My old faithful typewriter and I parted company. This transition was not easy, I spent a great deal of time protesting, "I don't want to go." That was my first step into the hi-tech world. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Now I'm learning more and enjoying more about this marvelous invention every day, things like Web sites, E-Mail - it's a real trip.

This second step (ironically initiated by our latest champion, Ch. Sarkel's Still Steppin' Up - the name was never more appropriate) into the future leaves me just as anxious , although not as reluctant as my first. This time I am entering the world of "fresh chilled semen". The following log is my experience. I share this story with those of you who, like me, are somewhat wary of new things, yet willing to advance our efforts and success in breeding that "perfect boxer." Ready or not, here I come - the 21st Century awaits!

My reasons for choosing this method over the tried and true? Due to the time of year (winter} and the distance (over 1500 miles) Artificial Insemination seems a viable alternative. This prevents me from becoming a "basket case" in trying to ship her to Boston, Massachusetts in the middle of winter. I do not like to ship dogs under the best of conditions and the weather is never in our control. Add to that the "right time" element and all the horror stories running through my mind about dogs being stranded at airports because of bad weather, landing at the wrong airport, etc. and I'm convinced this is a sound decision.

January 29, 1997
Well Miss Colleen has finally decided she's serious about coming into season. After a couple months of waiting patiently, I struck gold (or perhaps I should say "color") this morning. She has been showing all the classic signs, personality change from "devil" to "sweet", some minor swelling and she's been riding the heck out of our young male, Dollar. I've been wiping her butt the past several days with a white Kleenex and bingo the color was there today.

4:30 PM - We make our initial visit to Dr. Patrick Grogan at the Woodland Animal Hospital to start the procedures necessary to prepare for the "AI" event. Dr. Grogan was recommended by ICG (International Canine Genetics, Inc. a leader in the field of artificial insemination) as a highly experienced vet in this area. Dr. Grogan also maintains the ICG sperm collection sight in the Tulsa area. Although I have complete confidence in my regular vet, I felt this experience was best left in the hands of an expert, not just a vet who occasionally may do an AI procedure.

5:00 PM - Our visit with Dr. Grogan went well. Colleen is in the very early stages of her season and we will not begin progesterone level monitoring until next Monday morning. A vaginal smear indicated no sign of infection or abnormalities. Dr. Grogan recommends the use of "chilled semen" verses "frozen semen" when possible. A natural mating, of course, is still the ideal. He explained if a natural breeding is not possible, "chilled semen" is preferred over frozen semen for obvious reasons. Also, a surgical procedure is normally done with frozen semen whereas the chilled procedure is less intrusive to the bitch's body. That choice, once again, I am leaving to the expert.

Information: Why are we monitoring progesterone levels? - A bitch's estrous cycle involves three important hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone. Changes in the levels of these hormones determine when ovulation and her fertile period occurs. Changes in estrogen levels cause many of the signs traditionally used to time breedings (like standing for the dog and the changes seen on regular vaginal smears) but they do not correlate with ovulation or the true fertile period. The LH peak occurs sometime between 3 and 28 days of the bitches's cycle and is the central event and an initial progesterone rise occurs at the same time as the LH peak. This progesterone monitoring helps to identify the LH peak and the fertile period of the bitch's estrous cycle. Most natural matings or artificial inseminations should begin 2-3 days after the LH peak.

9:00 PM - Called Tina Truesdale to let her know Colleen was in season and make the final arrangements for the semen collection, shipping, etc. Dr. Truesdale is another expert in the artificial insemination field. I feel very comfortable with two experts (one on each end of the country) guiding me through this strange new world. The decision to use Ch. Hi-Tech's Arbitrage also seems appropriate as I journey through this "hi-tech" world!.

February 3, 1997
9:30 AM - Made our trip to Dr. Grogan's office and drew our first blood sample for progesterone monitoring. An appointment was made for Wednesday morning for our next sample to be drawn.

3:00 PM - Dr. Grogan called to advise the reading on Colleen's blood sample.. He indicated Colleen's reading was 1.4 and may indicate a fluxuation in the normal reading range for progesterone levels, or this reading may indicate her progesterone levels are beginning to rise. However, we do not know at this point if this is within the normal baseline for Colleen since I have never done any progesterone monitoring on her prior to this heat. Therefore, Dr. Grogan recommends that we retest her again tomorrow morning rather than Wednesday morning to determine if this is a true rise or simply her normal baseline reading.

Information: It's an excellent idea to establish your bitch's progesterone level during one of her previous heats if possible. If the progesterone baseline is already established, it will make the monitoring more accurate when you decide to breed. Once your bitch's progesterone level has been tracked, you are assured she will continue the same pattern throughout her breeding life. Ask your vet about obtaining a kit to pretest your prospective brood bitch or contact ICG (International Canine Genetics, Inc. at 271 Great Valley Parkway, Malvern, PA 19355) for additional information.

February 4, 1997
7:30 AM - Colleen and I make another trip to the vet to see the "doggie vampire" for another blood sample. She gets an extra treat this morning as she gets to come to the office with me for a couple hours until I take my lunch break to take her back home. Must admit she's not very impressed with my workplace. She is content to lie next to my desk in my office and look pitiful! Something at which we all know a Boxer can excel. She showed a little life; however, when a window washer swung by one of my office windows. She took up her obligation to protect me from this possible intruder. I don't know who was more startled when she jumped at the window, Colleen or the window washer. Don't think he was accustomed to seeing dogs in the office buildings he cleans. He managed a smile, however, and once they realized they both had jobs to do, the situation settled down. I had to assure Colleen that this strange man hanging outside my window was not a threat. She continued to monitor his work, however, and mumbled under her breath a couple times when I told her to be quiet.

4:00 PM - Talked with Dr. Grogan who advised Colleen's progesterone levels were definitely on the rise with a reading of 2.5 today. Therefore, even if yesterday were considered day zero, the levels today would indicated ovulation is going to occur within the next 24 to 48 hours. Because of the weekend coming up, Dr. Grogan felt it best to make arrangements to have one shipment of semen to arrive for insertion on Friday and another shipment for arrival on Saturday. He felt it we waited until Monday we may miss the window of opportunity..

February 5, 1997
9:45 AM - Contacted Dr. Truesdale to advise him of our progress and to make arrangements to have the semen delivered to Dr. Grogan's clinic. The first shipment will be overnighted for delivery on Friday and another shipment will follow on Saturday. Now Colleen and I will wait for our firsthand introduction to "artificial insemination."

10:00 AM - Advised Dr. Grogan that the arrangements for shipment had been made. The next "step" in this walk into the AI world will take place on Friday. Colleen's interest in Dollar has increased and he too is becoming very "taken" with her. Of course my "kennel help" (Herb and my two sons) have been advised that Colleen and Dollar must be kept separate at all times - I will not hurt them if they make a mistake, I will "kill" them!

Information: For those of you who are keeping count, Friday would be day 9 from the first day of Colleen's first signs of color. Had I been doing a natural breeding and relying on my old method of day 11 and day 13 I should have been in the ballpark with day 11 but may have missed the mark on Day 13. Knowing the time of her progesterone rise and ensuing ovulation will make things much easier the next time around regardless of what course I should decide to take. Timing is the most important element in any breeding and any technology available to target that is certainly worth pursuing. Artificial Insemination in particular should not be left to a guessing game.

February 6, 1997
3:45 PM - Spoke with Dr. Grogan who advised he had spoken to Dr. Truesdale earlier in the day and a successful collection from "Biff" had been obtained. The semen will be shipped overnight express for arrival at Dr. Grogan's clinic around 10:00 AM tomorrow morning. Dr. Grogan advises me to have Colleen at the clinic around Noon for her first "AI" procedure.

February 7, 1997
11:30 AM - Colleen and I arrive at Dr. Grogan's office for her first "AI" procedure. The semen arrived at about 10:30 AM and Dr. Grogan has already tested the sperm for vitality. This was accomplished by withdrawing a small amount of the sperm sample, allowing it to warm and then viewing the small sample under a microscope. The sperm was alive and scrambling about on the slide.

The first procedure is performed. The semen is withdrawn from the transporting vial with a syringe and then a long pipette (soft pliable straw) is used to insert the semen directly into Colleen's vulva leading to the horns of the uterus where the ova is hopefully waiting to be fertilized. After the insertion was completed, we held her hips high for a few minutes. As I looked up at the clock it reads straight up Noon. I make a mental note to myself, one of these puppies has got to be called "High Noon!" With any luck, we'll have a beautiful young male we can call "Coop" after the star of High Noon, Gary Cooper. Overnight Express also crosses my mind as a possible name - must remind myself not to get too far ahead of this thing!

When the procedure was complete, I took Colleen directly to the van and placed her in her crate. She will not be allowed to urinate for at least an hour after the procedure. The inserted sperm should be warming in her body and well on it's journey to a successful conception.

While at the clinic and prior to her own procedure, Colleen was enlisted to serve as a tease for an old Chesapeake Bay Retriever who was there to have his sperm count checked. Colleen looked at me a little puzzled when he first approached, I'm sure she thought this was the strangest Boxer she had ever seen. Of course, there was never any real contact other than allowing the old male to sniff at her vulva. Dr. Grogan was able to ejaculate a good sample of semen to complete his testing. In allowing Dr. Grogan to use Colleen as a teaser I was able to observe the "collection" phase in obtaining fresh semen from a dog. Not my idea, and I'm sure not Colleen's idea, of romance. I just hope she doesn't fill her dreams tonight with an old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Recalling the look on the old dog's face, I'm sure his dreams will be happy ones!

We will do another procedure at Noon tomorrow and then we will wait to see if these artificial breedings are prolific. I will have an ultra-sound done in about three and one-half weeks and get my answer then.

Part II Success or failure? Regardless of the outcome, you can expect a conclusion to this article. I will also try to provide a cost analysis of the procedures.

Wish us luck! I'm really looking forward to a beautiful batch of Boxer babes. Of course, the only draw back to this particular timing is that it will probably mean I won't be able to attend the ABC this year; however, you can all appreciate my preference to staying home with Mama Colleen and her boxer brood.