Looking at having puppies
Discussion
Our 2.5year old Golden Retriever b
h has just finished her season, and is having approx. 7months between them.
We have always wanted 2 dogs and a mother and daughter/son sound like the perfect option.
She is fit and well, a lovely colour and the best temperament of any dog I have ever known.
We have a meeting with the vets next week regarding getting her checks done and he has suggested he knows of some dogs who would be perfect - she is pedigree and KK registered so assume the dog would have to be on their list too?
Just wondered if anyone who has done it has any advice or regrets? Once she has had them we will probably have her spayed to save any future health problems.
h has just finished her season, and is having approx. 7months between them.We have always wanted 2 dogs and a mother and daughter/son sound like the perfect option.
She is fit and well, a lovely colour and the best temperament of any dog I have ever known.
We have a meeting with the vets next week regarding getting her checks done and he has suggested he knows of some dogs who would be perfect - she is pedigree and KK registered so assume the dog would have to be on their list too?
Just wondered if anyone who has done it has any advice or regrets? Once she has had them we will probably have her spayed to save any future health problems.
I'll give you our story, we had a full family, 4 generations, of Shar pei at one point.
Bought our first dog, Female pup at 10 weeks. Shortly afterwards, probably 6 months or so later, her father became available as a pet, he was producing a number of pups with an overbite and decision was taken to stop breeding from him and rehome as pet only. He was a lovely chap, laid back, handsome, perfect dog. We snapped him up.
Year and a bit later, we decided to breed from our original bh, with intention of keeping one. Found a perfect stud, 2.5 hours each way away from us, job jobbed. 4 puppies, we kept a bh. Showed her for a couple of years, but was always a little on the small side to be perfect.
Decided to breed from her. Stud found, bit closer this time, lovely pups, kept a boy. Before you know it, we had 4 generations!
Bought our first dog, Female pup at 10 weeks. Shortly afterwards, probably 6 months or so later, her father became available as a pet, he was producing a number of pups with an overbite and decision was taken to stop breeding from him and rehome as pet only. He was a lovely chap, laid back, handsome, perfect dog. We snapped him up.
Year and a bit later, we decided to breed from our original b
h, with intention of keeping one. Found a perfect stud, 2.5 hours each way away from us, job jobbed. 4 puppies, we kept a bh. Showed her for a couple of years, but was always a little on the small side to be perfect.Decided to breed from her. Stud found, bit closer this time, lovely pups, kept a boy. Before you know it, we had 4 generations!
Ensure all relevant health tests are undertaken for the breed. Check the COI and ensure it is far below the breed average. Is your girl mature enough? Is she maternal? Get someone who knows what they are doing (i.e. not someone who just throws two dogs they think look good together and hopes) to review your choice. Ensure your dog is a good one in terms of the breed standard.
As above things like hip and elbow scores possibly eyes (I know labs do not sure about retrievers)
Do lots of reading and if she came from a good breeder with good lines/ reputation contact them for stud contacts. Though may be check first that they didn't have a no breeding policy when she was sold to you!
Make sure she isn't overweight (makes the birthing harder for them) and just educate yourselves on what to expect. Retrievers can have large litters so it would be good to know that you have people interested in having a puppy from her ahead of time.
Finally make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. I get so many people wanting to breed because it 'will be nice for the bh to have a litter' 'it makes them calmer' 'we want the kids to see them have a litter' etc none of these are good enough reasons or right reasons to breed.
God luck with it all
Do lots of reading and if she came from a good breeder with good lines/ reputation contact them for stud contacts. Though may be check first that they didn't have a no breeding policy when she was sold to you!
Make sure she isn't overweight (makes the birthing harder for them) and just educate yourselves on what to expect. Retrievers can have large litters so it would be good to know that you have people interested in having a puppy from her ahead of time.
Finally make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. I get so many people wanting to breed because it 'will be nice for the b
h to have a litter' 'it makes them calmer' 'we want the kids to see them have a litter' etc none of these are good enough reasons or right reasons to breed.God luck with it all
All breeds have problems, the aim of all the testing is to reduce the likelihood and severity of the problems in future generations, by only breeding from those animals who are better than the breed average.
It is important to understand that if she scores badly then she must not be bred, to breed from her would be to condemn future generations to unnecessary suffering.
Hip and elbow scores are absolutely essential and eye testing strongly recommended. She will need to have a general anaesthetic to have x-rays taken of her hips and elbows, have blood taken, and visit a specialist eye vet on the approved panel.
It is also essential that the her blood lines and that of any potential sires are examined in detail prior to choosing a mate.
Here's a link to the Kennel Club info.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/b...
It is important to understand that if she scores badly then she must not be bred, to breed from her would be to condemn future generations to unnecessary suffering.
Hip and elbow scores are absolutely essential and eye testing strongly recommended. She will need to have a general anaesthetic to have x-rays taken of her hips and elbows, have blood taken, and visit a specialist eye vet on the approved panel.
It is also essential that the her blood lines and that of any potential sires are examined in detail prior to choosing a mate.
Here's a link to the Kennel Club info.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/b...
Jambo85 said:
Jasandjules said:
Check the COI and ensure it is far below the breed average.
It is surprising how inbred is "OK" - I checked our lab pup's COI when I noticed the same dog on her certificate 5 times in 6 generations. And she is less inbred than the breed average...!I know breeders of Crufts champions who will breed a COI of 20 plus. Consider what that means. We breed no more than 0.5.....
Eyersey1234 said:
What's a COI? Sorry having never had dogs I've no idea.
I have dogs but have never bred from themThis is from a quick google
COI stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding. Essentially, it measures the common ancestors of dam and sire, and indicates the probability of how genetically similar they are.
Jasandjules said:
Jambo85 said:
Jasandjules said:
Check the COI and ensure it is far below the breed average.
It is surprising how inbred is "OK" - I checked our lab pup's COI when I noticed the same dog on her certificate 5 times in 6 generations. And she is less inbred than the breed average...!
garythesign said:
Eyersey1234 said:
What's a COI? Sorry having never had dogs I've no idea.
I have dogs but have never bred from themThis is from a quick google
COI stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding. Essentially, it measures the common ancestors of dam and sire, and indicates the probability of how genetically similar they are.
You'll never get the smell of dog cum out of your car.
It leaks everywhere as well even hours after the event.
Did I mention it really smells ?
Some sensible advice.
Pick your stud dog really carefully. Usual fees range, well for spaniels so probably the same for a lab thing, from around £300 - £450. Look at the thing you get from the KC with family tree on it, name escapes me and see what the prominent line is. Then check the KC website mate checker (COI check) and see if you can mate with that rather than some random line. I don't mean like your dogs grandfather but usually that kennel will have stud dogs. Although DNA changes and what not your stacking the odds in your favour that you'll get pretty much the same as your own dog (temperament, looks, that kind of thing). Not guaranteed though. Make sure all health tests have been done on the stud dog. These should be available to you should you wish to check.
For example, Susan the mental spaniel has a lot of Masserderywn line in her thingy, these are know for certain traits, so I would mate her with one from this line. COI might be higher than normal but I am after those traits. Next time I mated one of her puppies though I would look at a different line. I already have the traits I want in the bh so I can breed for looks or something else I think is lacking in the bh.
Around 10 days after you notice blood take her to the vet who should be able to pin point when you can get your dog covered. It won't be too far off the 10 day thing though. You can chance it in one go but it's best to let them get jiggy with each other a few times. Maiden bhes can be a little snappy so an experienced stud dog is probably better for you than a young inexperienced dog. I've heard of dogs not getting it quite right a few times and trying it in various positions that would defy physics.
Buy the book of the bh. Sees you through from "the act" to whelping.
Don't get hung up on COI too much. Line breeding is a thing so some dogs might have a higher than normal COI.
Dog cum smells really bad.
Seriously, it took ages for smell to go from the car.
It leaks everywhere as well even hours after the event.
Did I mention it really smells ?
Some sensible advice.
Pick your stud dog really carefully. Usual fees range, well for spaniels so probably the same for a lab thing, from around £300 - £450. Look at the thing you get from the KC with family tree on it, name escapes me and see what the prominent line is. Then check the KC website mate checker (COI check) and see if you can mate with that rather than some random line. I don't mean like your dogs grandfather but usually that kennel will have stud dogs. Although DNA changes and what not your stacking the odds in your favour that you'll get pretty much the same as your own dog (temperament, looks, that kind of thing). Not guaranteed though. Make sure all health tests have been done on the stud dog. These should be available to you should you wish to check.
For example, Susan the mental spaniel has a lot of Masserderywn line in her thingy, these are know for certain traits, so I would mate her with one from this line. COI might be higher than normal but I am after those traits. Next time I mated one of her puppies though I would look at a different line. I already have the traits I want in the b
h so I can breed for looks or something else I think is lacking in the bh. Around 10 days after you notice blood take her to the vet who should be able to pin point when you can get your dog covered. It won't be too far off the 10 day thing though. You can chance it in one go but it's best to let them get jiggy with each other a few times. Maiden b
hes can be a little snappy so an experienced stud dog is probably better for you than a young inexperienced dog. I've heard of dogs not getting it quite right a few times and trying it in various positions that would defy physics. Buy the book of the b
h. Sees you through from "the act" to whelping.Don't get hung up on COI too much. Line breeding is a thing so some dogs might have a higher than normal COI.
Dog cum smells really bad.
Seriously, it took ages for smell to go from the car.
Edited by Never you mind on Monday 6th August 16:49
Edited by Never you mind on Monday 6th August 16:57
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