There
are many myths about dog breeding. Some people think that a bitch
should be allowed to have a litter before being spayed, or that
a litter will help calm down a dog a with hyper temperament. I believe
there are only two good reasons to breed your dog. The first is
that you and your family would like to raise a litter of pups. The
second is that your dog has several desirable characteristics that
you feel would be beneficial to and complement the breed, if passed
onto his or her offspring.
Several dog owners neuter or spay their dog as soon as it is old
enough for the surgery. Many of the qualities that make a dog an
exceptional hunting dog and companion don't show up until much later
in life, when the dog is three or four years old. Once the dog is
altered or fixed, the option of breeding is gone forever and you
will never be able to have a pup, out of what maybe the greatest
dog you ever owned! It might be worthwhile to put up with a few
heat cycles until you are sure you don't want to breed your bitch.
Bitches generally come in season twice a year. With a fenced kennel
run to confine the bitch when she is in season, you can probably
manage quite well. You can also board your dog at a kennel for the
duration of her heat, which usually lasts about three weeks. If
you hunt alone or with someone that also hunts a female, it is usually
not a problem to hunt your bitch during her season.
We usually don't recommend neutering a male unless he has some
sort of behavioral problem. If a dog is aggressive with people or
other dogs, you may consider having him neutered. Aggressive nature
is a very undesirable quality in a hunting dog. I have also heard
favorable reports from some dog owners that neutering will sometimes
help calm down a very hyper dog and help the wanderer stay closer
to home.
If you decide to breed your dog there are several factors to consider
and many plans to make. It is best to breed a dog in it's "prime",
which is from one to eight years old. When a dog is nine or ten
years old, whether it be male or female, it is a little late to
start thinking of getting a pup out her. Many people don't think
of replacing old "Shep" until he can't hunt like he used to and
his years are numbered. By then it is probably too late.
The gestation period of a dog is 63 days, give or take a few. Except
for the last four weeks, the bitch should be able to hunt and partake
in her normal activities. The pups should be at least seven weeks
old before they are ready to go to their new owners. This means
that you will need to be home without weekend leave for approximately
two months. The pups and dam will need regular feeding, cleaning
and the temperature of the whelping area maintained at an optimum
level, regardless of the season. You will need a whelping box in
an area where the bitch can be confined and away from distractions.
A garage or enclosed building, preferably with a dog run where the
bitch can relieve herself will work best. Bitches with puppies eat
and drink a lot and need to go out to air frequently.
If you have a wonderful bitch and would love to have a pup out
of her, but don't think two months of puppy sitting is your idea
of an exhilarating experience, you may be able to lease her to a
reputable breeder or friend, who would raise and sell the litter.
The fee to you for leasing your bitch could be a puppy or the equivalent
price of a pup. We have leased many bitches in our breeding program
and it has worked out very well for both parties. Of course all
the particulars of who will be responsible for what expenses etc.
must be decided. The lease can be registered with the American Kennel
Club. Some people like the experience of raising a litter, but don't
have a good market to sell the pups and place them in good hunting
homes. You may be able to work out a deal with a kennel owner or
breeder to pay you a flat fee for the pups and market them for you.
Although you may get a little less for the pups, you will be relieved
of the problems that can occur dealing with the public, and worrying
whether all the pups will sell.
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Before deciding on whether to breed your dog or not you should
have his or her hip conformation radiographically evaluated by a
veterinarian. Although a dog cannot get an O.F.A. (Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals) rating until the age of two, your veterinarian can
determine by a preliminary hip x-ray, if the dog is dysplastic or
not. Even the most athletic of dogs can sometimes show disappointing
signs of hip dysplasia when x-rayed. It is also desirable to have
the dog's eyes evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist for hereditary
eye disorders. The certifying registry for eyes is C.E.R.F. (Canine
Eye Registration Foundation). They recommend dogs be examined annually.
If you have a bitch, the sky is the limit in selecting
a stud dog. I think you should breed your dog to the very best dog
that is feasibly possible. Hunting dog magazines and the internet
contain several advertisements for breeders and stud dogs. Many
of these people are professionals and are experienced at making
breeding arrangements and getting your bitch bred. Of course it
is most desirable if a stud dog that meets your criteria can be
found close by, and you can drive your bitch up and drop her off
at the kennel. This eliminates the cost of shipping the bitch air
freight and the problems involved with scheduling, airport pickup
arrangements etc.
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It is most desirable if a stud dog that meets
your criteria can be found close by, this eliminates the cost
of shipping the dog. |
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It is best to pick an experienced stud dog and
experienced kennel manager to send your bitch to, to ensure the
best chances of a successful breeding. We like to mate the dogs
two or three times over several days so that you have the best chance
of catching the bitch when she ovulates. Some of the top stud dogs
can now be bred to, by having their fresh or frozen semen shipped
to you. A veterinarian then can artificially inseminate your bitch
with the dogs semen. These techniques have been developed extensively
in the last few years and are resulting in many successful breedings.
If you have a male you would like to breed, finding a bitch may
be more of a problem. It is best if a hunting companion or close
friend has a nice bitch, and you can convince him of your dog's
fine qualities as a prospective mate for her. You also may be able
to lease a bitch from a friend to breed your dog to, and raise the
litter yourself. If no one is impressed enough with your dog's wonderful
qualities to consider using him as a stud, you may have to actually
buy a bitch to breed to him.
Many people think it is wrong to breed dogs just for the money,
and that is probably true. On the other hand, what other job would
you put two months of work into, seven days a week for little or
no financial compensation? I believe you should breed your dog to
the best dog possible and charge a good price for the pups. It is
not worth the work and effort to breed poorer quality dogs, with
poor pedigrees, for little or no money. To do it properly you will
be out of pocket a fair amount of money for a stud fee, veterinary
expenses, a whelping box, vaccinations, advertising and plenty of
premium quality dog food. Good quality retriever pups should sell
for $600 to $1000 depending on the area you live in.
Breeding a good litter of pups can be a rewarding and satisfying
experience. Raising a litter of pups is more work than you ever
could imagine, with many unexpected problems that you never anticipate.
It is all worth while when the new owners drop buy or call to brag
about the wonderful pup you sold to them. I've even had them call
to tell me the dog made his Field Championship, and that somehow
made twenty-five years of midnight trips to the whelping kennel
in my pajamas, worthwhile! |
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