Dog breeding

[hendrix's rifle]

To cut a long story short, I want my spaniel to have a litter before she is spayed and I think I may have come across the perfect candidate to do the deed. Now, its my first possible litter so I could do with some assistance. How much hard work is it? Daft question i know. What should I be looking for in a stud dog, just to confirm what I'm thinking? Any help is appreciated, thanks

 

[CarlW]

To cut a long story short, I want my spaniel to have a litter before she is spayed and I think I may have come across the perfect candidate to do the deed. Now, its my first possible litter so I could do with some assistance. How much hard work is it? Daft question i know. What should I be looking for in a stud dog, just to confirm what I'm thinking? Any help is appreciated, thanks

Make sure you see the stud working. Also, if possible, take a look at other dogs he has produced (ideally from a number of different bitches) and - if you can - see them work too. They are actually a better predictor of what he will produce than he is himself.

Also, be sure to do all the usual health and pedigree research. Spaniels aren't a dog I know about so get your head around any breed-specific health issues.

Finally, yes. It's a lot of work. Puppies produce much more sh1t than one might expect.

Have fun!!!!

Carl

 

[Waz77]

As Carl says
First 3-4 weeks easy, last 4 not so much If the dog is producing good progeny it's helpful, but sometimes better to use the sire of the dog

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Make sure you see the stud working. Also, if possible, take a look at other dogs he has produced (ideally from a number of different bitches) and - if you can - see them work too. They are actually a better predictor of what he will produce than he is himself.

Also, be sure to do all the usual health and pedigree research. Spaniels aren't a dog I know about so get your head around any breed-specific health issues.

Finally, yes. It's a lot of work. Puppies produce much more sh1t than one might expect.

Have fun!!!!

Carl

The dog in question isn't a working dog, albeit it is bat sh1t crazy. It just so happens my wife's friend has a springer with a 5 gen certificate thats red in ft champions from a variety of lines. Impressive lines if I do say, maybe 30+ in the last 5 generations. It also has never been a stud before, the conversation came up with my mrs saying what a lovely dog he is and it snowballed from there

 

[CarlW]

The dog in question isn't a working dog, albeit it is bat sh1t crazy. It just so happens my wife's friend has a springer with a 5 gen certificate thats red in ft champions from a variety of lines. Impressive lines if I do say, maybe 30+ in the last 5 generations. It also has never been a stud before, the conversation came up with my mrs saying what a lovely dog he is and it snowballed from there

Flip a coin and hope for the best, then...

More seriously, you're probably going to get a variety of answers, depending upon how purist the respondent is.

What is your plan for the pups? Work or pet? Will you keep one?

 

[shakey jake]

id try to plan the mating so the pups are born in the summer, i found the warmer months and being able to have the pups out on the lawn for the day made it a lot easier. health checks are a must now id say. hope that helps

 

[Craigsaun]

I was in the same boat as you, I had a stud dog in mind he was perfect (not) he turned out to be gay , so I had to find a good dog quick because we always had trouble catching Tikka in season .picked another dog took tikka to meet him she loved him (tart) he don the job on two separate occasions . Job don sit and wait , she got fater and fater and I got stressed (this was my little girl who had never had puppies ) and then it happened last Friday she gave berth to 8 puppies . I have had 15 hours sleep sins last Friday ,now I have tikka and here 8 children to worry about . Surely it's going to get less stressful ?

 

[Waz77]

I was in the same boat as you, I had a stud dog in mind he was perfect (not) he turned out to be gay , so I had to find a good dog quick because we always had trouble catching Tikka in season .picked another dog took tikka to meet him she loved him (tart) he don the job on two separate occasions . Job don sit and wait , she got fater and fater and I got stressed (this was my little girl who had never had puppies ) and then it happened last Friday she gave berth to 8 puppies . I have had 15 hours sleep sins last Friday ,now I have tikka and here 8 children to worry about . Surely it's going to get less stressful ?

It gets less stressful after about 8wks

 

[shakey jake]

bad planning a week before xmas!

 

[countrryboy]

So ur bitch is a nut case and u want to breed it with a highly driven dog.

Are u wanting a pup urself?
Even if u were I would say u would easily buy better, u may end up with some nice pups in litter but most likely also end up with some right nut jobs too.

Imagine ur crazy dog on speed, good chance a fair % of litter will turn out like that.
The old timers always thought u get more from the bitch than the dog, so starting with a poor bitch is not a good place to start.

If u really must breed from it I would be breeding off a nice slow sensible dog, esp if not going as working dogs

 

[ion]

I have a line of springers that I can trace back to the 60's. Obviously each generation only carries 50% of the genes of the previous generation. (I am right amn't I?) Ive been lucky to have had a succession of good woodcock dogs with lovely temperament and a sense of humour! BUT my current brace of bitches and a litter brother have all been diagnosed with congenital hip displasia at six years old. I believe it is unusual to get so many in one litter.
So my advice is blow some money on a full health check on both bitch and dog. Look for soundness including good confirmation, and good temperament first of all.
From the little info you have given using the dog you describe will produce a litter of neurotic pets or spaniel rescue candidates. Sorry!
Ion

 

[hendrix's rifle]

All advice taken, the dog is a highly driven dog with a great pedigree from some (what i deem to be) top lines. My spaniel isn't bonkers and now she's 3 she seems to have calmed slightly, is very biddable and in general very well behaved, especially when we're out. The pups will be going to working homes, I wouldn't want to see them as pets. @ion I have traced mine back to the late 60's, with some good lines in her. She's quite a stocky spaniel with a deep chest. Again, l advice taken having never bred a dog before and realistically unsure of what to look for, hence the questions

 

[ion]

Breakfast hadnt cut in yet, so apologies for being sharp. Would strongly recommend checking hips and eyes in parents.
My two are on Cartrophen - 4 weekly injections followed by monthly as required. One worked last season on it as welI as being my stalking dog. I will have to pick and choose days and or beats for them probably.
Because they are a non registered line I plead guilty to not taking my own advice and getting screening done.
Ion