[Moleskins]

I've got a very calm springer spaniel who works well and is very intelligent. I'd like her to have pups because of her good traits. She's not very big so don't want a big dog.
 Any suggestions?

[Goldcraig]

Where abouts are you?.....I have a cracking male, not too big, very biddable and very intelligent, KC reg as well

[Moleskins]

Hi Goldcraig, we're in Cumbria so a bit of a drive away from you otherwise I'd have wanted to see him.
Does he work ? Mine is from a working line.

[Goldcraig]

Shame it's so far away...he has a good pedigree and good ftc's on his line. He is a pet, but is very obidient /clever and is a "nose doon arse up 24/7" type of lad.....he's a cracker, but then I would say that..ha ha

[doganjo]

I am putting what I feel in another thread as requested by Dan on a previous occasion.

Annie

[Moleskins]

I did ask for suggestions which were meant to be helpful ones.

[doganjo]

I gave my suggestions.  Check the health requirements, ensure she has been wormed, ensure you have buyers ready, Find a stud that matches your bitch - just because she or a potential stud have good pedigrees doesn't necessarily mean they are suited. Look at her carefully and also have a good look at the stud - do they complement each other - for instance, if she has a long back, does the stud have along back too?  If so they pups may have back problems in the future.  Does the stud have a fine head - is her head fine too - the pups may not have strong enough jaws to retrieve heavy game - like hares fro instance.
I didn't mean that you haven't thought about these things, these are suggestions that someone wishing to breed should do.  I did not mean any offence.

[Moleskins]

Thank you, that was much more the info I was looking for.

[doganjo]

In that case I am happy to help, and I apologise for my rant on the other thread,  I just get so mad at people breeding for spurious reasons when I see every council in the country killing dogs after they are only one week in their kennels.  There must be a way to stop this happening.  The puppy farmers have lot to do with it I know, but there are a lot of people breeding just for a bit of extra money these days without thinking or perhaps not knowing that this happens. And if you do everything properly you don't make anything.  My last litter (2 years ago) cost me money because Belle needed an emergency Caesar - the cost was equivalent to a puppy.

The Canine Alliance has asked the kennel Club to refrain from registering pups from parents who have not had and passed all the health checks for their breed. you can see what checks have been done on any registered dog on the Kennel club website.

The English Springer Club may be able to help you find a stud - or your nearest gundog Club. 

[Mammyshaz]

Agreeing with much of doganjos advice, tho it be not at rant point  my biggest advice would be after all the correct medical checks ect of bitch and dog. Make sure you have a list of potential buyers which you have vetted very stringently on their lifelong commitment to your pups. Consider breeding once you hit at least 15 people up to your standards on your list.some always drop out at the last minute and she may well have 10pups or more even on a first litter.

unfortunately in the present financial times people just are not buying pups like they did. Financial priorities such as utility bills come first.There are a few top gsd breeders I know of with top working and show dogs who have been left with pups this last year. My boy came from a first litter and she had 13 . The owner thought she was going to be left with 4, fortunately they did find homes. The last one being 4 months old before it found somewhere.

I wish you the best of luck. It is rewarding to see your girl produce lovely healthy pups even with the hard work and costs associated with breeding.   

[Fronhaul]

Adding a couple of other thoughts if I may.  I know it becomes a long list but every point I have seen so far is vital and I really believe homework is essential.

Firstly  please ensure you also breed for temperament.  Be especially careful if you don't know the owner of the stud dog.  If you are uncertain then ask around.

And secondly I would suggest that you make the decision now about whether you are prepared to take the pups back if things don't work out for any reason.  If say two or three came back could you cope with them possibly for the rest of their lives if suitable homes couldn't be found?   It was that consideration more than almost any other that deterred me from breeding from my pointer bitch (hip scored and placed at Crufts).  And on my own soapbox I strongly believe that no one should be breeding if they are not prepared to take pups back if things go wrong. 

I spent hours discussing whether or not to have a litter with my bitch's breeder.  Are you still in contact with your girl's breeder?  If so they should be in a position to give advice about a suitable stud dog and share their own experiences about the bloodlines you should be looking for or avoiding.

[cuckoo]

Hi,

I echo all what has been said about good breeding practice.  Make sure she has all relevent health tests - and the stud dog too.  Make sure you have plenty of interest prior to the mating - plenty of people say they want one then drop out.  Consider the finances too - the cost of the health tests, stud fee - in my breed anything from £300 to £750+, the cost of the whelping if there are problems a c section could be £500 +, possible vet problems with any of the puppies, cost of microchipping, first vaccinations, feeding rearing and most importantly time.  Time to socialise the puppies and ensure they have the basis to become well balanced hamily pets - as realistically that is where most will probably end up.

Fortunatelty a lot more puppy buyers are becoming more savvy about these aspects and if they ask the right questions having obviously thought more about it they are more likely to make good owners.

Whilst the two initiatives below have had mixed reviews their basis are all good I believe and worth a look at:

http://www.thepuppyplan.com/
The kennel clubs initiative

http://puppycontract.rspca.org.uk/home

The RSPCA / BVA/ AWF initiative

[Sylvia]

If I may put in my small twopenn'orth too. Several people have asked to use one of my whippet boys. Except for one time I have always said no. The reason? I would expect to assume as much responsiblity for his pups as I would for one of my bitch's. That is, have the whole litter here if they couldn't find stable homes or take them back should the new owners find themselves for any reason unable to care for them.
I have an endless stream of rescues here and work hard, along with other dedicated friends to re-home them. If I can't then they stay (usually the old, sick and timid ones)
I have just re-homed two two Jack Russell X Chiahuahua, specifically bred as "designer dogs". I hope their new owners will love them for the rest of their lives, they seem as though they will. But, who knows?