[Izzy]

I have a friend/colleague who has a 2 yo entire Lab dog. He is a runner and the dog therefore gets lots of exercise and socialisation and has turned out braw-looking and also has a lovely nature. He has a pedigree but is not yet KC registered. (I am just repeating what my friend has told me and may not have got the bit about pedigree/KC totally correct.)


Through dog walking/running my friend knows a Lab bitch and her owners. They have always admired the dog and pointedly said they'd like him to sire a litter once their girl is old enough.


My friend doesn't want to be paid for this but wonders if a deal could be done on having one of the litter. I imagine this is common and wonder is there a standard deal e.g. Owner of stud gets a 20% discount or similar. My friend also mentioned that he was undecided about a second dog quite yet as he would prefer a greater age gap. Is it possible to do a deal where a promise of a 'grandchild' is included? This would be easier if the owners of the bitch were planning to keep a female pup

[Old Shep]

It seems to be the norm to ask for a puppy for stud fees, not sure about "grandchild",  but this would be rather encouraging continued breeding.


Has your friend thought this through thoroughly?  Have both dogs had all the health checks (hips elbows eyes)?  As lots of conditions are not evident until old age, and yet can be screened for early, its rather irresponsible to breed from untested dogs.


Also if your friend was aware of the number of dogs in rescue, labs included, they may not feel it appropriate to breed any more.


By the way a dog can't be pedigree if it hasn't got KC papers (as you thought).


Hope this helps.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I am not sure about third generation, they would have to ask the people and see, plus do all the necessary health checks too. As to thinking about rescue labs, it really depends on who the person sells the pups to, when they sell pups they have to make sure (as any responsible dog owner should) that they go to 5 star homes. Dogs are put into rescue for many reasons, but why should that person not breed them just becuase of the amount of them in rescue? It is up to the breeder alone to decide that, sometimes the female dogs which we buy in as puppies are exceptional and you want to keep that line going, it is entirely up to that person.

[harmony]

Standard arrangement is price of a puppy or pick of the litter.


However, look on any web site selling puppies and there are hundreds of labs to choose from. Why do these people want puppies and if they knew about breeding they would be asking the right questions of your friend. Clearly they are breeding for the pet market as neither appears to be a "working dog". These days puppies need microchipping before they can be sold. The responsibility doesn't end once the puppies go to their new homes, assuming they all find suitable ones. Often you see puppies re advertised due to time wasters, changes in circumstances, etc. Responsible breeders will take back puppies that find themselves in the wrong homes. What will they do if they can't find homes or have to take a puppy back?


The more important consideration for your friend is once the dog has lined a bitch he will be on the look out for more and your friend may find he doesn't have the same dog, which he clearly enjoys spending quality time with.

[twizzel]

Agree with above, labs are prone to hip problems so I would want both parents hip/elbow scored although believe this has to be done by 2 yrs of age. Eye tests are vital too. Also think most bitch owners prefer to pay stud fee- what if they have problems and either pups or mum don't make it? What happens about stud fee then? We just paid stud fee when our spaniel had pups, then the puppies were our concern only and we didn't owe anyone anything.

[Jukes Mum]

Yes, pick of the litter instead of stud fee is quite normal.
Please, please reiterate the importance of hip scoring for both parents before considering breeding from them. It is too common a mistake to think that because the parents appear to be fine that its ok to breed from them.
It may be worth you telling them how expensive breeding can be. We are just breeding from our lab bitch and so far we have paid for ;
- hip and elbow screening
- eye checks
- DNA testing
- 2 x progesterone test
- stud fee
- 2 x herpes jabs
We have also put money aside for potential problems such as C-section etc.

[doganjo]

I have a friend/colleague who has a 2 yo entire Lab dog. He is a runner and the dog therefore gets lots of exercise and socialisation and has turned out braw-looking and also has a lovely nature. He has a pedigree but is not yet KC registered. (I am just repeating what my friend has told me and may not have got the bit about pedigree/KC totally correct.)
Through dog walking/running my friend knows a Lab bitch and her owners. They have always admired the dog and pointedly said they'd like him to sire a litter once their girl is old enough.
My friend doesn't want to be paid for this but wonders if a deal could be done on having one of the litter. I imagine this is common and wonder is there a standard deal e.g. Owner of stud gets a 20% discount or similar. My friend also mentioned that he was undecided about a second dog quite yet as he would prefer a greater age gap. Is it possible to do a deal where a promise of a 'grandchild' is included? This would be easier if the owners of the bitch were planning to keep a female pup

PLEASE tell your friend to take good note of all the recommendations on here.  I am a long time breeder, judge, assessor, show exhibitor.  I would never consider breeding from any gundog male or female which has not had full inherited disease health tests done, and won some awards either in the field or on the bench. I doubt if I would even advertise my stud dog without him having won so much and had all these tests done.  I was once offered £2000 for his stud fee - merely because he is a natural bobtail.  I refused because the man concerned was going to register the pups as pure springer sired by his own dog.  Kennel Club registration is prized so I also wouldn't buy a dog that wasn't registered, unless I particularly wanted a cross breed.