Breeding

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Skhosu

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So how do you go about breeding a dog (bitch)?
She had a season recently, they have two a year right? When are they actually able to get in pup?
Do you have to send them away? How many times do they need covered?
Thanks
 
I'm sure there will be more helpful and knowledgeable people along to help you any minute, but in the mean time...

... make sure you know whay stud dog you want to use, and make sure we will be available when your bitch is in season. It's no use the dog picking up in Scotland if you need him in Kent for instance!

... Be sure you're breeding for the right reasons. Will the pups be easy to sell, does the bitch have exceptional breeding/working qualities, if you can't sell the pups, what will you do. A local breeder I know has had big trouble shifting a litter recently, she still has two dogs to go, and they're four months old now.

Bitches cycle about every 6 months, although some breeds will only have a season once a year. I think they are ready for the dog on about the 13th day (but I could be wrong on this), and definitely when they will stand for the dog, tail lifted to one side. It's not when they are at their most bloody.

The bitch will normally only be mated once, bear in mind that in order for you to have a certificate of mating from the stud dogs owner, you must see the mating take place. For my poor embaressed husband, this meant hanging onto his spaniels lead for 45 minutes, as she was tied to the dog. They were on a busy footpath at the time. La la la... and it was raining, so glad I wasn't there!

So what breed is your bitch, how old etc, and can we have some pics?
 
and is it before or after they bleed? How easy is it for the amateur to know when?
Thanks for all that.
We are not sure yet what stud dog we want to complement her best, I am hesitant to put up reasons/pics as will get torn to shreds by anti-breeding peeps.
We would not have a problem finding homes or if necessary keeping any, would probably find homes before breeding.
How many pups would a cairn terrier normally have?
 
If you are considering breeding from your bitch, I can recommend a book called "The Book of the Bitch" by Kay White.
A few brief answers to your queries: The average time for a bitch to be ready to be mated is about the 10 - 12 th day of her season, when the discharge should pale off in colour. However, I have known bitches mate and conceive earlier than this, and as late as 23 days after the first day season was noticed! A good guide is if you have another dog and she starts standing for him with her tail lifted, or if you don't have another dog you might get a similar reaction by running your hand down her back
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Most people take their bitches to the stud dog and stay with them, although some kennels will have bitches to board for a few days. People will sometimes have a second mating, a couple of days after the first, in case the bitch wasn't ready at the first mating, depends how far you have to travel.
I would suggest you speak to the breeder of your bitch, they should be happy to advise you what lines to consider etc. And many stud dog owners are fussy about what bitches they accept, so bear that in mind too.
I'm not sure if Cairns have any particular health problems, but all necessry health checks should have been carried out e.g. eyes,hips.
Breeding pups is great fun, but a lot of hard work, so don't go into it lightly. Also remember that if you have 6 homes lined up with people wanting bitches you can guarantee your litter will be all dogs.
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..and it is very hard work. When the puppies are being weaned, you have to feed them approx every four hours. And done correctly it is also more expensive than you first imagine. The stud fee is usually the price of one of the puppies, so you have to have at least one live puppy just to cover this cost. If you advertise then that is more cost. Building a whelping box, extra food, vets bills, heating lamp, all adds up. Where will you keep them. After 2 weeks they get very smelly. After 6 weeks noisy as well. I used to go into the kennel in wellies, leggings and my "dog" jacket. 7 puppies running to you through poo is an experience. And the amount of poo.... Mind you, I loved it all. Cuddling 7 little puppies was magic. The only thing I hated was trying to sell them. The amount of people who want dogs that really have no concept of what is involved is scary. Someone came to see the puppies and brought gardia into my garden and to all my dogs was not funny. He didn't even buy a dog.

So if you are determined to do it, get a good bitch breeding book, find a good stud, contact the owner of the stud dog and go from there. If you have any queries, I am sure H& H forum people, my self included will help.
 
Excellent thanks very much! So it's after they bleed they are fertile? That's good as a good indication! Not sure if I can still contact the breeder as don't have her number and shall have to start investigating how to contact stud dogs
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Although it is usually when the bleeding pales off they are fertile please do not take that as a definitive guide. I had a bitch mated on her 14th day when she was still in full colour, and she had a good litter of 8 pups. Like anything to do with livestock nothing is guaraneed as they have never read the books! I would do your best to contact the breeder, maybe through breed clubs or similar, as generlaly they will be very helpful in choosing a stud dog.
 
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