Couple of questions for breeders.

TheresaW

TheresaW

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I would like to start this by saying, we have absolutely no intention of breeding from Luna or any other dog we may get in the future.

My first question, prompted by a husky group I am a member of on FB.

Luna came into season at almost exactly 6 months of age, so in mother nature’s eyes, she is ready to reproduce. In the group I’m on, people were up in arms about someone that breeds before the bitch was 2 years old, so what age is a good age if you wanted to breed a litter?

My second question, would you as a breeder sell a dog to us? We work full time, but dogs go to my Mum during the day when we are at work. When I lived at home, we always had dogs, so Mum isn’t inexperienced. She is however, not able to walk them for us, but does have a very secure garden. Dogs are walked before I drop them off, and again in the evenings. Weekends and days off, they come everywhere with me, or us. Reason for this question, Aled is getting on a bit (12), and obviously won’t be here forever. We love having 2 dogs, and she adores him. I’m not sure she would enjoy being an only dog.
 
It would depend on each individual dog but I'd say 18-24 months before breeding. I wouldn't be worried about you having a puppy if I was selling a litter providing your mum is able to put up with all the usual puppy antics!
 
Thank you.

Mum loves having them. They are good company (we lost my Dad 18 months ago), and they keep her active. The only reason she hasn’t got herself another dog is because she knows she couldn’t walk it herself, and this way, she has the fun all day, but can say goodbye in the evenings.
 
I would not breed from a dog before two years old, especially my breed, flatcoats, who are slow maturing. There is more to it than being able to conceive, they need to develop their whole body first before being able to carry and then care for puppies.

Yes, I would sell you a puppy as long as your Mother was capable of doggy day care.
I think it is good to think ahead if you don’t want to be left with an only dog. It happened to me once when I suddenly lost a dog. The remaining young one was very unhappy, she didn’t do anything wrong and would stay alone when I had to go out but on a walk she wouldn’t leave my side and all her playfulness was gone. I found a Rescue and happiness was restored. As an aside, the Rescue turned out to be brilliant in spite of being rejected in kennels for 9 months, I had her for 15 years!
Now, I think ahead so I have three dogs for a while, rising 11, 5 and 7 months.
 
Personally I wouldn’t breed from any bitch under 2 years old (well, I’d never breed at all lol but in theory!)

Yes I think even my incredibly fussy and demanding mum would sell you a puppy!!!! :D assuming your mum was able to cope with a puppy during the day

Having lost Islay at very nearly 14 last year I realised my remaining dogs were very close in age (two of them aged 11, one aged approx 9 or 10) so I deliberately got a young rescue lurcher while mine were still able to cope :) Millie is approx 18 months old now. I have been left with an ‘only dog’ in the past when I’ve lost an oldie, but it’s really not fair to the remaining dog when I work full time
 
Thanks everyone. We won’t rule out a rescue when the time comes, just not sure we would meet all the criteria after all the posts I’ve read on here over the last few years.

Thanks as well about the breeding age. Hopefully Luna will be about 12 months when she has her next season, and we will either get her spayed after that one, or possibly let her have one more. I suppose now I’ve really thought on it, it’s just like us. I was still in primary school when my periods started, but definitely wasn’t ready to re-produce then. (I’m still not at 45, ha ha)!
 
The optimum age to breed a bitch very much depends on breed and the individual dog. Most breed club guidelines will say 2-2 1/2 however in medium to large breeds I still consider this too young. My young girl is currently expecting her first litter and she is 4, she would have been far too immature at 2. However a lot of small breeds have litters st 18months.
Yes I would sell you a puppy .............. but all mine are spoken for and we still have 10 days before they are due to be born
 
TheresaW said:
Thanks everyone. We won’t rule out a rescue when the time comes, just not sure we would meet all the criteria after all the posts I’ve read on here over the last few years.
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I'll never understand why rescues are so particular given the grim alternatives available to the animals and given the huge pressure on all forms of animal rescue. My sister wanted to rescue a rabbit and had to undergo the most ludicrously lengthy, comprehensive process and home checks first. Of course there has to be some oversight but they seem to take it a bit far ime.
 
satinbaze said:
Yes I would sell you a puppy .............. but all mine are spoken for and we still have 10 days before they are due to be born
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Oh my goodness! Baby flatcoats in 10 days?? Will there be photos, please? I think flatcoats are some of the most photogenic dogs I've ever seen.
 
Ambers Echo said:
My sister wanted to rescue a rabbit and had to undergo the most ludicrously lengthy, comprehensive process and home checks first. Of course there has to be some oversight but they seem to take it a bit far ime.
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Haha! Yes us too - when we took on an RSPCA rescue rabbit when I was a teenager, I remember my dad (after the home check woman had left) staggering to the kettle saying "I thought we were adopting a rabbit, not a child!"
 
Most breeders aim for at least 2 for a first litter, and no later than 5, though as said some smaller breeds can be earlier. You answered your own question about the difference between being able to reproduce and ready to reproduce. :)

With regard to letting you have a puppy under the conditions you mention, I would want to talk everything through with you in detail, and would point out that there would be a good chance the pup would bond more with your mum than you. Also you would have to make sure you both used exactly the same training cues, however I certainly wouldn't rule you out.
I am in the situation now that I couldn't have another puppy due to the hours I work , I can be out for up to 6 hours. Its not ideal for the adult dogs but they are perfectly happy but no way would I leave a pup for that long.
 
Widgeon - LOL that's exactly what my sister's husband said!! They passed the test and got said rabbit and later a rescue dog too. But it was a tortuous process!
 
Widgeon said:
Oh my goodness! Baby flatcoats in 10 days?? Will there be photos, please? I think flatcoats are some of the most photogenic dogs I've ever seen.
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Will be delighted to post photos oncd puppies safely here and I know things are okay with them and Mum
 
For those who I bore, please look away now ;)

Females at least 2 years old and for me, they have to have relevant health and working qualifications for the breed and ideally a show grade as well.

While I have had many enquiries, my male dog has never been bred from.
People who have asked about him from these islands haven't titled their females for whatever reason, and those from the continent are not interested because, while he has the relevant health, show and working criteria, he does not yet have a breed survey/breeding approval.
Therefore the pups would be at a dead end in a number of countries.

A lot of breed registries across the world either won't register pups born to parents who are too young/don't have health tests or will issue papers which make the pups basically of no monetary value whatsoever.
The 'rules' in these islands could do with a lot of improvement IMO.

I don't breed myself but I don't think that sounds like a terrible set-up :)
 
Thank you everyone for your replies.

Hopefully, we won’t be on the hunt for a new dog for a few years yet, but it’s nice to know we would be able to get one from a good breeder.

Satinbaze, can’t wait for pics.

One more question, sorry. You say you have homes already lined up, do you know how many pups you’re having? If you have 10 homes lined up, and only 8 pups born, who do you let down? Do the sexes come into it etc? (Maybe 2 questions then).
 
Satinbaze, can’t wait for pics.

One more question, sorry. You say you have homes already lined up, do you know how many pups you’re having? If you have 10 homes lined up, and only 8 pups born, who do you let down? Do the sexes come into it etc? (Maybe 2 questions then).[/QUOTE]


Tiva has been scanned for 5 puppies. Via the flatcoat society litter recorder and word of mouth I have 7 people on my waiting list. I do dread telling anyone I don’t have a puppy for them. There is always a chance she will have more than the scan shows but as she is not huge in her abdomen I don’t think that is likely. Only time will tell. All those on my list know where they are and the chance that there may not be a puppy for them but they are all willing to wait as T is such a fabulous girl. She has gone very well in thenreed ring with 1 CC and 1RCC she has also been placed in open obedience competition at novice and all her health tests are excellent hence the demand for her babies and yes I will be keeping one and the stud dog owner wants one.
 
Thank you. I guess it is possible that there may be 1 or 2 hiding, as does happen with some human babies, and it’s not unheard of in horses.

Good luck, and looking forward to the new arrivals. Xx
 
I wouldn't be happy for a bitch to be bred from under 2 years and would require it to have at least the basic health tests as well as an excellent temperament.

I wouldn't rule you out from owning a working line GSD or working border collie (my breeds) but would want to know a lot more about the situation with your mum as well as what activities you would look to be doing while not at work.

Edited to add: Bitches are physically able to have pups after their first season but it is not at all recommended to take a litter from a bitch under a year old.
 
There is a planned mating between my GSD and a working line bitch in the North of Scotland later this year and I already have three people definitely interested in a pup (with their name on the waiting list) and another woman is coming to meet my boy in February and will then decide whether to put her name on the list. There were also five people with their name down from a pup from the Danish litter but as there was only one pup most people had to be let down. It must be incredibly disappointing, but in terms of finding a dog/bitch pairing you like with the potential for the sort of pup you are after, I think it is worth the gamble of going on a list and if it doesn't work out then start researching again.
 
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