Lesson learnt!

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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We decided to try and have a first litter from our lovely working bitch after she passed all the health tests.

I went looking for a stud online. I found one which was fully health tested and a good match for ours.

I had our bitch cytology tested, she had ovulated but eggs not fully developed and would be ready to mate in 24-48 hours. Following the advice, bitch stood for the stud both times and had 2 successful matings. It was strange as the stud owner insisted she came to ours.

Scan at 4 weeks post mating showed she had not conceived. Fertility lady who is highly experienced and well regarded advised the stud dogs semen should be tested, if not already done, because it was unusual.

I shared this with the stud owner who said it was the bitches fault as he is proven.

I then found out through friends the stud had 2 other bitches which failed to take and the stud owner said to the owners she would have his semen checked then but didn't. One of those bitches was cytology tested.

He has 2 litters on KC meaning less than 50% success rate including mine.

I mentioned the previous 2 bitches to the stud owner and said I was not made aware of the previous bitches not taking. I politely asked if she would she consider refunding part of the stud fee because I’d like to find a stud which has had his semen regularly tested and a higher success rate because I was concerned it might happen again.

The stud owner became rude and unprofessional, demanding my bitch must have an infection. She did agree the 2 bitches I knew about didn’t fall pregnant either but had excuses which were not viable reasons according to the fertility clinic I used. She did have his semen tested last week which (surprisingly) came back normal.

I understand I’m not in a position to get a refund and no contract was signed but it was over £400 so not pennies.

Lessons learnt as I’m new to this.

Going forward if we decide to mate her again, I’ll find a stud which regularly has his semen tested, less misses on bitches and ensure a contract is signed and also one that allows bitches to travel to the stud.

It still doesn’t make sense why previous bitches failed to conceive with successful ties? Is this normal?
 
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I'd probably go word of mouth and personal/practical experience next time rather than something online.

Some dogs just aren't good studs. One of my males was mated twice and both bitches missed but his semen was tested and that wasn't the issue.
 
Spotherisk said:
Our stud cocker will mate here at home or meet somewhere else, and no mating has ever missed. No payment requested until the bitch is obviously pregnant or had her litter.

We did mate a Labrador bitch of ours some years ago, but she never took. Again no payment had been made so nothing lost.
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She requested payment immediately and did from the other 2 as well. It’s clear she won’t give a penny back and hasn’t to the others either. :-(

A friend has several health tested studs, none have missed. One bitch had 5 pups from a single slip tie!
 
Spotherisk said:
I wonder if it’s worth discussing with the KC - is there a criteria which should be adhered to?
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I mean our bitch isn’t KC registered but she is fully health tested and a great working dog. She has placed in KC tests open to non KC and I had a strong wait list.

I don’t think KC would be interested. I’ve spoken to another stud who’s mated 17 bitches and recommended by a friend, the majority weren’t cytology tested and all of them took first time.

It just bothers me this could happen again and again to other people.
 
Spotherisk said:
I completely understand. To mitigate the problem would you mate her to him again on her next season, or does the breeder have other studs she would substitute and you’d accept?
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She doesn’t have any other studs. I’m a bit on the fence about mating her to him again, I’m tempted to spend the money and go to another stud with many more litters on the ground.
 
Cytology isn't very accurate for timing. Progesterone bloods are far more accurate.

Some dogs need tighter timing (just like stallions) and even when a b1tch has ov you then need to allow 24-48h for egg maturation. So if a "normal" stud dog has semen which lasts 4/5 days in the b1tch some dogs can have a normal evaluation but the semen maybe only lasts 24h so timing may be off.

Paying a stud fee up front is definitely not the norm either!
 
druid said:
Certainly not here. Payment on positive scan pr if 2 or more pups born alive.
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This is what happened last bitch I took to be mated, and green form retained until stud fee paid. It was quite a while ago, d they even have the green form now or is it all done online ?
 
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