The Brood Bitch

The most valuable asset for you the breeder; striving to breed good stock, is a good brood bitch.Your aim is to produce puppies that are sound both mentally and physically and there is more to breeding dogs than just producing pretty-looking specimens. Consider the following factors:

Health

wAvoid a bitch that has a history of ill health

Temperament and Disposition

wUntil the pups go to their new homes, they continually learn from and even mimic the mother's behaviour. Do not even consider a bitch as a breeding prospect if she panics easily.

Freedom from hereditary diseases

wThere is increasing awareness of breed-specific hereditary traits and many breeds now require certain health checks before breeding. By the time you reach this stage, you should be fully aware of the problems the respective breed may have and which tests are required prior to breeding. I am happy to give you a list of any hereditary traits we are aware of with your specific breed once you are registered with me.

Breed Standard

wAs well as exhibiting special traits of the lines concerned, the brood bitch should descend from very good specimens of the breed and should not depart by any significant degree from the breed standard.

Inheritability

wThe ability of the bitch to pass on desirable features to her offspring.

wYou should spare no expense when buying a new brood bitch as she will prove her worth time and time again. Remember that she has much more influence on her puppies than just the contribution to their genetic make-up.

Three schemes created in collaboration with the Kennel Club (KC) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) aim to control the incidence of hereditary diseases such as eye conditions, hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia in pedigree dogs. There are also several health schemes that include DNA testing. Where they exist, it is strongly recommended that the potential sire and dam are screened before breeding is undertaken. Other schemes have been adopted by certain breed societies to monitor the level of specific diseases. The Kennel Club may not register a litter of pups born to a bitch of she: Was under a year old at the date of mating Had already reached 8 years of age at the time of whelping Has whelped more than 6 litters The Kennel Club will lift the second restriction if she has previously successfully whelped at least one other litter of registered pups and there is veterinary evidence that she is in good health and a suitable candidate to whelp another litter.

wYou should never be tempted to breed from an immature bitch. Age of maturity differs between breeds and some breed clubs have introduced 'codes of ethics' with the minimum age set down for breeding from your bitch. It is vital that she is allowed to mature both physically and mentally so that she will have the confidence to cope with her own litter.

wThe bitch should be kept in the peak of condition during her pregnancy and also prior to mating. She should be up to date with her vaccinations before mating and she must also have been wormed regularly.

wSome stud dog owners require all visiting bitches to be swabbed as a precaution against any foreign bacteria or infections before they will use their dog. In the UK, but not other countries, there are no bacterial venereal pathogens in dogs and therefore routine swabbing for bacteria of the prepuce or vagina is a waste of time and money.

The Stud Dog

wIn a similiar way to the brood bitch, whatever the breed you have chosen, the stud dog should satisfy some criteria before he is said to be suitable to pass his genes onto future generations.

wHe must be sexually mature, have both testicles and be in good health both physically and mentally.

wIt is unwise to use a young male before he has developed his adult characteristics as he may depart from the breed standard as he matures. Some hereditary characteristics such as hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy, are not always obvious until the dog is well into middle or old age.

wThe older the dog is and the more bitches he has covered; the smaller the chance of him producing an 'affected' puppy if he hasn't already done so.

wThe choice of stud dog should result from exhaustive research and as a breeder you should be aware that no dog is suitable for every bitch.

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