Stud dog / breeding query

laurz

OP if it's something you really want to do research it carefully off proper sites. forums are good for hints and tips but people can be very prejudicial!

my !!!!! aged 3.5 years is off to stud this month in return for pick of the litter (her 1st litter). in your situation, for me, the biggest factor would be age and finding good active homes.

i volunteer at a rescue. the lady handles the rescue and her husband (carefully) breeds and trains his own dogs who all go on to be search dogs, mostly in other countrys. he runs seminars on dog nutrition and behaviour throughout the world. even they support my decision to breed my girl. who is a working lab and if she takes to the dog i have at least got 4 working homes waiting. i waited a year and phoned around loads of rescues and i could not find a suitable dog when i was looking 4 or 5 years ago. as i had a 2 yr old boy they said i would need a dog under 6 months and nothing suitable came up with in a 100 mile radius. also my dads a gamekeeper so i'm well aware of what i'm getting into.

as for KC i'm not an advocate.......look at why the bbc stopped showing crufts.

Tropez

laurz wrote: »

as for KC i'm not an advocate.......look at why the bbc stopped showing crufts.

I agree the Kennel Club is not without its faults. However, for finding a list of breeders in a given area it provides just about the most comprehensive resource.

Person_one

Tropez wrote: »

I agree the Kennel Club is not without its faults. However, for finding a list of breeders in a given area it provides just about the most comprehensive resource.

Non profit making breed clubs?

Tropez

Person_one wrote: »

Non profit making breed clubs?

Most breed clubs that I have encountered are either affiliated with the Kennel Club anyway and as such use the KC's register, or they do not hold an easily accessible list of breeders.

I'm sure that there are some clubs out there who hold their own register but I would still imagine that in terms of being comprehensive it is difficult to beat the KC. It is also worth remembering that despite the complaints against the KC, there are certain standards breeders are supposed to adhere to and KC certification still, rightly or wrongly, affects the value of a puppy. Sadly, it can even affect whether people are willing to buy a puppy in some areas. There are still folk out there who stick to the rule of no KC certificate = no sale.

lostinrates

Also, while I would very strongly agree that some breeds, though gorgeous are also not really ethical to perpetuate or exagerrate the problems, not all breeds are. (I also know a GS breeder who gave up years ago...but went into a nother ''healthier'' breed where the fashio was not for the extreme stance and slope). One of my breeds has had a health problem (stemming from one prolific sire with an excellent record and as close to the breed standard as possible). However, the breeders took it on the chin and bred out that otherwise wonderful line. That breed has a VERY active fundraising for other problems which crop up but are not breed specific...and fund research that helps vets treating the problem in all breeds and mixed breeds. The breeds with a ''healthy'' attitude from all groups answer to the KC the same way as less defendable breeds and breeds who have perhaps become...fashion led....and are limited by that.

lisawood78

We had a resuce Collie when I was a child. It was victim of being abandoned as an unwanted litter (couldn't give them away)
My parents we naive when it came to dog breeds then, and thought ahh cute puppy. They didn't realise quite how intelligent this type of dog is and how they need to be stimulated and worked (for fun if not actually worked) to keep boredom and mischief at bay.
Don't get me wrong, he was walked and played with and loved but it wasn't enough.
At a year old he vaulted the garden fence and attacked the Setter next door, he also bit the setters owner.
My parents were devastated and had the dog put to sleep. The neighbours didn't request this but my parents thought it best as he had become a snarling wreck.

It was a horrifying experience and my parents researched heavily before getting another dog. They made a big mistake and the dog paid for that error, as did the neighbours at the time.

There are so so many dogs in rescue, puppies, older dogs, all breeds etc. I see no need to breed anymore, especially when all you have to go on is a few friends who've said ahhh, wouldn't that be cute.
Sorry, I know that isn't what you came here to ask but I'd tell anyone who is thinking of breeding from their pet on a whim, to think hard, many many times over.

Gingham_R

Tropez wrote: »

I agree the Kennel Club is not without its faults. However, for finding a list of breeders in a given area it provides just about the most comprehensive resource.

I'd argue that Champdogs is much better.

Tropez

Gingham_R wrote: »

I'd argue that Champdogs is much better.

Possibly. Maybe it depends on the breed? I just searched for Whippet breeders in my area and the closest breeder it came up with was 27 miles away.

There's at least five, that I know of, in a smaller radius than that.

But nonetheless, it is all extra info for the OP which could be of benefit to them so it should be worth using as a resource.

D&DD

Gingham thanks for posting that youtube vid I hadn't seen that..shocking stuff

I haven't read up much about what happened with the kennel club and crufts,I do know however there are many shar pei breeders who are now breeding out the over wrinkled types and reverting back to the original 'type' for health reasons there is also a new test being devised for shar pei fever so people can see which lines are affected.
Hopefully this will mean healthier animals in the future but sadly some breeders will still continue to breed when they know their lines are not healthy.

Breeding is a tricky subject isn't it!

laurz

TBH i worked in the vets for years and i think if i was looking for a specific breed i would ask at the vets or ask local rescue centres if they know of any rather than doing a generic search on KC register. alot of breeders are in contact with our rescue shelter, they sometimes offer a more 1 to 1 behaviour help for problem dogs or specific breed issues.