Hi, I need some advice. My tri bitch is in season (her 3rd). I am hoping to breed her, but as this is the first time she will be bred and my first time at breeding I really need some advice. I have the stud dog all arranged, hubby is going to make me a whelping box, I even have a petnap whelping kit!!!! I'm scared, I have been reading quite a lot on the internet about breeding and whelping etc and it seems really daunting. Please help me !!

hope you are ready for your replys ;0 but somthing tells me this is some1 joking right ?????

no I'm not joking..I am serious. I honestly thought this was the place to get some friendly advice, I was wrong obviously. Sorry to have bothered you all!

plz read some of the posts on here about health checks for your dog 1st have you had all the tests done yet ? im sure you know about the the health problems your breed have ?

she has had heart and eye checks and they have come back clear. Her parents and grandparents were also clear. I have asked about an mri scan but was told by my vet that it wasnt really necessary as she is perfectly healthy, (his words not mine).

Has she & Sire had a  MRI for SM??

im not sure on that 1 but some1 will be able to advise more regauding that ,but i will say to you go get the book of the bitch ,i got mine from pets at home it a breeders bible i read and read it again ,even if you dont ever breed this book is worth having as it explains about our girls :)

Not my breed,but you really  should have this test before breeding IMO. I am sure someone with more indepth knowledge of this breed will be along shortly to advise better than I.

Do you have a mentor(s) in the breed? Perferably someone close and experienced since this is your first time breeding.

Some breeds are also prone to alot of genetic health problems. What health test have been done on your girl and the potential sire?

If you don't have a mentor and/or testing hasn't been done then I would hold off on the breeding. Your girl is still young. She's about 1 & 1/2, correct? You have plenty of time to wait until you're fully prepared.

These are the clubs recommendations.  If you knew to ask your vet I am surprised that you have accepted that answer.  What age is your bitch?  The recommendations regarding the heart issues.  Do the parents have clear certificates?

Shes almost 2. Im not in a rush to breed to breed her, but the stud dog is available as and when I am wanting to breed her. He has had heart and eye checks and is clear but not an mri test. I know that Cavaliers have a lot of health problems and I'm more than willing for her to be tested for anything, even if I decide not to breed her, just for my own peace of mind..I appreciate any advice .

Before you consider breeding from your bitch
1. Both her parents should MRI scanned normal for Syringomyelia, eye tested normal & heart tested normal & they should be at least 5 years old(heart & eye tests must have been done within a year of the birth of the litter)
2. Your bitch should be a minimum of 2 1/2 years of age with a current BVA/ISDS/KC eye certificate(which can only be done by a BVA eye panellist) & a current heart certificate from a cardiologist(heart & eye tests must have been done within a year of the birth of the litter)
3.  Ideally there should be no inbreeding in her pedigree. If there is any in breeding in your bitches pedigree it should only be on one side of her pedigree
4. The stud dog you use should be ideally over 5 years of age, certainly not younger than 2 1/2 years, MRI scanned normal for Syringomyelia, with a current BVA/ISDS/KC eye certificate(which can only be done by a BVA eye panellist) & a current heart certificate from a cardiologist(heart & eye tests must have been done within a year of the birth of the litter)
5.His parents should be MRI scanned normal for Syringomyelia, eye tested normal & heart tested normal & they should be at least 5 years old(heart & eye tests must have been done within a year of the birth of the litter)
6. Ideally there should be no inbreeding in his pedigree & also no inbreeding with the dogs with your bitches pedigree & any in breeding on his pedigree should only be on one side
7. Ideally both parents should also be hip scored under the breed mean score & also their parents should also be hip scored under the breed mean.

If any of these is not the case than you should not breed from your bitch.

The fact that your vet believes your bitch does not have syringomyelia is not a sound decision to not MRI scan your bitch. No responsible stud dog owner would allow their dog to mate an un scanned bitch. Your bitch could have asymptomatic Syringomyelia, just as one of my dogs has, the only way to ensure that your bitch doesn't have Syringomyelia is to have her scanned.

Can I ask why you are breeding from your bitch ?

The stud dog is only 2 1/2! Guess I wont be using him after all.....actually after reading all this I dont think I will be breeding her...Im still going to get the mri tests done tho just for peace of mind. She is KC and we are showing her and she has won a few certs, she has a lovely pedigree and this was the only reason for breeding her.

Toffeecrisp, please do not be put off from considering breeding from your dog. As the others have said, there are some basic rules to follow if you wish to do it properly. One, health testing your breeding stock not only protects any future stock that you raise but also protects you in many ways. Others have mentioned other angles to be considered. Breeding any animal for the first time is very daunting, but do not let that put you off. Members of this forum will be only to happy to help and advice you (as some have) on the best way forward. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions that you may have in future, as this is what the forum is inplace for :)

I know this is going to sound pedantic but you 'breed from your bitch', you don't 'breed her', you 'mate her'.     I know, I know but I'm the same about puppies being 'out of' a bitch and 'by' a dog!

Breeding puppies is very daunting.  I can, hand on heart, say I really don't like doing it, hence only 3 (Good quality ;-)) litters in 20+ years.   I find it a time of worry, extremely tiring, and so time consuming.       Its something you have to be committed to do properly, I don't believe in scrimping when rearing pups and feeding the dam.

> we are showing her and she has won a few certs, she has a lovely pedigree and this was the only reason for breeding her

Why not discuss this whole thing with your girl's breeder? Are you a member of one of the breed clubs? They will be able to give you all the advice you need about health testing.

> you don't 'breed her', you 'mate her'

Being equally pedantic, if you are American, you do 'breed your bitch'. :)

>she has a lovely pedigree and this was the only reason for breeding her.

A "lovely"pedigree is one thing, but to find a dog who has a compatible pedigree & have both dogs come within the current breeding guidelines from the researchers isn't an easy thing to do. We've waited 4 years for our new puppy & yes all of the criteria above are met.

Cavaliers sadly are one of the most over bred breeds with around 13,000 puppies being KC reg each year plus the thousands bred that are not KC reg by pet breeders, puppy farms & BYB

Think the poster is UK based though............................

We're H'English here!! ;-)

toffeecrisp I was only nineteen when my husband and I got our first dog. She was a boxer with a brilliant pedigree  and so many people asked me if I was going to breed from her, even at dog shows. I knew then that I would hate to produce puppies that weren't as loved as she was so my answer was always no.

It is only since I've joined CD that I've realised what it takes to be a responsible breeder so I'm so glad that I didn't.

Enjoy your dog for the pet that she is.
 

Thankyou to everyone who has replied to me. Having talked to my hubby and daughter, we have decided that we love pippa to much to see her put through any breeding. Many athsnks again though to everyone.