hi i wonder if anyone could help me.

my bitch came into season approx 1 1/2 weeks ago. I have a her and a dog. They have breed together 5 times since friday. I think this is to much but i have been unable to stop them in time. She's still standing for him and is still teasing him. Ive read up a few things and have read some where that the 1st part of their season is 8-14days and after that they will then be ready. It has only been 9days since she started bleeding, im just a bit worried that maybe she is not at the time she is ready yet but i dont want them to keep breeding too much as im worried this may be harmful to her. She is still bleeding slightly just a few drops here and there, shes not bleeding as much as she was about a week ago. Could some one please give me some advice on what they think is the right thing to do.

Thanks

To be blunt the right thing to do is not to breed until you have the required knowledge and experience.

Generally speaking it is rare that a breeder will own the best pair to put together so it is more usual to travel to an experienced stud and stud dog handler.

Have the stud and bitch had all the required health tests and proven their worth for breeding in some sphere, be it show or work.

Also a novice breeder should have an experienced mentor in their breed who should be able to answer more than just such basic questions, your bitch and her potential litter and the stud dog could be at serious risk of harm if there is no-one with this level of knowledge to help.

You may have missed the start of the season, the bitch could be an early ovulater, the dog may simply not have a clue and as the bitch is allowing him to or he is pestering her to, allowing mating.

the dog may end up expending too much of his energies and have a low sperm count by the time the bitch is ready, the dog or bitch could come to harm if not properly supervised.  it really is very hard to say.

my stud is a proven stud. He has breed plenty of times. I dont understand what you mean by have they proven their worth in some sphere???

Also i dont really understand what you mean by: Also a novice breeder should have an experienced mentor in their breed who should be able to answer more than just such basic questions.

I have been around a bitch before while they have had litters and i know how to take care of a litters. Its the bit that comes before that like the whole season thing and how many times to breed etc that i wasnt sure of.

Im kind of new to all this i just wanted some advice not a lecture!

> i have been unable to stop them in time

They shouldn't be allowed to spend any unsupervised time together.  Is this an intentional mating and planned litter? 

Why are you breeding them? Are you wanting a puppy for yourself? Soundl like you need to question your reasons really.

OK.

Would you be Happy to embark on a pregnancy without expert help?

That is what I meant.  Though I am sure many girls get pregnant without understanding their bodies workings it is hardly the way ti should be done and breeding is similar.

Both are huge responsibilities.

Reading the first posts in the breeding section may explain what is meant.

Anyone breeding should be doing so for some valid reason, mainly to improve the breed, hence proving themselves as good examples of their breed judged by their adherence to the breed standard as judged at shows, or proven their working ability.

An experienced mentor is a senior person in your breed who has bred outstanding examples of your breed, knows the dogs in the pedigrees well, their faults and virtues, what they passed onto their offspring etc.

Health testing is Hip Scoring, Eye testing, DNA testing etc as appropriate for the breed.

I fail to understand how you could not know the basics of seasons if you have whelped bitches before, but bitches and breeds can vary as to when they are usually ready for mating, and your breed mentors would advise what is most common in your breed and lines.

For example in my experience my own line of bitches are usually ready later than earlier and tend to bleed right through, but in general bitches flow reduces and becomes straw coloured when they are ready.

yes it is an intentional meeting and planned litter. Ive tried to keep my eye on them as much as possible. Ive been told that they should breed 2-3 times. I dont know whether this is true i was only going to let them do it three times. But the last two i tried to seperate them but it was too late. The bitch is still teasing him, i just wanted to know whether or not she is in the right time to be mating and how many times people would advise is the best? As i say i have been reading alot about it and have found that 2-3 is about right. But i dont want to run the risk of her not being pregnant if shes not in the right stage to concieve.

yes i intend to keep a puppy and i am breeding them as i would like my bitch to have a litter she is coming up to 2years old and felt like it would be a good time for her to have pups.

brainless.... Thanks for your advise, i knew all dogs and breeds are different i just wondered whether there was a general kind of time scale.

Both bitch and dog are health checked and dog has a strong line of champs in his generations. Unfortunatly i dont have contact with any mentors, if i did they would be the 1dt port of call that is why i have asked questions on this site.

When i have whelped bitches before it has just been a helping hand. The bitches i have helped have been family pets and none were kc reg etc so didnt have to know so much info before as my mum has had the litters. Now it is my own dogs i want to do everything right and would like useful advise.

Oh dear :(

Unless your bitch is of a toy breed two years old is generally the youngest a bitch should be bred from, there is certainly no hurry, and sounds like you need to learn a lot more before considering such an important step of creating lives for which you will have lifelong responsibility, and a responsibility in advising and helping the pups new owners.

So has she and the stud been hip scored and had her other health tests?

Has she been successful at shows or working ?

You really need to get mentors first before embarking on breeding.

the best place to start is to join the breed clubs, attend shows and/or working events and meet and befriend experienced people in your breed.

To be honest the best thing you could do to avoid potential disaster/heartbreak is to part the dogs, get the Alizin injection for your bitch and embark on your breeding/breed education before contemplating breeding.

There have been two recent threads where advise has been given re mentors and researching health issues.

I asked the kennel club what age it is ok to breed at. They told me that they could start around 2years old. I did have some advise from them before my bitch came into season.

She is not a working dog, she is a pet. I feel that the puppy side of things i am fairly good with.

The only advise i really wanted was about the times to breed my bitch and stud. And i know your and very well experienced breeder and as i am just getting started i just wanted to clarify some things. As i have tried to find some informationand felt it would be best to speak to some breeders that would know things as it is better coming from them rather than just any info that could be found on the net that may not true.

> i am breeding them as i would like my bitch to have a litter she is coming up to 2years old and felt like it would be a good time for her to have pups

hmm,is this all?
i am the last person to judge someone on the resons for breeding but to be honest if it just a puppy for yourself then id look at buying a puppy rather than breeding them yourself.there are so many puppies and dogs in rescue the kindest thing to do would be to have your bitch speyed and to buy a lovely puppy.
think of all the hard work and worry and sleepless nights you'll save yourself.not to mention the money it costs to raise a litter properly.its hard work from day one of mating and until forever.you should be responsible for the pups you produce throughout their lives.how are you going to give advise to your new puppy owner if your unsure yourself of certain things?

i am in no way critisising but am trying to help you see its no picnic.if you wanna do this then you have come to the right place for advise there are some really really experienced people on here that really know theyre stuff.
however if you have been thinking about breeding your bitch and your serious then my advise to you would be ask questions and get someone who is willing to teach you the best way possible before doing it alone.
its so heartbreaking when things DO NOT go smoothly....ive been there.

Unfortunatly lianne123 I doubt that a definative answer can be given, most breeders have the bitches hormone levels tested before they are mated to get the right day to take her to the stud. 5 times is a bit much usually its 2, 3 being max as most professional studs give 1 mating then a repeat, I would separate them and not let them mate again.

Oh and as others have said do not ever leave them alone to do it as it can turn nasty

Well you are going to have a buisy Xmas!! By my calculations these pups should be due around Xmas week! Hope you have the time and energy to spend with them, why did you not ask these questions before you bred her? I hope you have plenty of funds to cope with life's emergencies, like vets fees for midnight call outs and possible emergency C-sect, on top of your normal Xmas spend's? I also hope you have the relevant health checks in place, Jo public is far more likley to sue if you sell a pup with a hereditory defect these days. Think long and hard about if this is the right time for you and her. I would be interested to know why you "would like " your bitch to have a litter? It is a huge undertaking for your both and needs to be gone into properly. Bitches do not need to have a litter to lead a fullfilling life, contrary to popular belief most wild dogs don't...just the Alfa female.
Have you thought about information packs for your new owners? Is your's a numerous breed? will you be able to find great homes for the pups? how will you cope if you cannot sell them? Can you undertake to take back any pups (Or adults) if the  new owners cannot keep them for any reason? Do you have room for half a dozen boistrous 7 week old pups? Have you help to bring them up and give you some rest?
What if you loose Mum and have to hand rear a litter, could you? Have you thought about the possibility of loosing both Mum and pups? it can happen.
These are questions you should think about now, it's not too late to have her injected and get things sorted for you to breed at a later stage. Please be responcible and think all these questions through before you continue.
Aileen

I hope you have plenty of funds to cope with life's emergencies, like vets fees for midnight call outs and possible emergency C-sect, on top of your normal Xmas spend's?

And is planning to spend a quiet Christmas at home alone with the bitch. No guests, no leaving the house.

hi merlot. i have had to hand rear a litter before so that is no problem for me. And ypu calcuculation are correct they will be due xmas week. I will be getting info packs for the buyers as i feel this is v. important, i have considered alot of asspects to this litter. Space and money is no issue. I have plently of room for them, i will be having help from my mum as she has had many litters herself, she currently has one now. I feel confident enought that i can give and support my bitch in everything she needs i just wantedsome advise on the season and mating thing. I know that 5times is too much but i did try to stop the last two. My stud dog is now at my mother in-laws as i cant risk it happening again.
I am prepared for a c-section, and i know the signs of when the dog is unable to give birth naturally as this has happened to my mums dog before.Thank you for your advice, i know you all may think that i am not capable of having a litter because i was asking a simple question, but it is a question that i had unanswered and thought maybe this would be a good place to come as some one advised me that there is alot of good advise and support on here. but unfortunatly i havent felt as welcomed as i did hope, and feel that i am being some what lectured.  So once again thank you all i will take all of you advice onboard,

The reason you feel you are being lectured is probably beause you are!
There are many of us on this site who put huge time, commitnent and thought into a litter, we breed for improvement of out chosen breeds and with that in mind we health check, show/work or what ever to ensure our pups have the best start. We see all the time people who breed for the sake of and for thier own gain no the  interest of the breed. We see so many BYB who just have a litter "For the money" or loving pet owners who do it "for the bitch" or "for fun!" Just by your statement such as " Have helped my Mum with her litters who are Not KC reg just pet's" and "Mum has a litter now" give the impression rightly or wrongly of BYB. Very few great breeders have one dog and one bitch who are compatable in all ways but choose to scour the country for the best combination for the betterment of the breed and only breed a litter if we think it will give something to ther breed.
So I am sorry if I come over a little harsh but (And I do not know your breed so it's not sour grapes) we see all the time BYB's producing sub-standard stock and see our breeds standards fall because of it. We also see to many who churn out litter after litter to a bitch then move on and do the same with the next one in line. Our concerns are not only for our breeds but for the poor bitches who become "Money machines" Does your Mum have the same breed? if so I hope you are not flooding your local area with pups. Remember the ressession is hitting hard and pups are not selling so well. I have a waiting list for my pups (when I have some) from all over the counrty, I show and am active in my breed clubs and have tried hard to be responcible so am lucky to have no shortage of good homes waiting for me to breed, and I am not planning any litters in the foreseeable future.
Tread carefully and please don't join the ranks of BYB's you are showing that you care by asking the right questions so please listen to the answers and do it reigh from the start. That way you will get a good name and have a long and happy time with your breed.
Aileen

On reading this if your Mum has a litter at the moment and as you say has had litters in the past, why arent you asking her these questions?

> On reading this if your Mum has a litter at the moment and as you say has had litters in the past, why arent you asking her these questions?

Thats what i thought too! 

To the OP (if this is genuine) the dog's sperm stays active inside the female's for 48 hours, so there would be no need to mate them again.

i will be having help from my mum as she has had many litters herself, she currently has one now. 

I'm confused, your mother has bred many pet litters and even has one now, I don't agree with this type of breeding for many reasons, but surely if your mother has bred many many litters is she not your mentor, can she not answer these simple questions seeing that she has done this many, many times.........Oh boy!