I have a gorgeous 10 month old black lab bitch. Her mother and father's hip score totalled 7 and 6 respectively. I have just started taking her out working. I am not taking her on big shoots but just walk in days at the moment. I go with my father and his 12 year old Black Lab bitch, who is teaching my "Kelly" the ropes. She is very fit and hyper. I have been told to cut down her protein content, so I have. My question is when do I put her to pup for the first time. I have been told that she will slow down alot after her first litter. How often will she come into season??

Can any help??

When she is mature about 2 years. Jh

Mattie, Where are you?

I live in Daventry, Northants.

I would do a search on this forum, click search, and type in breeding and lots of threads will appear.

Breeding should not be undertaken lightly. You need to gain a lot of knowledge, and consider the ethical, financial and time implications.

Having said the aboeve, to answer your first question. Your bitch sould be at least 2 years old before being bred from, and have been hip scored and hold a current eye test certificate.

It is normal preactice to seek the advice of your bitch's breeder, and the owner of her ssire, as they will best know their breeding lines, and the good and bad points of dogs in her pedigree. You should breed with the aim of improving on her weak points, and fixing her good points. To know this you will need to study the breed and take advice from those who know.

For a start an invaluable book for all bitch owners and woulb be breeders is @the book of the bitch'. It costs around £10

Hi stevie boy, your kelly is STILL only a pup dont rush her..... she will slow "down" as she matures & has more training. Having pups out of her just to slow her down might not work BUT this is what pups do & she is at 10 months old still a pup herself give her time , training & lots of patience & love, then when she is older you can think about having pups once she has had all of her health checks.
By the way steve how old are you ?
scatty

Sorry, I must state that I am not thinking of putting her to pup yet. I know she is only a puppy herself, Just to watch her is a dead give away. I am trying to plan the next 12 months or so.

Another question is how often do they come into season.

I am hoping she is in season in about 14-16 months time as the shooting season is finished and the supposedly "warmer dryer weather should be approaching".

My father has had Labrador gundogs for the last 25 years. I have long since flown the nest and "Kelly" is my first dog. I have longed for a Labrador, but waited until my son was 5 years old until I would dream of having one, Two youngsters would have been too much of a handful.

When and how do I go about having "Kelly" tested.

As brainless has said "the book of the bitch" is very good !!!
has kelly had a season so far ??
you would need to have kelly's hips done at the vets when she is between 12-18 months old, the vet xrays them & they are hip scored. The vet should explain all about the hipscore & what it means when you get her done or ask about it next time you are in there. As for the eyes i am affraid i dont know that much about lab's eyes so i wont advise on that in case i am wrong but there are lots of very experianced dog people on this board who i'm sure would be kind enough to give you some advice.
its good that you are thinking about this now as then if/when you have her mated you will have had the time to see if she is a good example, what her working ability is like & most importantly that her health checks & temprament is excellent.
This time would also give you the chance to look into the stud dog, as to whether his health checks are good & his temprament & if he will be a good match for your bitch.
i hope this makes sense
scatty

Hi S/Boy, your vet will take xrays of her hips & then send them, with all her details KC registration no, pedigree name etc, to the BVA where the xrays will be examined by an expert & then given a *hip score* no. This should be below 16 which is the maximum for breeding Labrador dogs. John will be able to tell you of the nearest eye clinic being held to you, when he gets here.
Christine, Spain.

Hi S/Boy, my bitch has never *slowed down* after she had her pups. The phrase used to describe her most often is *she has a lot of personality, doesn`t she?* Very polite! :) But first of all I would suggest you have her hips scored which can only be done after she is turned oneyr old & have her eyes tested by an opthalmologist for any hereditary diseases. If they are OK then get in touch with her breeder to see what they think of breeding from her & what male would match her pedigree. Does she have a pedigree & is she registered with the KC ? As to her seasons, after her first season, she should have them approx. every 6mths but it can vary with every bitch. What you think is gorgeous may differ from what the standard calls for in labs but first she has to pass the health tests & than qualify to be a good specimen of the labrador & then .....etc etc so a long way to go before breeding from her yet & shes only 10mths so still a pup yet & not ready for motherhood but lots of time for you to do some research :)
Christine, Spain.

"In theory" she will come into season for the first time at about 6-8 months old, for three weeks, and at about the same time interval thereafter. However, none of my bitches have been able to read the books, and do their own thing! Dopn't breed from her without having the proper tests done (her parents' hip scores are very promising, though nothing is guaranteed in this life) and not until she has had her second birthday.

She sounds fab! Good luck!

Don't even consider breeding as a means of slowing her down. At 10 months old I would consider it normal for her to be a bit hyper if she’s good working lines. Control is what you want not slowing down and if you work at it that will come. My Anna will be 5 next May and can still retrieve a pheasant from the middle of the next field without slowing down in the slightest but is under control all the way.

Regards, John

Thanks everybody you have given me a lot to think about.
John, I must admit she has slowed down since taking her out with my fathers lab, she is getting on a bit now and paces herself brilliantly.

Stevie Boy