Hi all I am new to this site.  I am looking for advice on beeding my cross-breed bitch .  she has had her health checks at the vets eyes and hip score.  We tried her 7 months ago but unfortunately she did not fall pregnant.  She has now came into season and we are keen to get her done this time.  Is it better to get a vet appointment and get a blood test done?

Thanks

Just out of interest, why would you be breeding from a crossbreed? Is she an excellent working gundog?

I am also interested, given she is a working dog, what it is you are breeding her with, will it be a pure breed of one that she is carrying or something else in which case you will produce a mongrel litter, no problem with that is there is a good purpose and you have working homes and a list of prospective owners but a brave decision to take and I would love to know your reasons and aims if you would not mind explaining.

Hi she is an excellent working dog and I think you will find that a cross labrador/spaniel is an excellent mix.  We are breeding her with a spaniel who also is an excellent dog and both dogs have had their checks done. 

That is interesting, do shooting people prefer that to starting again with a first cross bearing in mind the importing of health problems and the possible loss of hybrid vigour? What sort of health testing do you undertake? Is a record kept of the ancestral pedigrees and health status?

As far as your first question is concerned I would ask your bitches breeder as they would know the norm for that line and be able to advise you what is normal for her breeding as most of us only have dealing with pure breed and that is how we deal with breeding matters by looking at what has gone before.

I suppose its up to you if you want to test for the levels, we have a boy here who usually tells us when a bitch is ready so we don't need to, I agree asking the breeder you got the dog from they should be able to tell you roughly what day their dog was mated etc etc

thanks for your advise we have her bred 3 times now days 13 and 14) so will just have to wait and see.  Fingers crossed, going to the vets in 3 weeks time just to get confirmation

Good luck with the scan, try not to think about it too much or it will be the longest three weeks of your life. LOL. Trust me, just gone through it. xx

I know, we  are on day 19 and it seems to be going slowly, have just booked a scan for 1st nov as the stud dog owner wishes pregnancy to be confirmed this way...I don't usually scan, but will respect his wishes. I am pretty sure she is as yhis morning we have had a white discharge which happened the last time and nipples are pinking up, so all good signs so far :-)
Good luck tracey, that sounds like we will be whelping around the same time

Oh I know I cant wait just to find out either way.  Will keep you posted.  xx

Sounds like your bitch is pregnant then.... 1st November not too far away.  We are booked in for 8th november.  We are only day 6 so a while to go yet although this morning she will not touch her food so maybe fingers crossed.  Please let me know your outcome of the scan xx

ok Tracy will do :-) the more i look at her the more I know that she is, we are on day 23 now so time is going faster. not that I want to wish time away! Same with you good luck :-)

is she showing any signs then?

her teats have pinked up now and her lady bits haven't gone back to original size, we have had a small amount of discharge and the area underneath her nipples is starting to feel fleshy if that makes sense rather than just skin. oh and forgot she is constantly hunting for food and is now in love with the kitten lol