I have 2 golden retrievers that I would like to breed with. A judge has looked over them and seen their test results and has advised that she would be happy to breed them, so far so good. The bitch came into season, stood for the dog but he couldn't seem to get anywhere. We can't get near because if we move towards them he gets off and moves away. They are both first timers and I was hoping someone might have some advice to help for when she is in season again.

Is there a reason that you feel you should breed from your dogs ? Is the judge who examined them a Championship Show judge of the breed or an experienced Field Trial person.  Did this person look at the pedigrees of your dogs ?

IMHO only the very best of dogs should be bred from, those that are really top quality examples of the breed either judged against the breed standard or against the best of workers in the breed.

Do you not have the breeder(s)of your dogs support & expertize to fall back on ?

Puzzled why you would want to breed your dog to your own bitch but it is not a good idea to try to breed from two maidens. It is also not that unusual for a dog to refuse to breed with a bitch they live with - it is far better to show or work you bitch and then go to the best stud for her. Talk to the bitches breeder and find out what lines they think would be best for her and then have a look at the available experienced studs, you also need to check if the breeder is able to mentor you and if they will lift any breeding endorsements.

Yes it is a Championship Show Judge and yes she has seen the dogs, pedigrees, all paperwork etc. This is not a decision we entered into without a great deal of thought and research in buying two dogs we thought would go together well. And yes my breeder is happy to offer advice and support but silly me, I thought it would help to get other views

If you look above Nova did offer advice -which is the advice that most experienced people would give. Not a good idea to use two maidens, not a good idea to use your own dog. You may simply not get a mating.

I would suggest that you find someone you is experienced in handling stud dogs as you are so set on breeding from your dogs. I'm surprised that you haven't shown or worked them before decide=ing to breed from them

Hello Diane and welcome to the forum.

You have made the right decision in coming to Champdogs for advice. There is a wealth of experience here and you will learn much from breeders and dog owners who can share their wisdom on a broad spectrum of dog related issues.
Good for you that you have done all the necessary health screening before considering breeding from your dogs. In Golden Retrievers this should include DNA testing for PRA  -two variants of this have been identified and as they are most prevalent in the breed in UK and Europe -and I believe in USA ,this test really should be done. This is not the moment to explain the genetics of this condition but the Animal Health Trust will advise you and provide the testing kits. Well done also for enlisting the help and advice of someone experienced in the breed.

I do not advise using your own boy at the first time of mating your girl . It would be far better to use a quality experienced stud . Not all dogs are instinctively proficient in the mating process. Indeed, one experienced stud dog owner once said to me 'if it was as difficult as this in humans, the species would die out ' .

Do you have a mentor within the breed ? This will prove invaluable ,especially at the time of whelping. All breeders have to start somewhere and if that somewhere is well supported that is a huge advantage. Furthermore, the owner of a good stud will be able to assist in finding the best possible homes for the pups and indeed may have a waiting list for pups sired by him.

As regards your own boy, how about doing gundog training with him ? I'm sure he is a lovely boy but working tests are great fun and you may well 'get the bug' and take him up to field trial level. You will most certainly meet some kindred  spirits and useful contacts within the breed. The show ring is not for everyone and certainly in my breeds has been responsible for some unwelcome exaggerations of type with little genetic diversity amongst them.

I hope this is helpful. Most of the advice here is well intentioned even though it is not always what what the poster wishes to hear.

Well Diana, I was trying to be helpful but we don't know what you know or why you think it a good idea to breed from your dogs. You say you bought them to breed so I would assume you researched their backgrounds and took time to see what the produce of the various lines produced particularly the two lines you have when crossed together.

This being the case I can't understand why you did not continue and prove the quality of both dog and bitch by working or showing.

My advice would be to:
Show both and hope to be consistently placed. Or use for work.

Check on what the parents and siblings of both dogs are producing, do their pups have quality and type - are they winning or doing well in trials.

Once you have assured yourself that pups born to your bitch would have something to offer the breed and therefore it will be worth all the expense and work involved along with the possible risk to your bitch and you have done all the needed tests required by your breed club then off you go to find a suitable stud for your bitch and hope someone wishes to use your dog.

If that all works out then at a time in the future you may find you can and should mate your own dog to your own bitch but be warned it may never happen it is nearly always best to go to an outside stud and it is wise not to use the same dog and bitch at more than one mating it needs a really successful litter before you even think of repeating.

Sorry Diane, just noticed that you say the breeder has offered help and advice. Good !