Hi,

We have a male boxer who has just turned 2 in August 2004. We are looking into breeding and would like to know how we would go about finding a suitable bitch for him. Also, regarding health checks etc, what will need to be done before he is allowed to start. I really know very little and would appreciate any feedback at all.

Email: lauraleannebennett@btinternet.com

Many thanks,
Laura Bennett, Manchester

Please read the post at the very top of the 'Breeding' forum. It is titled "Should I offer my pet dog at stud".

Allow me click here guest

Thank you Jackie - links are a bit beyond me :-)

Now don't be modest, I'm sure they are not, :) bet your just too lazy ;) or may be busy :D

Lazy!....Me!!

As soon as I have got my husband to move my armchair around so that the sun doesn't shine on the screen of the laptop, and I have got my cushions nice and plumped up, and he has fetched me a G&T, I shall inform you of just what a hectic life I lead :-)

Now I did suggest busy :D

I would genuinely love to know what motivates these people with their constant questions about breeding. 

I adore my golden and know he is a perfect example of the breed :)  However, I would NEVER dream of breeding from him.  I genuinely cant see why the average pet owner would want to, unless they think it is a nice money maker.

Hi Tim,

I agree with your points ,however how do you know your Golden is a *perfect *example of the breed the perfect dog is still yet to be born,The only to be sure that you have a nice example is to show him under lots of different judges to get their experience opinion its no good just your own breeder saying hes nice :-)

However if you do show and he done well then thats good,.
I suppose as well we are different and it depends what you think is nice/good example of the breed is and what everyone else thinks.
I think I have a promising puppy however until he in the showring until hes fully mature then I can see whether other judges think he a good example of his breed.
So far 3 of My Goldies have done very well in the showring but they are not perfect.

Regards Alison :-)

Sorry, what I meant was he is 'perfect' to me :)

I agree with you, i am sure he has faults, but to me he is perfect.  But i would still never dream of breeding from him.

When I chose him the owner was choosing the pick of the litter and I was warned I might have to take my second choice.  Dillon was rejected as pick of the litter because his tail was too long apparently :)

Hi Tim,

I thought thats what you meant,but it shows the poster perhaps to her dog and get people opinions of her dog before even thinking about breeding :-)
Wassn't a dig at you promise :-)

Briony :-)

Used to think that if a dog/bitch did well in the show ring they were suitable to breed from, but have changed my mind of late and think that not only do the dogs/bitches need to do well in the show ring/field but you have to know deep down that your animal is suitable to breed from, and to know that, I think you need to understand the breed and what is required to add to and/or improve the gene pool. Difficult thing to explain but I do not think that any of my dogs are suitable material to improve the gene pool and I will not therefore be breeding from them unless someone with greater knowledge of the breed can persuade me otherwise.

You are right Jackie. Such things as temperament can so easily be disguised by training is just one example. Many years ago a large number of dogs working in obedience had temperaments not to be desired. The Obedience council in an effort to improve the dogs in the ring brought out, as part of the S2 regulations, a temperament test. In reality all it did was give one more thing for handlers to train for. Even geometry can be masked in a lot of breeds by judicious trimming!

Regards, John