hi
i would like to breed my dalmation
she has passed all the necessary tests.  what i need to know is since it is our first time doing such a thing (every breeder has had to start somewhere) exactly how do i go about doing this.  what do i need?  where are the best stud dogs,
she is 2 and is due in season soon.
any help is greatly appreciated
thanx

Hello Guest

As you say, all breeders have to start somewhere, and that's where you should start - with the breeder of your bitch!   Get her advice - if she is a good specimen of the breed, and has successful scores in all health tests - those that are mandatory to the breed, as laid out by the Breed Society, your breeder will be able to put you in the direction of the stud best suited to your bitch.

Also, get a copy of Book of the Bitch - necessary bedtime reading for would-be breeders, be prepared to book holidays for two weeks after your girl whelps, make sure that your bank balance is healthy enough to cover possible vet's bills (pregnancy and complications of pregnancy/birth won't be covered by your pet insurance), and the voracious appetite of a nursing mum and up to 10 or 12 healthy puppies.   Make sure you can be strong enough emotionally not to be too upset if you lose one or more of the puppies through cleft palate, hopefully your bitch will sail through without requiring a ceasarian - most bitches do, although some bitches can die, leaving you to hand-rear a litter of puppies.    Be prepared to grill every potential buyer of your precious puppies to ensure that they will go to only the best of homes - then be prepared to take back (at any age) any of the puppies that the new owners cannot cope with.

Can you cope with all this?   If so, and your bitch HAS passed all the breed tests - then good luck, and welcome to the heart-warming, heart breaking, bank-balance raiding joy of raising a litter of puppies!

Margot

All good advise Lokis Mum but surely you need to book more than 2 weeks off work when raising a litter. I'm not sure how anyone raises a litter while working but I know I don't leave the house for anything more that short periods from about a week before welping to the day they go.  How do working people manage weaning, socialising, coping with poorly ones, coping with the ones that don't go at 8 weeks for one reason or another, coping with the puppy they are keeping, etc? What about youngsters in the midst of their juvenile wildness that are returned?

Sorry Isabel - you are of course correct - I was thinking of my own family arrangements, which means that THREE of us each have had 2 weeks off when raising a litter - which explains which we've only had 2 litters in the past 8 years!

Margot

Margot, I would not trust my husband to do more that play with the pups! :)

Hi

I was just about to query the 2 weeks off work comment ( I have heard this before) - you will need someone around until the pups are ready to leave for their new homes plus I never leave my bitches for the last week of pregnancy so that makes a total of 9/10 weeks not 2 :-o.

I do work but am able to take large blocks of time off ( work abroad for 2 months then home for two months) - also my wife teaches and gets 6 weeks off every Summer so between us we manage to cover this period but it must be VERY difficult otherwise.

What particular characteristics do you want to accentuate or bring forward? Is there something about you bitch you would like to improve? Do you intend to line breed or are you looking for an outcross which has the desired characteristics? If the answer to this last question is that you want to line breed what dog or dogs on around the third line on your pedigree has the desired characteristics? Do you know the health tests carried out on that dog, are they clear? Are there any temperament aspects which you would not want to bring forward which are present in that dog or any of its ancestors?

These are the kind of questions you should be asking yourself and finding the answers to if it's your intention to be a responsible breeder.

Regards, John

I really think you should learn to spell the name of your breed first - its a real pet hate of mine.

Guests looking for breeding advice in general seem to be a real pet hate of yours ChloeH :D

I am with Chloe on that, it is a pet hate of mine too. 

You would think if the 'guest' has done her homework, read the books and done the 'relevant heath tests' she would at least know how to spell the breed.

Sandra

Members making sweeping statements about my posting are another pet hate Ramsco :D If you take a look back I actually offer advice where I think its appropriate - and my advice here is learn how to spell dalmatian - particularly if contacting reputable breeders by email - not a good start.

I'm sure you would react if I started calling you Ramsocks?