after reading the recent thread on puppy farming and back yard breeders, i jus have a question.
Why is it that vets promote breeding when u bring ur puppy to the vet?  i have a female sbt and when she went for her first checkup they asked if i was gonna breed from her, and also alot of people have been told by vets that it is for the bitches well being to breed from her just once.
Does this mean that vets are uneducated about breeding and are telling Joe Bloggs to breed from his bitch even if he doesnt know the first thing about it. I personally think this is irresponsible advice because this is where ur backyard breeders come in and jus breed their bitch to their neighbours dog regardless of health issues and temprement.
does anyone else agree?  Even my dad, who when i was little bred from our CKCS says u should breed at least once. I have never actually asked him if he knew exactly what he was doing

I would not have thought it was common behaviour in over 20 years of owning dogs I have never had any of the vets I have seen say anything to me about breeding my bitches without me asking them or indeed anything about neutering which is far more commonly complained about :)
Anyway, perhaps if you had replied yes, I do plan to breed they would have gone on to say why you shouldn't :) I'm sure not many vets these days would believe in the old wives tale about every bitch should have a litter.

Hi Jenny, I agree with you completely. If that is what Vets are saying to anybody and everybody, then I too think it very irresponsible advice.

The thing about Vets is, they are usually fine with advice when your animal if sick, but I would not ever ask a Vets advice on the suitability of a bitch for breeding. The vets advice could only be based upon the bitches general health, and I know that there is much more to be taken into consideration. So in that instance, my experience and knowledge is superior to the Vets. I know of one or two Vets that breed dogs, and their advice may be better than most, but breed specific details are likely to be a mystery to most Vets.

Bitches do NOT need to have a litter for the sake of their health or wellbeing.

Dawn R.

But have you ever had a vet suggest to you that you ought to breed your bitch Dawn?  I think most vets will be aware of the KC/BVA schemes at the very least.

I have never known of any vet to encourage irresponsible breeding of bitches!!..I'm sure it must be the case that he/she would have gone on to explain the pitfalls and risks involved. Certainly at my vets they do not condone "just wanted her to have one litter" breeders. Contrary to popular belief some vets do have a conscience and don't spend all day trying to sell Science Plan and perform unnecessary operations :)

Angela

Its not just a conscience I think vets are a lot more knowledgable about breeding than people give them credit for.  Most vets will have several breeders within their practice both good and bad and I think they would have to rather gormless if they did not notice the diffence between the quality of the puppies in terms of health and temperament.  If they are in mixed practice they will also have their experience of working with farmers where carefull breeding, genetics etc. are important in obtaining the best quality stock all in all their experience may be much more extensive than one breeder breeding perhaps a dozen litter in their show career.

Well put Isabel - I couldn't agree more :)

Angela

Jenny,

I've never had a vet suggest to either me or anyone I know that they should a bitch should be bred.   Vets may have asked if someone is going to breed from their bitch, but that is only to offer advice re a.) breeding b.) how not to end of with an unplanned litter or, c.) spaying.

I do not believe it is true today that most vets advise bitches should be bred once .. or ever.

Stacey

I think breeding/whelping issues are one of the things most vets seem to know plenty about. (Sadly, in some cases, one of the few things), but I wouldn't breed if I didn't think I had a vet I could rely on if something were to go wrong during the whelping.  

In my experience the "must have one litter" thing is an old wives tale, I have certainly never heard it from a Vey!  Inh fact most vets round here are doing a very hard sell on speying as early as possible.  Some are ven making the appointment routinely after the 2nd vaccination, conveying the idea to the puppy owner that is it as routine and necessary as vaccination.
bye
Gwen