hi i want to breed my golden labrador but dont know how to start going about it.for example do i mate her with golden or can i breed her with black.?im also not sure how many seasons she is ment to have a year and how do i know when they will come?she is slightly over weight so would this still be ok for her to have a litter?

Your best bet is to buy a copy of "The Book of the Bitch" will is chock-full of essential information for any bitch owner. Also a few books about the breed would be invaluable too - no research is ever wasted. No offence meant, but I suspect you may not know a great deal about the breed, or you wouldn't call her 'golden' - there's no such thing as a golden labrador! They come in three colours, black, yellow and chocolate.

Basically, your bitch will need to have a satisfactory hip-score and a current clear eye certificate from a qualified ophthamologist. She will need to be between 2 and 4 years old for her first litter.

Remember there are over 45,000 labradors born each year, and there aren't that many suitable homes available, so think long and hard before you add to the numbers.

Hi Guest, I realise that you have to start somewhere, but these are very very basic questions. So can I suggest that you get yourself some books about the Labrador in particular, and in addition a copy of The Book of the Bitch. You should also take your bitch back to see her breeder (if indeed this person is a reputable breeder with years of experience) and ask if this bitch is suitable for breeding. Being overweight is indeed a problem and you should get that excess weight off her long before any litter is conceived.

Please do spend time learning about your breed, that can't be done in a few spare moments on a web site, it takes years of absorbing. There is no short cut to experience.

Dawn R.

How old is your bitch ? - if you have had her some time you will already know the answer to one of your questions " how often does she come in season ?". If she has not had her first season yet then she is MUCH too young to be bred from. The book of the bitch will give you lots of information but truly nothing can prepare you for the sheer hard slog that raising a litter of pups entails ( and the worry and heartache that goes with it if things go wrong ).

It is good that you are seeking information before breeding :D but do think very hard about the responsibility you will be taking on.

Yvonne

Do bear in mind that you can breed from your bitch and lose the puppies due to various problems such as fading puppy or like a member here recently who lost their bitch and the puppies. It is not as uncommon as you'd think.

the fact that you do not even know the correct colour of your labrador retriever is a sign that you do not know enough about your breed to even consider becoming a breeder!!!!!!!