I would value your opinions & comments. After much heart searching & researching, I found the perfect mate for my girl. The litter was born in November 2004, one stillborn girl, one boy with a cleft palatte (sadly PTS) & one beautiful, bossy, boy. In my breed, you would probably expect a litter of 6/7. I am "considering" trying again, in 2006 but it was all so hearbreaking, loosing babies. that I'm just not sure. Do you think it would be foolish to use the same stud? Is it just a fluke? Thankyou.

Why blame the stud?  Does the dam have no input?

Tohme is right.  THe dam could be to blame.  It is worth thinking about before breeding again!  As I'm not a breeder I wouldn't be able to advise you on the rights and wrongs but there are plenty of people who breed very successful on this forum.

The combination of this particular stud and your girl may look good on paper but it maybe hasn't gelled quiet so well in reality.  If you do decide to mate your bitch again I would definitely use a different stud dog.

I've had this happen in cats and have always been told to never repeat such a mating as it could simply have been the combination that didn't work. Having said that, problems like these (cleft palates etc) CAN also be caused by something happening during the early stages of pregnancy so it may not have bene genetic at all. Sometimes we just don't know but I'd say it would be a lot safer to use a different stud.

Marianne

I'd use another stud as well if you want to take the risk.  If the same problems occur then you know that the problem is from your bitches side and not to use her again.  I do feel that sometimes, like us, some dogs aren't compatible.  I know that I had a wonderful litter with a dog of mine a number of years ago but her second litter with another male wasn't so good.