Hello! I've just joined the board as I'm hoping to breed from my bitch. I've never done it before, and I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good books to read on dog breeding?

Admin: breed removed

The Book of The Bitch is a must have when first venturing into breeding.

Also, go back to the breeder of your bitch, they should be able to help you along the way with regards to health tests that need to be done BEFORE even thinking of breeding and also they should be able to point you in the right direction as to finding a compatible stud dog.

It's not an easy task breeding, so good luck.

Unfortunately, the kennels where I bought my girl from are in Essex, and I'm now in Scotland! I will definitely get a copy of "The Book Of The Bitch". I do have a dog breeding book, but it was written in 1980, and while it does contain a lot of information, I'd rather have something more current.

Your breeder can still help by phone or email. :D

I agree, I think you need to speak to someone well respected within in the breed (preferably your breeder) to access  the quality of your bitch. I did this, and if I had been told no I wouldn't be doing it. You also need to speak to your breeder as she will know whats in your bitches breeding better than anyone else.
I'm embarking on my first litter, my bitch missed the first time, it isn't for the faint hearted, it's an emotional rollercoaster!!

It certainly is, my bitch had to have an emergency spay last week at 5 weeks in whelp. The pups had died in the uterus and caused and infection, that had to be treated by spaying. She's doing fine now, but I could have lost her. It's important to know that having a litter is the most dangerous thing you can ask your bitch to do for you.

Dawn R.

If your breeder is the one whose affix you've used for your Champdogs name, I'm sure she will be only to pleased to hear from you & advise you about suitable stud dogs etc. She has years of experience & will know which lines will go best with her breeding & which to avoid ;-)

Jane

She is. I remember when I bought the pup, she was asking if I wanted to breed from her.

Remember you will need to get the necessary health checks done, eye testing/hips under the BVA/KC scheme minimum :-)
Sorry to hear about your girl Nursery :-((

The distance shouldn't matter after all they are at the end of the phone I imagine.

My mentors (my bitches breeder and the owner of her sire) lived in Yorkshire and Northamapton and I am in Bristol.

You need a lot of knowledge to breed properly about al the dogs in the pedigree of your bitch and those in any potential sire.

Just starting you obviously won;t know more than their names, maybe seen their pictures and known how they did at shows or in the working field.

Your breeder and the owner of the sire will have known many of these dogs inperson.  Known their characters, good and more importantly bad points.

All this is vital in determining if the dog and bitch will make a compatible match to produce quality healthy and typical pups.

Without this knowledge you will be in the dark and not able to make informed decisions.

You should also start attending shows, breed specific and general championship ones to see the dogs that are there.  Note which ones sire the type that you like and that places consistently (not necesarily winning), see whether the Mums have similar breeding to yoru girls.

To aid further research join the breed club or clubs and ask to purchase back Issues of the yearbooks, for at least 10 years but preferably 15 or 20 years.  The breeders adverts and pictures of the dogs will allow you to do pedigree research and follow how breeders lines have developed.  This information with your breeders and maybe the owner of your bitches sire's knowledgeable advice will be invaluable.

You should also get your bitch independatnly and honestly assessed as to her faults and virtues and whether she is of breeding quality.  the best way to do this is to get her shown under breed specialists or at least looked at by more than one person that judges the breed.

She should also have all breed specific health tests that are used to scren dogs to reduce the chances of hereditary disease.  Your bitch should be Hip Scored and eye tested at least.  Your vet can take the x-rya and send it off for the BVA panel to score, but you will need to see a specialist vet on teh BVA eye panel to do the eye test.

A good show for you to attend would be the Scottish Kennel Club at Ingliston, Edinburgh. Gundog day is Sunday 28th August 2005.

Thank you so much, everyone! I'm going to call the breeder today.

Hi CardamineBlue my cocker spaniel girl's stud is from this kennel in Essex and when we decided to breed her we discussed things with the lady who bred her and I telephoned the Essex kennel and the lady there was very helpful and we sorted out a lovely suitable stud from there and had three lovely pups one of which we kept, so don't hesitate to ring the lady there as she is very helpful. 

I rang her, and she was very helpful - she told me the best kennel in Scotland to look for a compatible stud. The lady in that kennel has also been very helpful.

I know the kennel in Scotland (I'm in central scotland) it's also where my bitch is from and also the stud dog I used. A very well respected breeder indeed ;-) As I said in my other post you need to get all the relevant health checks.