We have 2 cocker spaniel puppies a boy and a girl. They are both KC registered and we have realised that the boys father is the girls grandfather even though we bought them from different breeders. Does any one know if it will still be ok for us to breed them when they are older or should we use a different stud dog because of their family connection? Also how old does the bitch have to be before we can mate her. Obviously nearer the time i would find out more about breeding but i just wondered if anyone knew as an after thought.

The relationship in itself is not a problem it is what lies behind the dogs breeding. The best thing would be to ask the advice of the bitches breeder and also that of the dog. If they say no then they will be able to tell you why, if they are responsible breders and they say yes then you should have confidence to go ahead and breed your two. Jackie

The first question would be, was the dog healthy? Doubling up would in all possibilities mean that the puppies would at least be carriers of any hereditary problems.

Question 2: Do you like that particular dog? The chances are that as it is that close at least some characteristics will follow through.

Question 3: Is there anything else in there which is close from the other side of the pedigree? If so then the same thing applies to that dog as well.

Question 4: Are you prepared for the fact that your dog might get a taste for your bitch which could cause you problems later on?

If you are happy with all your answers then I would say go ahead if you really want to but what I would then say is to try to go for an outcross for the next generation in order to widen the gene pool.

Hope this is of some help to you in helping you to make up your mind. I stress that this is just my opinion for what it is worth and others may well have different views.

Regards, John

And dont take anything for granted. The best laid plans etc....... It might not work!!!!!

Hi, I agree with everything Jackie and John have said, but also remember it is essential to have both of you dogs eyes tested, and to find out the current eye status ( and the status at the time of mating, of course) of both your dogs and bitches parents, as well as the eye status of as many grandparent as possible, but especially the common grandfather.
This being Cockers we are talking about, query temperaments of parents/grandparents, if at all possible. One of the Cocker specialists on the site (are you out there, Jane?) might be able to point you in the right direction is you give her details of your dogs?
Gwen

Hi Liffy

I agree in general with all that's been said. I would always advise caution when mating together two fairly closely related Cockers unless you have the knowledge & experience to know what the dogs in your Cockers' pedigrees are like for health & temperament issues. Experienced show breeders do mate related Cockers together but only when confident that the lines they are doubling up on do not contain any significant problems. Cockers can have 2 hereditary conditions, PRA (an eye condition) & FN (a fatal kidney disease, now thankfully quite rare) Both of these conditions are carried on recessive genes meaning they can be passed on by animals that don't have the disease themselves but carry the gene for the condition - doubling up on particular animals can increase the risk of these recessive genes being passed on which is why it's essential you learn more about the background of the dogs in your Cockers' pedigrees before proceeding with your breeding plan. Ideally, the breeders of your Cockers should be able to help you but it all depends on their experience - some breeders of Cockers (those who breed exclusively for the pet market in particular) may have very little knowledge of pedigrees etc. If your breeders aren't able to help you, then feel free to contact me privately (email address is in my profile) & I'll see what I can do :-) As to when a Cocker bitch should be bred from, my answer would be not before you have researched the whole idea thoroughly & have had her eye-tested (the stud dog should also be eye-tested) & preferably not before she is 2 years old.

Jane