hi everyone.im researching into breeding my bitch.it wont be for over a year i just want to get my head around it.do i need to take her to the vets before i breed her to have tests?how much is a stud dog?.where do i start!.ive got the book of the bitch and have read it once.can anyone give me some advice.many thanks:rolleyes:

It depends on the breed to which test are required.  You should contact your breed club who will give advice.

"where do i start!"

Welcome to the forum :)

Have you had the chance to read the top thread in this forum yet:

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/89071.html

This would be a good place to start :)

Well the first thing you do it put it to the back of your mind :-)

You then start to show her both at open shows and champshows.  IF she is good enough to be bred from then you have the breeder or a fellow exhibitor mentor you. They will help you with everything :-)

PS you may also want to join the breed club and read and get a good understanding of their code of ethics.

Good luck

surely you would have found out the answer to the title of your post, when you were in the process of actually buying your bitch? How else would you have known she was from correctly bred / health tested parents?

Sam, I am sorry to do this BUT,
People that come on here asking for advice are just that, asking for advice. When I came on here 5 years ago I didnt know half of what I do now about breeding etc, and I used to look after show dogs.
If someone comes on here asking for advice it is more benificial to give them advice, not state what they should have done.
Ok, let them know they way things should be done from now on.
But not tell them what they SHOULD have done.
Giving advice will change some peoples views and help to EDUCATE people.
The way you reply to posts like this will make people go somewhere else to more fluffy forums that will advocate breeding any thing whether breed standard or not.
Please please think about the way you reply, and think about the outcome.
I know you are only trying to protect the dogs, but if I was new on here I would be put off by your replys and go else where as I would not have felt welcome. If people are felt welcome they will listen to advice given..
Original poster, listen to the people on here about health testing/showing etc, believe me they know what they are on about :) :) :)
Lea :)

In that case, perhaps the question to the poster should be to ask if the bitch is from lines that are health tested and have been shown, and what all the results are and how they correspond to the quality of this bitch. What is the reasoning for producing a litter from her? Has she been shown to prove her worth, this sort of thing. Then she needs all the health tests, the breed club will advise what is required, and will help to explain what the results of these tests mean and if it is advisable to breed from her. Of course, the breeder of her bitch should be able to answer all things relevant to the health and testing of her bitches parents, their show results etc etc. but the breed club will give good, solid independant advice.

You are quite right lea, the 'fluffy' dog sites will say 'go ahead' with little advice regarding the suitability of the bitch, or the reasons for breeding a litter, but thats not what CD is all about, advice will be given which will be informed and even stronger than the 'fluffy' sites, from those experienced with breeding, and may well be what the poster does not want to hear, at this stage the puppies have not been conceived, and the OP is asking advice. Hopefully, she will take on board all that has been said and not breed 'just a pet litter'  or just 'have a litter'.

I would agree join the breed clubs adn get as much written material produced over time.  You will then notice patterns and trends adn there willb e amnay articles about problems and how to best avoid them.  the breed club will also advise about relevant health tests.

oops must have been getting tired and not checked for typos.

That should have read:

I would agree join the breed clubs and get as much written material produced over time.  You will then notice patterns and trends and there will be many articles about problems and how to best avoid them.  the breed club will also advise about relevant health tests.

thankyou very much for all your replys.i am going to now start to show her and ask them there.see if she is good enough to show.i apologise for annoying some people it was not my intent.i mearly thought that this would be the best place to start.
many thanks

I am sure no-one is annoyed, it is just that breeding dogs is a serious matter and sadly all too many are bred by people who don't know or care what they are doing and in fact the minority are bred properly.

Start by learning about your breed by showing and joining the breed clubs and learning from the experts in the breed.  These people if they see you have  genuine interest in your breed and not in exploiting them then you will get all the help you need.

It may be that your current bitch is not good enough to breed from, but you will learn a lot from loving her and showing her.  If she is not good enough then after a few years in the breed someone may be willing to sell you a show and breeding potential bitch.

Ditto brainless, and also Don't fall into the trap IF the bitch isn't good enough by thinking if you mate her to a champion you will get something. You really need to start a breeding program with the best possible bitch you can get your hands off.      Faults on dogs are transported the same as health problems through Genes. Some are quite easily fixed and loads are not. Simple thing like a poor top line is generally genetic..

Well with minor things it can work, but may take many generations, getting the best potential brood bitch is the surest way to success.

thankyou guys for all your comments.