After a recent thread I thought it would be good to re do a thread I remember from Years ago .... so....
What are your experiences????
I am Lea, I have been on here for 8 years, so have picked up alot from reading, and talking to people that know a million times more than me from thrie experiences,
I have never bred a litter, I used to work on a farm where the wife showed dogs and I looked after them, and in my adult life I have had 4 dogs, one with sever artheritis that was PTS at 10 1/2, one had stomach problems that was PTS at 3 (something I will always regret) 2 current dogs, one is nearly deaf and nearly blind, but pushing 10 and still as happy as anything, American Cocker, the other is pushing 7 and got #Hip displacier, she is a Rottweiler that I got from a rescue centre at the age of 2, when I had young kids, and she has never been anything else but perfect with them.
I could never give advice about breeding, I may ask questions if there is something glariungly obvious, but could never say I have dpone (even though I looked after a 1 week old litter of cockers for 2 days) I Couyld never challenge anyone about breeding.
But other things, I will ask questions. 8 years on here, reading alot of threads has taught me alot!!!!
So what are all of your experiences?????
Lea :) :) :)

I'm Marianne -from Sweden but have now lived over half my life in the UK. I got my first dog in 1981, but before then I'd grown up with dogs in the family -plenty of Poodles mainly, but also a Papillon.

I first showed a dog in 1984. I didn't breed a litter of pups until 2002 but before then I'd bred everything from mice to cats -all for showing, have been judging, heavily involved in clubs in small animal fancies etc. I have worked as a vet nurse, a dog groomer and a kennel maid. I have been going to a large variety (different methods, different trainers, even different countries) of training classes regularly since 1981 and have competed in obedience a handful of times. I've written a few books (and hundreds of articles) on pet care; various animals including dogs, and have been a breed note writer for Malinois and Laekenois for Our Dogs since 2005. I have been a member of breed clubs since I got my first dog.

I breed Malinois (roughly one litter every 2 years) and Papillons (once a year) and show both -we show a fair bit. (My husband and daughter come too and they are far better at handling than I am!) Varying success -have bred 7 dogs that have got their stud book numbers, CC and RCC winners, bred the second ever ShCM winner in Malinois and of course my best memory was BOB at Crufts and making up my first Champion. Not forgetting I've also bred dogs that compete successfully in obedience and agility, that work as security dogs, and that are in training to become police dogs etc. Plus of course family pets. I've recently joined the ABS.

Apart from my two breeds I have had a total of 10 Golden Reterievers in my life and currently have one veteran Golden, have had 5 Cavaliers (one at the moment), various crossbreeds (two veterans at the moment), a couple of Border Collies, a Cocker, and a Labrador. Some of these have been rescues. I've been on CD since 2005.

I joined on the suggestion of my middle dogs breeder, 3.5 years ago, so I'm still new.

I had just bought my first show dog and thought that board might be the most useful to me - little did I know that you lot cover everything :)

One of my dogs has allergies - so I tend to always reply to itchy dog q's.  I raw feed and did a fair amount of research so that's another topic that interests me.  I have had great experience with my chosen breeder (and a bad one many years ago) so will often represent the 'new puppy buyer' angle when this type of topic arises.  I come from a dog connected background, and take dog owning pretty seriously, so have a breath of accumulated knowledge and experience from my current dogs and previous ones

I prefer to keep my comments related to the topic at hand, rarely disclose anything personal (so this feels really weird!), try and stick to subjects where I have some relevant experience, and admire many regular posters for their consistency and persistence.  I think good advice from a range of people is important to increase ones knowledge and I've learnt a lot from just keeping my mind and eyes/ears open.  I get a lot of advice from my breeder and other dog friends but, after them, CD is my number one resource for gathering general data.  I'll often read something on here and go and find more information if a topic interests me.

Thanks CD :)

I am Kerry.
I've grown up with dogs around and can not really remember there not being a dog in the house.

The most memorable dogs from when I was growing up were 2 litter mates, there was a couple of rescues and one pup prior to them.

Since having my own home I've had a rescue dog, Rocky(cross breed), who sadly was PTS a couple of years ago, so now I just have Buster (Mastiff) - we had 1 year of Buster and Rocky together.

I have not bred or shown, my dog experience is limited to pet only and what I have learnt from here and other research.

I am very interested in dog behaviour - researching prior to getting Buster kick-started that.

I have experience of:
Litter-mates
A dog with food allergy & elimination diet & flea allergy :(
Communicating with a dog that went deaf.
A dog so hell-bent on escaping to find bitches he got himself run-over (and lived to tell the tale).
Helping an adult dog get over his fear of thunder.
Introducing a kitten to a dog that didn't like cats.
Introducing pup with a resident cat that didn't like strange dogs!
The pit-falls of diet & a giant-breed pup :(
Experience of elbow displasia in a giant breed pup :(
Training of a giant breed pup (the biting phase and lead training can me more chalanging due to the size of pup).
General things like that.

So all in all not a wealth of knowledge atall, but a willingness to help where I can, learn as much as possible and enjoy being part of this virtual 'community' of like-minded doggy people :)

I was brought up in a multi dog household, as a child I travelled to obedience shows all over the country with my parents and competed in my first competition at age 11, I've worked in and handled dogs in every class up to C, I've judged some fun obedience only and stewarded up to champ C. In 1988 I got my first borzoi and my first show dog. I asked lots of questions, put my whole life into keeping him fit, preparing him and travelling all over the country every weekend to show him. I was lucky enough to make him up to a champion, top borzoi in the UK for a while and a champ show group winner. Since him I've had 14 other borzois and all the ones I've campaigned have at least won a RCC, some CCS and another champion. I've attended numerous judging seminars, judged at open show group level (hounds) here and in Ireland. I've served on dog club committees in various roles. I have a reasonable amount of experience handling stud dogs, including semen collection for sending overseas and I've done some agility training too.

and I know nuffink guv :-P

I am Kay, joined Champdogs 8 years ago. and have Labs (and Raymond the Flatcoat)

I have had 13 litters
Experiences include
Myasthenia Gravis (ESS)
Sudden onset Eclampsia (pups were less than 24hrs old)
keeping litter mates (3 sets)
whelping
Pyometra (2 girls, one open, one closed,)
complications from GA
Mast cell tumours (cancer)
Hip Displacia
Fading puppy syndrome
Living with a dog with Hyperkenisis

I show my dogs, I have bred a dog who gained his stud book number.. also bred a dog who has produced 3 pups who gained their studbook no's.

I am on 'C' list for judging, and just applied for the 'B' list having judged my required 30 classes and over 250 dogs
I have also judged Flatcoats (strangely I judged FCR before I ever judged labs) Cockers, Goldens, Irish Setters, Irish Red and White Setter,  and next week I have my 1st Appointment to judge GWP's.   I think my proudest judging moment was when my BOB in Irish Setters at Malvern, took G1 and went BIS.  :-)

I applied for ABS a month ago and was given 36hours notice of my visit and passed :-)

And I am a past Chairman of a Canine Society

And I still know nuffink :-P

Oh My goodness :-O  mods.. please remove at least 4 of those posts lol.. I have already deleted 3.. but time has expired on the other.. I have no idea what happened .. (cringe) :-P

Ok here is my experience.

I have loved dogs since I was knee high to a grass hoper but was never allowed one at home.

Instead I used to walk people's dogs through out my teenage years.

I had always loved one particular breed and vowed that one day I would own that breed.

So twenty five years ago I got my first Lab. She was from half American/uk lines and was a super girl. I didn't at that stage feel that I had time or the money to show but wanted to in the future.

I did however decide to contact a breeder to see what she thought about Mars to see if she thought she was a good enough example of the breed. After a lengthy visit where she looked at Mars and all her lines she decided that although too much American influence in her that a good pairing with one of her studs could produce a good litter one of which I had intended on keeping.

I thought long and hard and did all the health tests and decided to go ahead. The mating was a big eye opener but learnt a lot from the breeder as she let me be involved and spent a few days with her. I didn't however feel that I had the necessary experience or facilities to whelp or bring the litter up so a 'friend' who bred cats and had also had a couple of litters of pups offered to look after her and the pups. This was the biggest mistake of my life and cost me dearly in both pocket and putting Mars through a terrible time at the hands of my 'friend' and her incompetent vet.

I won't go into detail but she ended up having a CS a week early, we lost three of the eight pups and I ended up staying at her house looking after the remaining pups and Mars until such time we had built kennel with a run to be able to have the pups at home. I ended up hand rearing the remaining pups as poor Mars just rejected the litter. It was one of the most stressful and heart breaking times of my life. I ended up with my vet as an expert witness defend a county court claim for costs from my ' friend' after the offer was turned into an offer with strings attached even though originally I had offered to pay her.

I successfully defended the claim after the vet and her were found to be negligent.

The one good thing that came out if the sorry experience is Min the puppy we kept but it was one of the biggest learning curves of my life and that is when I realised that breeding even though with my good intentions should only be ever undertaken with extensive research the ability to cope with every eventuality including cost and inevitable heartache that breeding can come with.

I ended up finding wonderful pet homes for the remaining pups.

It did however give me a totally different view on the whole world of owning dogs and started then to look at getting involved with rescue but remain a pet owner and not show or breed again.

I have also been able to thanks to CD built a fantastic network of friends of which a few I would class as some of the most experienced and knowledgable breeders of a few breeds and have learnt so much about the show world and breeding.

I have also since then gone on to getting another three dogs two from pups one working lines and a rescue girl and have built my dog knowledge and experience up from there.

I have a plan now in the next few years once I am able to start working part time or stop to look at getting another pup which I am hoping to go onto to show and hopefully work as well . That is the plan and something I really now want to do but if I do I would have to really think long and hard to if I ever would consider breeding and also the motives for doing it as it would definitely only be I felt and others( as in mentors and friends ) agreed that my bitch was of such excellent quality that it would be worth considering.

I was very naive when I went ahead and had the litter with Mars but now I have learnt in a very hard way you should never go into breeding without the correct motives and the ability to take full responsibility for it and the resulting pups for life.

My experience
Firstly very little and have gained loads of knowledge by being here and not to mention a few nice people along the way and afew laughs. It took me a while to pluck  up the courage to post but pleased I did
I have always wanted to own a dog but my family although loved animals and we had loads of small furries and cats felt a dog was too big a responsibility
It was therefore no surprise when after getting married I bought a lovely gsd the breed I had always wanted ( to much rintintin as a child I think)  bred by a friend. I knew nothing about health tests although I remember that my friend talked of doing them. I was heartbroken when we lost her all too soon at 11
four years later I decided I needed another dog and after some thought decided on a flat coat. I got through the grilling from the litter secretary :) and was given details of a litter.  Josie was fantasic the most beautiful dog so suitable for our family I had children by then but we sadly lost her at about 9 from cancer. As it went her 3rd type of canccer the previous ones sucessfully treated including a series of radiation treatments
A few months later I decided we needed another dog this time I went back to getting a gsd, having learned more along the way I did my research and found a lovely responsible breeder in yorkshire and got my whispa
.
Daughter then 16 wanted a chihuahua so in for a penny in for apound although with some concern about the two breeds living together we eventually found Mia a crossbreed chix pom
I will openly admit my sense did go out the window and although we have been lucky probably should have been more sensible about getting her having bought her from a family who "accidently" bred her and clearly knew nothing about breeding. We have beem lucky but if I had joined cd before we got her I would have done things differently. Whipsa and her are great together although they are kept apart by baby gates when we are out just in case of accident due to his size
Now I am the proud owner of my second flat coat and probably not my last I did my research with help from people on here,and Josies breeder who is now a crufts judge and whom I have remained in contact with. Hope fully we will have along and happy time together

Breeding ? Ihave no intention of doing and admire those who thank goodness do.
Some while ago someone said to me you need to find a hobby outside the home (longstory) well I have certainly got that sorted,

Born into a family which bred boxers, I travelled to shows with them until I was given my own Cocker puppy to show - a Lochranza....this was in the early 70's.
I bred boxers for 30 years and slowly introduced Cavaliers ( for my old age) but have owned a few other breeds..GSD, Lhasa, Standard Poodle, border Collie.
Handled many other breeds at shows eg Rottweilers, Akitas, Danes, Bernese and judge these despite not owning them.

Ive been a dog trainer for most of my adult life, running classes for ringcraft too - starting the first KC Good Citizen classes in my county.

Ive averaged 1-2 litters a year, always using the best and most suitable stud regardless of its loction.

Im considered a 'health nut' by many but am generally the one many friends (and their friends) call for help them with whelping/fertility/training/handling issues.
I go through phases of being keen on the showring and at the moment am on a bit of a roll.
Just made up a Champion bitch in one of the most competetive breeds there is, have one on 2CC and two others on a RCC.....all in the ring at the moment.
Just got BIS at a breed show this weekend!
Ive been on various committees.
Am very fortunate to be at the stage where I mostly get to offer puppies to those who have expressed an interest in one of mine rather than 'cold sell' to strangers.
Experience in most things doggy and probably have forgotten as much as Ive learned....probably my age :-)

My names Jane, I'm 45, I live in rural Fife and I'm a dog addict.
Due to grinding poverty when I was wee I was (quite rightly ) never allowed a pet, so when I reached the age of 26 and changed to job sharing I finally was able to get my own dog in the shape of the very fabulous Louie, who taught me so much about dogs, a true ambassador for his breed ( GSD ). With Louie I dabbled in agility and obedience. When we moved to the country I bought my perfect dog Celeste, a red SBT, so clever and sensible, to this day I don't know if I owned her or if she owned me. I showed Celeste with some success but she never really enjoyed it so gave it up and mated her. She had 8 puppies, and although it was very hard work and occupied my every waking hour, it was one of the happiest most fulfilling times of my life. From that litter I kept my boy Spud, thick as mince but one of the kindest most loving dogs I've ever known.Even if all had gone well and the litter hadn't been affected by L2 I doubt I would have bred again, even though the litter was of good quality and 3 of the puppies had very good show potential. I became uncomfortable with selling them, I didn't feel good about selling a life, I just didn't feel I had the right.
Then when Celeste was just 6 years old disaster struck in the shape of cancer, she died at home in my arms 7 months later, despite the vets assurances she would only live a few weeks from diagnosis, she remained healthy and pain free right up until the week she died.
Then I made a huge mistake in the shape of Daisy, another SBT, I should have walked away, but as so many people do, I fell for the cute puppy and took her home. Who knew my very dog friendly puppy would transform into a strange dog hating monster when she had to be neutered for medical reason's, although I'm pretty sure part of it is bad breeding too, and, I know realise, allowing her to play fight with Spud.
My latest addition is the magnificent Ben ( Bendolina to his friends ) a TM, more like a giant cat than a dog really. He and Spud and Daisy have formed into a very happy little band, Ben giving the two Staffies a nice steadying influence, which I think Spud missed since the death of Louie.
My main interests are in dog behaviour and communication and have attended many seminars on dog aggression which I find fascinating and  dog nutrition.
I also own 9 hens and and an ancient cat called Polly, and have had Crohn's Disease since the age of 22.

Well I think i've been a member on Champdogs for about 5 or 6 years however I do not post a lot but love reading all the topics and if I feel I can contribute I will.

I'm 28 now and have never lived in a house without dogs....my youngest dog is number 18 (we have 8 still living!)  I was bought up with GSD's (longhaired) which my mum competed with in obedience and I fell in love with shelties when I was 3 because a lady used to let me 'train' hers as the GSD's were slightly too big!
At 14 we introduced our first Rottweiler to the family and since then we have been lucky enough to own 6 (we currently have 3 along with all the other breeds).
I rescued a Staffie when I was 19/20 and she is now 8 1/2 and is a fab little dog and then at 21 I decided I was going to choose a new breed so I wasn't just copying my mum....I researched and eventually bought my first Akita - a fab girl who is now 6....although I will happily admit she will be my one and only Akita and I have since introduced 2 more Rotties to the family...gone back to what I know best lol!
I have always taken part in obedience and agility and 6 years ago started showing and got bit by the bug, I also handle other peoples dogs in the ring occasionally.
I run a dog training school with my mum and have done for about 7 years now and love it.

Like another poster I've been dog mad from an early age, but not allowed one at home so walked and looked after other people's dogs throughout my teenage years.  Finally when I bought my own house I got a 'rescue' GSD aged 5 who had been mistreated, taught me such a lot, had mild HD and hated cats (ended up best friends with one), postmen and was fantastic.  My first pup came next - a GSD I learnt agility with, a fantastic dog.  She had a protein induced hyper activity syndrome as a pup, a rice allergy and at the end kidney failure - she lived nearly 2 years with this (was nearly 14 when she died).  My second dog a rescue (Dogs Trust) rhodesian ridgeback/whippet.  I added border collies to the mix and with my 3rd shep decided to breed a litter.  They are now 2 and one one is doing extremely well in obedience.  By accident (terrible admission) the collies I was debating about had a litter - they're now 2 also and doing very well in agility or as much loved pets.  With doing agility I fell in love with shelties - and now started to successfully breed - they're not easy.  I fell in love with the black and whites and hope to help keep this colour going in UK.  I've also imported a sheltie from USA - rather traumatically!

I've judged agility for many years but recently decided to take the official tests, successfully (thankfully it would have been so embarrassing if I'd have failed!).  I also occasionally judge the KC good citizen tests for local clubs.  Before I moved up here I did a lot of club training with agility and still do a bit if I can help people.  I did a bit of HTM training for fun with my first collie, made tougher as he hated being touched! But really only have time for agility.

I have lost dogs with cancer (pancreatic and cell mast) tragically both at age 11.  I've lost a young pup with kidney/urinary malformation.  One of the shep pups had a problem with hormones which affected her behaviourally and I supported her owner through this - now, due to the effort the owner put in, she's really settled and coming on very well and will hopefully be able to compete in obedience/working trials eventually. 

I am Allyson, I have had 6 dogs in total, over a period of 30 years. 1 x mutt, 4 x Weimaraners, 1 x GSD.
I have participated in most canine sports and actively competed seriously in two.
Won a "ticket" in Working Trials and competed at the KCCs and qualified and won at Schutzhund 3 and competed at the GSDL Nationals in Schutzhund.
My dogs have won in the Breed Ring including Crufts, obtained Working Gundog Certificate with one, have had two dogs with SBN (via working qualifications) and assess dogs and homes for two breed rescue organisations
I am a KCGCDS Examiner Gold Level, Temperament Assessor for PAT, have the National Certificate in Canine First Aid, am approved to award "tickets" in Working Trials.
Two of my dogs have suffered Gastric Torsion.
No knowledge of breeding but very interested in fitness, nutrition and training of dogs.