I have a chinese crested bitch that's 2 years 4 months old. I want to have a litter from her. She's always done fairly well in the show ring and at LKS won limit which was quite a large class. Well she came in season 3 days ago and I'm wondering whether to breed from her. Her breeder suggested keeping her in the ring now that she's matured and doing well. But the breeder in moving abroad and taking her dogs with her. The dogs that she breeds are mainly exported so there aren't any males of her breeding in the country (well not once she's moved).

Would you wait until the next season but go outside of her breeding lines or breed now and risk her show career faultering once maternity duties are over?

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I think it would be hard for someone else to advise without understanding the value of staying within her lines as opposed to breeding out.  Do you not envisage her getting back to the ring shortly after pups, many bitches do very successfully and surely you don't have to worry too much about the coat coming back in :D perhaps chinese cresteds loose their figure too much I really don't know.

Why don't you do a pro and con list and think it over. TIme of puppies etc is also important. Some people don't like summer puppies because it affect showing etc.

Staying in the lines or going out in my opinion is the real factor is is breeding to TYPE that is the important thing.

Good luck in your dilemma !!!

As you say breeding to type is important especially as cresteds seem to vary so much. That is my main reason for wanting to stay within the lines. Cresteds can lose their figure after pups so breeding would be a calculated risk but I don't think that in reality she has what it takes to be a champion anyway although she is a nice little bitch.

I think I'll probably go with mating her this season after all she might not take anyway. Downside is she'll miss Crufts but if I were to wait til the next season pups would be due for homing just before xmas which is not a good move.

Thanks for your replies.