Info on breeding

[loumeg]

We have just got a bitch cocker(puppy) and although i know this is a long way off we are interested in becoming breeders. Can anyone give me some general info. We want to breed because we love the breed and it is not as a source of income. Breeders who are in it for money annoys me!!

[Elmo]

There is a lot of helpful information on this thread about breeding from your bitch

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=3428.0

Personally i dont think your reason of loving the breed is enough as we all love the breed....or we wouldnt have Cockers I believe you shouldnt breed from anything unless it has had all the relevant health tests and has proven itself in one disciline or another but everyones different

[Nicola]

Breeding dogs is not for the faint hearted and requires a lot of knowledge and expertise, both in your chosen breed, the lines of your own dogs and in the care of bitches and puppies. Before you consider breeding you need a dog that's good enough to breed from, if you have a show cocker that's usually one which has done well in the show ring and if you have a working cocker one which is either a proven working dog or a successful field trialling dog otherwise you're not really breeding to improve the breed which should always be the main aim of a breeder. There are plenty of nice enough pet dogs out there but only dogs which are an exceptionally good example of their breed should be bred from. I'm not trying to be harsh but everybody on this forum loves the cocker breed and that is not a good enough reason to become a dog breeder. You have to genuinely know your breed and the lines of your dog and what your aims are in using your breeding programme to really improve it. You should be a member of the relevant breed club(s) and also have your puppies KC registered.

You also need to find yourself an experienced mentor, someone with experience preferably in your breed but certainly in dog breeding who can help and guide you along and provide advice etc. when you need it. You'll need to know about the relevant health tests for your breed and have these carried out on all your breeding dogs and be prepared if you do breed a litter for the time and money that it entails - health tests, stud fees, food and supplements, vet costs - scans, check ups, if the bitch needs an emergency c section these are very expensive, if the pups are ill and need treatment and of course you have to be prepared for it to go wrong as it often does and you could lose the bitch or some or all of the puppies. This can and does happen to even the most experienced breeder. You'll also have to be prepared to sleep with the bitch and pups for several weeks when they're born, have a waiting list of homes for the pups to go to so that you're not selling them via the small ads etc. and of course if at any stage in the pups' lives their owners can't keep them you need to be prepared to take them back even if it's 5 years down the line or you end up with 5 out of a litter of 6 coming back, it's what responsible breeders do.

Have a read of this thread as well...

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=3428.0

[Cayley]

What would be your reason to breed. Reputable working cocker breeders aim at producing top quality working dogs and rarely sell to pet owners unless they can offer them a very active home. As you've not had your girl long it's not really the sort of decision that can be made without knowing how she'll turn out and what her health test results are  .

[minimoo]

have you thought of all of the vets bills its not cheap, what if she has eight puppies and you cant sell half of them, what if one has entropia or some other inherited fault and the owner wants to return it to you at 9 months ,im sorry to sound so negative but ive heard so many bad thing over the years its not something i would do as the responsability is huge, your girl is only a baby so you have along time to look into the subject of breeding from her but im sure you will know if its the right thing in the end

[KellyS]

Breeders who are in it for money annoy me too because to breed to make money you would have to cut a lot of corners....You don't make money if you do it properly

[PennyB]

We have just got a bitch cocker(puppy) and although i know this is a long way off we are interested in becoming breeders. Can anyone give me some general info. We want to breed because we love the breed and it is not as a source of income. Breeders who are in it for money annoys me!!

Your 1st port of call might be to speak to your puppy's breeder. I know the breeder I got my two off has mentored anyone who also wants to breed.

Have you had cockers before?

[Tasha]

Far too early to consider breeding... I've just bred a litter from my Weimaraner after 5 years worth of research, i'm experienced with the whelping process and in all honesty i wouldn't recommend it to anyone especially if you don't know what your doing.

All my pups had to be assisted with their delivery because they were very large and shes a maiden bitch which requires being able to gently turn the pup into the right position to be able to help bring the puppy out on a contraction - could you do that??  Would you have the knowledge to do that??? or to face any other problems that might be occur?? 

Could you face losing your bitch if things go wrong??  And that is something that you really do have to consider.  The costs are astronomical if you do it properly so you won't make any money back mine have been bred at a significant loss but my requirement is a puppy back and I had a puppy list but even that was not without its problems, my list was for mainly bitches and most of my pups are dogs and its a large litter - could you cope with having to run them on??

there really is so much to consider, why not enjoy your puppy take a real good long hard think about WHY you want to breed from her, take a look at rescue and the numbers in it, and then if your love of the breed is true you'll appreciate her for what she is a beautiful cocker spaniel puppy rather than considering her future as a brood bitch.

[Sharon]

Our last litter was born on the Bank holiday weekend, which ended in a c-section due to a stuck pup, total cost of that one visit £944    Sadly two pups were born with Cleft Palate, so were put to sleep at birth 

Not only do you need a big bank balance before you start, but also need to be strong to face any problems that crop up including the possible loss of your bitch.

[cbabe]

All though i agree that it is far too early for you to considder breeding from your bitch. It is never to early to start researching whether being a breeder is really a vocation for you and your family (because breeding will envelop the whole household).

Janes post (linked above) is a good starting place. You may also take some time to read some of the older threads from breeders on this forum. Not all of them are success stories (mine included).

There is a lot to learn and you have to have an understanding of genetics, health issues and how to be a midwife - as it is you who will have to deliver the litter, and this can be a concern even when you do know what you are looking at. You will also need to make steps to proove that you are intending to be a reputable breeder - or you may find it difficult to find good homes for your puppies -and do you have room for 3-6 more cockers if you can't find them homes??

A mentor is a very good place to start -  you can read as much as you can - but this will never compare to hands on experiance - and i would definatly suggest trying to witness a bitch whelp before you deside whether breeding is for you.

If all of this spurs you on to continue, then i wish you the best of luck

Clare