Any dog breeders here...

[KFC911]

Picked up a new female poopie yesterday from an older gentleman I wished I'd met decades ago...but I digress.

I've always had my pups spayed at 6-7 months since I'm a natural born dawg lover, but...

Anyways....I've lucked into maybe one of the best lineaged (arguably THE best ) chocolate Labs in the USA....groomed over 4 decades of excellence after the breeder retired from his "day job". He's 85 and a few minutes with him has caused me to do a 180 methinks....my new pup will not be spayed. He's got a legacy (500 Labs total), that he's rightfully proud of...I feel luck....He LET me get one . He's refused a few...(names you'd know) potential buyers before...

He's produced his last litter....he would gladly assist me....but he's 85....

Anyways....just looking for advice, input, experiences...thanks!

[berettafan]

I’m not a breeder but do pay attention to hunting dogs (whatever the heck that is worth) and have been researching the issue of late as we are hoping to add one to our home this year.

Hunting stock or show?

Bird dog people suggest strongly that spaying , especially before maturity, can inhibit hunting performance and some would also say be cause for increased risk of ligament tear ($4k). Non working house dogs are less likely to suffer such an injury so this may be less of a concern.

If her lineage is famed for hunting or trials then you’ll need to do the same to get max value from her giggity time. If that is your plan I’d leave her intact. At least for a few years so you can see what she’s really got.

Congrats and share pics. Labs really are some of the best canine personalities.

[Chocaholic]

Is there documentation to support her lineage? If you’re thinking of breeding and carrying on his work, you’ll need more than his word regarding pedigree.

[yellowperil]

Dog Breeders??

Should be easy to find here, isn't that what most of us do all day?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Is there documentation to support her lineage? If you’re thinking of breeding and carrying on his work, you’ll need more than his word regarding pedigree.

I consider myself lucky...she's got it all...so much so that I know I'm gonna want another mini-her. He's the "rock star" of field trial, working dogs and is in his twilight years....It was ALL about his love of Labs...I just won't have her spayed as planned. She will likely have at least one (well mated) litter....now .

Baretta...if yer in that loop .....Kirby is the name of the champion breeder.

I told him from the gitgo that I just wanted a pet....but I have acrerage and ponds....she and I are gonna have a blast

[Steve Carlton]

Let's see some pics!

[MRM]

As a favor I took on a dog breeder as a client. I can fill you in on the business a bit. Most breeders insist that their dogs are spayed/neutered as a condition of selling them, so you have indeed been chosen when you received one with encouragement to breed it.

You would be classified as a hobby breeder if you had only the one dog and bred a litter at a time. You probably wouldn't have to worry about getting business licenses as a hobby breeder, but you'd want to check it out. You would want to join the AKC and any local pet breeder's club. They have invaluable information and enthusiastic members who are eager to help new members. The AKC has good resources and will have an inspection regimen to make sure you keep up their standards.

Breeding and raising a litter of puppies is much more and harder work than you can imagine. Hobby breeders do it for the love of the animals. You can make some spending money, but the money won't be enough to be your primary motivator. In my opinion the secret is having the right facilities. Puppies are chewing poop machines and anything they chew on can get stuck in their stomachs and kill them. So you have to have a place that is completely safe, can be cleaned, all indoor surfaces have to be impermeable and able to wash clean with a bleach solution. All outdoor areas need to have a surface that can be cleaned by removing the poop with enough of the topsoil that no contamination remains - like loose dirt, sand or pea gravel. They are dirt magnets, so you need to bathe them often. A good hose facility would make cleaning them a lot easier.

If you had your house set up to handle the sanitation and exercise conveniently, you could do well and make a little money and make it more enjoyable. If you are interested I would really encourage you to invest in good equipment with an eye toward work saving because it will make the experience more enjoyable and the dogs will be happier. Good luck and let us know how you get along.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I had an eye opening experience adopting a lab that had been a stud with a supposed high end breeder in CA. I was alarmed at how the dog was treated from his physical condition and lack of socialization. When I got Kona, who the breeder had sold at 4 years old to an older couple unable to care for him, he had clear signs of being neglected and spending a lot of time alone on concrete surfaces. Hair missing from joints he laid on, teeth ground down from chewing on abrasive materials, poor overall teeth health, the list went on. When I took him to the vet after we got him, she was going to turn me into the SPCA locally until I explained his history. He even had a pellet embedded in his back after we had to have him x-rayed for something else. He ended up being a great dog after we got him settled but it's a good thing I never met the breeder.

If you go down this road, please only use studs that are clearly treated well as pets. With all of the animals clogging up shelters, I wouldn't choose this path and I love labs. I've had 3 chocolates. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

The dog on the left was Kona. Hooch on the right we got as a pup. I miss these two dorks. Kona lived to be just shy of 13, Hooch to over 16.

[KFC911]

You guys rock ....I'm NOT going to become a breeder...sorry you spent so much effort. I just don't have it "in" me to spay this old gentleman's pup either, so a day after bringing her home I just posted here....

When the time comes, I'll "connect" with the right stud (with the old guy's help...I hope)...and he will assist if still able..."we" connected from the git-go....he lives close by too....we'll see how it plays out. It's not about a business nor making $....wasn't for him, wouldn't be for me either. But....dayum....I do have a perfect place out in the "country"...could easily meet all of MRM's criteria too I suppose

Thanks all!

[MRM]

You could certainly have a litter or two just for fun. There's a big difference between becoming a breeder, even a hobby breeder, and just having a litter. If you just want to continue the big guy's line, go ahead and have one litter and see how you like it.

[KFC911]

^^^^ This will happen...I have a gem!

Pics with no yellow fingernail polish on her head will be posted soon...and her name ain't Spot .

[speeder]

Both of my GSDs were acquired from hobby breeders who had both parents and the parents were from well known championship lines. My last dog's GGF was 2-time National Champion, just a magnificent Shepard.

As much as I believe in adopting shelter animals, (I have countless friends w great rescue dogs), I wanted a great German Shepard and wanted to see the parents, not just for their health and beauty but also for temperament. I wanted to see how they reacted to a stranger coming into their house w a litter of puppies present, how they were around children, etc. If you are really good at studying dog behavior, even small puppies can reveal personality traits but most people would miss them.

Dog breeding is a science and an art. It is not as simple as finding two good-looking dogs and breeding them, you need to know their blood lines and how to breed in order to get the results you want. There is a certain amount of distant inbreeding involved, for instance but I don't completely understand it. For the best dog/human experience, there is also an ideal time period for the puppies to stay w the parents/mother before separation/adoption. There is a lot to it.

[KFC911]

49 days Speeder...that's the day I got my pup .

Talked with the breeder today....just to thank him. He is allowing me to use HIS name as I register my first dawg, but like you, I've had the papers before....

Two months ago....I THOUGHT I was getting a female GSD as you describe....fell through....badly .

I will do RIGHT by this gift.....he's more than willing to help...day 53 now...amazing pup

Gotta rethink a name (for registration)....I was gonna pick something stoopid....to mess wif a buddy's head...can't do that now....like a pic with nail polish...

She knows what I'm calling her already...hmm.

[gatotom]

KC911, when the time comes to breed ,please let me know, I am very interested in a puppy.

My background with labs, have had 4, is there another breed out there? 2 months ago had to put my Lady down, kidney failure.

we are dogless now and will wait til next yr after we both retire.

[KFC911]

^^^^ Two years....I have a plan, and if you can wait....you will NOT be disappointed....trust me. My yellow Layla was 14 yrs+ of awesome...

Talked with my former fantastic vet's office this morning....she will not be tutored....just x-rayed in 6 months .

[RKDinOKC]

Thpught about breading my Golden. She has the lineage, health, and certifications to sell her puppies for big monies. Talked to some local golden breeder/trainers and found it would be a LOT of time and effort.

[gatotom]

KC911, no problem, just PM me when ready.

[71T Targa]

Just throwing my hat in as someone who'd love a chocolate in two-ish years.

My Lyla will be almost 9 then, and that'd be a great time to start again.



Her first litter:

[Rikao4]

let me throw in my two new ladies...
Nicki and Piper..
just turned 1..
brother Finn..Lab-dane is 5

Rika

[speeder]

These are old but it's my dog, Romeo, @ 2 yrs. old w the old SC...back about the time I joined Pelican.