We operated a Bouvier des Flandres kennel for many years, complete
with ads in Dog World and a good sales record. A friend of ours is
currently a major breeder of a rare breed known as Shiloh Shepherds.
We currently breed rare sheep and american miniature donkeys.
First, everything which blazius wrote is correct and this comment is
an addition, not a correction in any sense.
I wanted you to understand my background so you can weigh the value of
my comments (if any) and how they may or may not apply to your case
about which we don't really have much detail.
Some dogs just don't mate well - this is often a clue that there is
some medical or genetic problem which isn't apparent to you but is to
the other dog and may or may not be apparent to a Vet. They can also
simply be picky about their mate.
Sometimes a problem just means they are not mature enough as blazius
suggested. I would recommend three years of age for a Lab which is a
large dog and takes about three years to fully mature but two years is
also commonly used for initial breeding.
But please consider that breeding problems and trouble birthing
puppies or mothering can indicate a serious genetic fault which is
definately NOT something a responsible breeder would want to encourage
in the breed. In other words, why would you want to breed dogs which
don't have the proper instincts to allow them to complete this most
natural of acts?
As for breeding help, you can try AI, it's actually quite easy if you
are breeding dogs seriously enough that you regularly give routine
medical treatments such as vaccinations and understand how to maintain
a sterile field.
There is a top specialist in canine fertility in Ohio and I can obtain
and post that information if you need it. His services are quite
expensive so you probably don't want to contact him unless you have
really top quality dogs and the puppies will be selling for thousands
of dollars each.
That leads me to make a comment you may not like. There are a LOT of
Laboradors. You didn't mention if your dogs are AKC papered champions.
There are far too many dogs and cats in this country and many are
being bred which should be enjoyed as pets but who haven't passed the
rigorous testing for temperment and conformation which is only done
through dog shows or trials.
Another reason for breeding would be if the dog is a top retriever or
has another working specialty the way our Bouriers are top herding
dogs and guide dogs. Yet another reason would be to help conserve the
gene pool of a very rare breed.
I hope you are breeding because your dogs have been X-rayed for
possible joint problems, because they are in excellent health, and are
both registered champions from a line of champions.
Perhaps you are a kennel operator and regularly show your dogs so my
comments do not apply to you, but I urge you to reconsider breeding
this pair if you are simply a "hobby" breeder.
Just ask yourself if you want to produce puppies which will possibly
share this breeding defect with their parent.
Even home breeders need to give puppies up to 6 series of vaccinations
which is what drives up the price of well-bred pet quality dogs into
the hundreds of dollars at a minimum. Any lower price and the breeder
is not making money or puppy simply hasn't been given the recommended
medical examinations and vaccinations.
Best of luck with your problem and enjoy your dogs as well as any
puppies.
Please remember that this comment is no personal reflection on you,
after all, we know nothing about you, this is a general comment which
may or may not apply to you but may be read by many other people
thinking of breeding dogs.
I suspect you are a hobby breeder in part because you are not using
the standard breeding terms bitch and dog which, in this case are not
pejorative terms. If so, and if you go ahead with this mating, I hope
you have a good experience, birthing puppies can be a very rewarding
experience as long as you know you will have good homes available for
up to 10 pups. |
