My puppy is in her first season

[SwimmingThroughSickLullabies]

She is 9 months old. Is it quite late for a first season? I was expecting it at about 6 months.

I will be breeding her with my other dog but not on her first season.

How long do you think it will be till her next season?

This is the first time breeding. I'm going to try it once and if it works out quite well I'll continue.

OK, I'll answer your original question- it's not at all unusual for a bitch not to have a first season at 9 months- anywhere between 6 and 12 months is perfectly normal, and in giant/ large breeds it can even be up to 18 mths

Regarding breeding. Firstly, as midori says JRTs, while lovely dogs, are not a breed recognised by the kennel club. Puppies are registered by the person who bred them- you can't trot along and register them later, it doesn't work like that. Not that "papers" matter (unless you are planning to breed...)

Secondly, harsh as it is, I always point out to clients keen to breed their bitch that the ONLY good reason to breed is because you are very knowledgeable about your breed, very involved in with the breed (eg through breed clubs/ shows) and are breeding from a desire to enhance the breed.

Regardless, you need to be aware that if you breed your bitch you are doing it for YOU and your own personal gain. Often at your bitch's expense. It will NOT benefit her one iota, and you could even put her life at risk. Honestly, I see so many distraught owners of bitches with dystochia- they are crying, begging me to just save their bitch, that they would never had done this if they had thought for a minute....So please, DO think for a minute about the possible outcomes. Yes, more often than not it goes smoothly, but things go wrong more often than you might think, especially with smaller dogs.

Even if the pregnancy and whelping goes smoothly, there is still scope for heartache- some small bitches suffer from eclampsia, a life-threatening condition which needs to be spotted and acted on quickly or they will die. Fading puppies are common, as are mums rejecting/ attacking puppies. There can be developmental abnormalities which can lead to the slow, sad death of pups unless you know what you are looking for. Some of these guys may even need to be euthanased.

It's not something to be entered into lightly, and I have seen many who regretted it.

yes but how come she had a spare dog to keep for you OP? surely she had a waiting list of buyers already agreed before she put the dog in pup?

Clearly some of you people will only be happy if all dogs were got from the rescue.

Unfortunately it just isnt like that.

People have the right to make a choice on the dog they want that fits in to their lifestyle.

Its not something you like fair enough but its not going to change. sorry but its not.

I also like how I've had a flaming for considering to breed but the actual breeders don't get a look at!!

There is really a nasty tone through this thread. I can understand people who are urging OP not to breed, as there are already so many dogs. And the discussion on questions asked before adopting from a rescue is interesting as it provides perspectives from both sides.

But why this vitriol towards OP? Especially from people who are breeders or have bought their dog from a breeder? Why is she a byb and has to answer for all the unwanted dogs in rescue but all of you are somehow 'responsible' and your actions have no relation to the problem of too many dogs?

and your friend just happened to have a litter of puppies that had a really good bloodline and one that would go with your other JRT's at the time you were looking for one? Or really you just got the first JRT that was available and paid a hefty price for it without even knowing the basics?

You don't even know if your dogs can be KC registered and you don't think it matters because the dogs 'are still selling'?

Let me see... breeding from a dog and bitch you just happen to own in order to sell puppies for money without doing any health tests or knowing anything about the 'breed' you are breeding... sounds exactly like a BYB to me...

'I also like how I've had a flaming for considering to breed but the actual breeders don't get a look at!! hmm'

Midori is not a BYB. It's BYBs we abhore. The responsible ones are okay.

Flatbread. Really? The Op doesn't even know if her dogs are or can be KC registered? She doesn't know anything about dog breeding. Most responsible breeders spend years 'learning the ropes' and having a mentor so as to learn as much as possible to reduce the risk to their own bitches and puppies when they do breed. Things can and do go wrong.

By and large, responsible breeders do not contribute to the rescue situation, (it would be foolish to think they never could) almost all dogs in rescues are from puppy farmers or back yard breeder exactly like the OP.

Twice a year we'd go on a holiday that meant he couldn't come with us and he'd go to kennels. My parents got a discount for him being entire and he was used as a stud dog at that kennels

beer < then slinks off for reacting like a stupid teenager>

"Clearly some of you people will only be happy if all dogs were got from the rescue."

no i will only be happy when people are both buying/homing and breeding dogs responsibly.

Ok, midori. But be nice about it. She hasn't done anything yet. So an education, not a flaming would probably be more productive...

Booyhoo

I'm not sure she did have a "waiting list" as you put it.

do you want me to ask her???

Jooly
Thank you so much for your answers. Really her health is paramount to me and she's such a little girl that I am worried that she would be too small to breed. One of my cons.
I suppose I have made it out on my original post as though I hadn't really though about it but I have.
I really do have my doubts a lot please don't think I don't. I am just considering both alternatives.

OP how about this.

how about you find are proper, responsible breeder in your area and get in touch. ask them if they will let you grill them over what exactly they do, why they do it, how hard it is, how time consuming, how costly it is etc etc to properly (which is what you want to do yes?) breed dogs. i'm sure any proper breeder worth their salt would be only to happy to tell you exactly what it's like. perhaps you could even offer to help out practically with their next litter and with the homing of the pups to see exactly what is involved?

Just to add...

In order to breed responsibly you also need to be a competent and experienced enough dog owner to be able to offer puppy buyers help and advice if they run into problems or difficulties. You need to be able to give them advice on toilet training, crate training, how to deal with play biting or over zealous play biting, humping behaviour, how to settle their puppy when they get it home, how often to feed it, what to feed it, how much to feed it, what to expect when they take it home, be able to tell them what is normal and what isn't. You also have to have a good knowledge of diet, vaccinations, worming, basic training and behaviour and when they should see a vet.

"I'm not sure she did have a "waiting list" as you put it."

sorry but then she isn't a responsible breeder. no breeder will risk the health of their dog and however many pups plus the expense without having a definite waiting list of buyers and not only that but and abundance of buyers incase there are more pups than expected. and people who care about the pups will wait for the next litter (which could be 2 years away) because they know their breeder has done all teh right checks, has matched the right dogs (people travel accross europe to match their bitch with the right dog. it isn't a case of having two of the same breed in your house) to produce the healthiest and best example of the breed.

Midouri

My bitch is not from my friend!!! My dog is from my friend I cut his cord.

I decided that I wanted my dog because I wanted a pet.

Afterwards I got my bitch because I did my research on the seller.

Both breeders were in their homes. I wouldn't call them BYB at all.

I would be more concerned going to a place that a load of kennels outside!!!

I'm not a breeder no, because I haven't bred yet!

You obviously started somewhere, lots of people do. I do intend to find things out. She's only 9month old so it isn't happening yet, if it does.

OP, my 2 dogs weren't rescue dogs. I wanted the same breed as the puppy I had when I was a child, that my mum and dad rehomed (while I was sleeping!) when he was just a year old.

So I sourced a reputable breeder, and drove many miles to be grilled regarding my suitability for one of her pups, which reassured me even more. I knew what I was looking for in a puppy and in a breeder. In the event that it didn't work out, she would take the pup back, no problem (in fact, she took back oldboy's sister when they were 5, as her adoptive parents divorced, and she lived a long happy life with her) We still send each other photos and christmas cards 17 years later, even though oldboy (the last of his litter) is now gone . When I called her 4 years after getting oldboy to ask if she had any more litters planned, she hadn't bred since, and wasn't planning to.

I am not trying to "flame" you, or be nasty. Please take on board my point about putting your bitch's life at risk. this risk increases tenfold when people are inexperienced or lack knowledge. reading a book on it doesn't cut it- just ask the woman who brought her poor bitch in with a puppy stuck fast in the birth canal and a ruptured uterus- it really is not all cute and fluffy.

I could have bred my bitch and "made my money back" - HATE that expression, but sadly hear it a lot. Thing is, I love the wee minx too much. And even as a vet, I don't feel knowledgeable enough about the breed to breed responsibly- for most good breeders dogs are not just a hobby, they are a way of life, and they are immersed in that world. My friend who bred could comment on a dog that walked in "that dog sired a litter 5 years ago and 3 of them had bad hearts" I wouldn't know stuff like that. And I have HAD my "money back" from my wee witchy bitch, tenfold. She owes me nothing.

"Both breeders were in their homes. I wouldn't call them BYB at all."

most BYB are!! BYB doesn't literally mean they breed them out the back.

No Jooly I didn't think you were.

My comments about flaming were to the flamers

I appreciate your comments.

i believe I bought my 2 dogs from really good breeders too and no matter what the other posters say they don't know the breeders so they can't say otherwise.

I believe my 2 dogs have been worth every penny too. I love them like extra children.

Swimming. Yes, i started somewhere. As a dog owner who took an interest in the breed I owned. I found out everything i could about the breed, hung round at dog shows, talked to lots of breeders, found one I liked and whose dogs I liked, mentioned I'd like a puppy with a view to showing it and also working it and was lucky enough to get a bitch that turned out to be good enough to breed. My breeder was having to retire due to family health and she asked if I would consider breeding from my bitch if she mentored me. She still mentors me now, years on and even now I still call on her with all sorts of questions. I admire her and look up to her and she did breed responsibly, but now I know much more, I even question some of her ethics and ways of doing things I have to say.

PS- also remember that the puppies will not necessarily be carbon copies of your dog/ bitch or even a mixture of the two, and temperament will not necessarily be exactly the same either!

I, for example, am a lovely, sweet-natured, gentle person, but my children....No idea where they came from!

What is a "backyard breeder"?

This term covers those breeders with NO serious interest in or knowledge of Cocker Spaniels. They may own one or more bitches and decide that it would be nice and/or profitable to breed puppies.

A "backyard" breeder is a person who casually breeds pedigree dogs with little or no knowledge of the breed standard, the careful selection of breeding partners or genetically linked health problems. They generally breed to let the children experience the "joy" of birth, to fund a holiday/new conservatory etc. or because they believe their bitch would enjoy having a litter of puppies.

Whilst it is true to say that many "backyard" breeders may be caring people, the majority have very little knowledge of how to rear puppies successfully. Often they do not have the knowledge or experience to support the buyers of their puppies (throughout the dog's life) and usually are not in a position to offer to re-home one of their "pups" should this be required in the future.

Backyard breeder's are likely to carry out a particular mating simply because they own or have easy access to the stud dog rather than because he complements the female.

"Backyard" breeder's generally do not health test their bitches, or if they do, only the basic KC/BVA eye test is undertaken, they very rarely use fully health tested stud dogs either!

Buying a puppy from a backyard breeder is likely to be cheaper initially but may well end up costing a whole lot more in the long run due to health or behavioural issues. Not to mention the emotional cost involved.

The majority of puppies sold in the UK are from "BYB's". Some people will breed one or two litters in a lifetime; others will have four per year, year in, year out. For those breeding regularly, despite the number of litters reared, many do not learn from their experience!

Read more: www.powerscourt-cockers.co.uk/advice_pages/backyard_breeders.htm#ixzz1pEP8ZzKP

booyhoo you've already said that statement