How would I go about breeding from our working cocker?

[PaperTowels]

She's five years old - is that too old? She's pedigree, registered with the Kennel Club.

Yes it's too old.
And at the risk of sounding harsh you clearly have zero understanding or experience of even the basics.

Breeding without at least some knowledge not gained from a MN thread is likely to put your dog and her pups at risk

Why on earth do you want to breed ?

You don't. There are enough unwanted dogs in the world without you adding to the pile. Find a more ethical way of making money.

You are clueless. Get a better job. Don't use your poor dog to make money!

Op hasn't said if she has experience in this or not.

If OP had experience in this, why would she need to ask how to go about it?

@Othering

You don't. There are enough unwanted dogs in the world without you adding to the pile. Find a more ethical way of making money.

Oh FFS

Seriously, I'm a longterm dog owner. Just asking a question.

Don't bite my fucking head off, thanks all.

For a first time mum 5 years is too old really to have her first litter. Xx

Might have been better to have a Google. Mn will eat you alive for asking this.

@GymMat

Might have been better to have a Google. Mn will eat you alive for asking this.

That is becoming apparent

Honestly, tired of the "why do you want to". Two reasons - she's a lovely dog, and we'd love another puppy. Second reason - she's a lovely dog, and I'm sure others would appreciate her puppies.

Still, you all keep banging on!

She's my second spaniel, btw, I've been a dog owner for 19 years. Got both puppies from private homes, not breeders. And yes, I went to the homes. One was an estate manager, so I reckon he knew what he was doing.

I think I'll give him a call, as country people understand "why" you'd want to breed from a wonderful, pedigree working cocker.

@shepherdess93

For a first time mum 5 years is too old really to have her first litter. Xx

Thanks, that's what I was worried about.

You will get a hard time here but I will say kindly please don’t have puppies for reasons that essentially boil down to “I want to”. There are so many unwanted puppies around (it may not seem so at the very moment due to all the Covid-adoptions but I suspect a large number of those dogs will end up back in shelters) and your dog really is too old to have a first litter.

My reasons are unimportant. But her physical health is important, which was my first concern.

A working cocker is used around here for training, gamekeeping and as a gun dog, so "there are loads of unwanted dogs" is not really relevant.

But thanks for not biting my head off!

Got both puppies from private homes, not breeders

Back yard breeders you mean , like you plan to be

My reasons are unimportant

Why are they? You posted. You can't just get replies you like. Your reasons? Oh yes ..££££

Still, you all keep banging on!

You started a discussion thread and are now cross that folk are discussing?

We've answered your question - yes she's too old and also pointed out that you need to do a LOT more research before considering breeding anything.

There are lots of nice dogs out there. Simply having one and wanting another is a pretty rubbish reason for breeding. I'd suggest doing a LOT more research on genetics, sire selection health testing and costs before you even think about it, and then you need to start with a different bitch
<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding" target="_blank">http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding/" target="_blank">/

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/breeding-from-your-dog/novice-breeder-checklist" target="_blank">http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/breeding-from-your-dog/novice-breeder-checklist<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/breeding-from-your-dog/novice-breeder-checklist/" target="_blank">/

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=puppyculture.com" target="_blank">http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=puppyculture.com<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=puppyculture.com/" target="_blank">/

http://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog

My friends dog had an accidental litter at age 5. She had 4 pups, all born dead, mum was seriously ill. Cost a fortune in vets fees too. There's a small chance things could go well but it's not worth the risk IMO

think I'll give him a call, as country people understand "why" you'd want to breed from a wonderful, pedigree working cocker.
What's the point - she's too old!

Firstly, pregnancy and whelping are not covered by many pet insurance policies. Check yours, and if it’s not then you might have to switch (would you lose lifetime cover?) or check you have at least £7k in accessible savings

You need to find out what health screenings are recommended for the breed and get all of those done (not covered by insurance)

Then you need to select a mate - who needs to have good complementary scores on all the tests. Also you need to ensure a good COI (avoidance of inbreeding)

Read up on what is involved in care of a pregnant bitch, for whelping, and care in the postnatal period and of newborn puppies

Decide if you are really up for it. Have you really got the space and the time?

As your bitch is elderly in breeding terms, then you’ll probably need to do the testing and book the stud ready for her next season,

The other extremely important aspect is how you will find good homes for your puppies, and how you will vet candidates

Have you spoken to any breeders about the nature of the commitment? Good breeders offer lifetime support and returns. What would you do if a puppy is returned? (Well bred puppies are rarely returned from good homes, but shit like divorce/bereavement happen and you need to have a plan)

The cut off maternal age for KC registration of puppies is 6

And remember that you will not necessarily cover your costs if the litter is small, stillborn or sickly.

Also that your bitch’s temperament and health might change (maternal death is rare, as long as you can afford a C-sec and your vet is a good surgeon)

Yes yes “country people” are very superior in all things

I think that “private home” in working breed terms is somewhat different to the types who advertise on gumtree. Most people who breed working dogs do so to increase their own working lines but then they will sell some of the puppies if they’ve bred for the purposes of one or two. They genuinely do vet homes and will take the dogs back. So on that point a working dog breeder isn’t like your average cockerpoo breeder.

OP, aside from the fact your dog is too old to breed from, I would be careful of going down the line of “other people would appreciate her puppies.” Even if they would, vetting future homes for puppies is incredibly difficult. How could you be sure that they would go to good homes, would be looked after to your standards? Would you take them back if it didn’t work out, and if not, have you considered the possibility that the puppies could end up being rehomed somewhere you had no idea where they’d gone or worse being sent to a rescue centre?

Those are all reasons to not breed for the assumed benefit of other people, iyswim.

If the estates manager you knew before has working lines, is there a chance he has more puppies in the future you could be put on a waiting list for?

@WaltzingBetty

think I'll give him a call, as country people understand "why" you'd want to breed from a wonderful, pedigree working cocker. What's the point - she's too old!

Could you be any more sneery and superior. I'm a 'country person', if it helps you to value my opinion more but I'd bet my less pound that you'll come back and say you don't give a toss about my opinion. Thank god your dog is too old anyway.