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.

I look at it from the behavioural point of view assuming that you will have all the health checks done on your bitch and sire As a breeder you need to do a lot with the bitch during birth and the first days and weeks of life to ensure that they are able to cope with life in general.

You will need to health check for:-
HD
AMS
FN
PRA-PRCD
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
Glycogen Storage Disease VII (PFK Deficiency)

It is a hugh learning curve and will need a lot of research to get up to the relevant knowledge. Even us country people use ens and the puppy culture to bring up healthy and mentally fit puppies.

Many thanks to those who have given constructive answers to my question! Really helpful.

I will call the original breeder to see what he suggests. Although it seems clear she is too old, which was my main question.

Sorry also agree that 5 is 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.

Don't really understand your point here?

People were asking why I would want to breed from a pedigree working cocker. I said that country people would understand why. How is that any more sneery than most of the replies I have got about "unwanted dogs in the world"?!

@PollyRoulson

Sorry also agree that 5 is too old

Yes I don't want to put her through undue strain. Thanks all!

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?

We were vetted by her breeder, and I would do the same thing. Still, it's all hypothetical now!

@PaperTowels

Many thanks to those who have given constructive answers to my question! Really helpful.

I will call the original breeder to see what he suggests. Although it seems clear she is too old, which was my main question.

Surely if there’s the remotest chance your dog would suffer from this plan, you wouldn’t seek a second opinion from someone who makes money from breeding?

Hmm why would anyone want to become a first time breeder at a time when puppies are fetching all time high prices

Hmm why would anyone want to become a first time breeder at a time when puppies are fetching all time high prices

Indeed.

OP claims to know about dogs but doesn't even know her dog is too old.

Oh I need some cash, hey 5 years old dog, your womb could serve as an ATM. Disgusting.

@Clymene

Hmm why would anyone want to become a first time breeder at a time when puppies are fetching all time high prices

Yes, it's a mystery. One that I have already answered, though.

Thanks to all those who have given me constructive and helpful answers, much appreciated, as I'm sure they will be by people who come across this thread as well.

I will now be muting the thread, as it's answered my questions and I really can't be bothered with the holier-than-thou finger waggers

You're seeing £ signs OP.

I knew as soon as I saw this thread title that you’d get ripped apart by the mnet dog posse who refuse to accept that anyone who chose to buy a puppy or want a specific breed. You would have been better off asking the questions on a more country/ rural group who actually have experience of breeding dogs for a specific purpose rather than wanting to pick up a staffie/ lurcher from the nearest dogs home.

Saying that your dog is too old now to risk a first litter but I’m sure you’d have had plenty of good homes who’d have loved good examples of working class cockers.

Yes, you'll make £10k. Ka-Ching.

@Holyrivolli

I knew as soon as I saw this thread title that you’d get ripped apart by the mnet dog posse who refuse to accept that anyone who chose to buy a puppy or want a specific breed. You would have been better off asking the questions on a more country/ rural group who actually have experience of breeding dogs for a specific purpose rather than wanting to pick up a staffie/ lurcher from the nearest dogs home.

Saying that your dog is too old now to risk a first litter but I’m sure you’d have had plenty of good homes who’d have loved good examples of working class cockers.

The OP didn’t ask whether she was right to buy a puppy or want a specific breed.

She asked if her 5-year-old dog was too old to breed from because she would want one of the puppies for herself and she knows people she could sell the others to. And when people said her dog was too old, she said she would seek a second opinion from a breeder - someone who also makes money from breeding.

I find the mumsnet pet pages baffling sometimes. They are full of dog and cat lovers who have dogs and cats but are hugely hostile to anyone suggesting they might like to get a pet or, good forbid, have a litter from a good quality animal.

(And having tried myself to adopt a cat from a shelter and given up because they made it so difficult I don't buy the "just adopt" line.)

How would I go about breeding from our working cocker?

Here's how it usually goes...

You place an ad on a local FB asking for a nice looking stud dog or you spot a nice looking entire dog out on walks.

A proven stud will cost slightly more. KC registered will be slightly more but noone is bothered about health tests in this scenario.

You might find a stud dog owner who wants to keep a female puppy from the litter to breed with her dad or another of his offspring and they might ask for this rather than a stud fee. You can weigh up your options for maximum profit.

You leave the dogs together at the right time and hope for the best.

Such is the demand for puppies that you'll sell them easily and will probably even get posters on this thread asking you for your location.

Honestly, some of the answers here: on a board where most posters endlessly plug purely positive training, the degree of nastiness to humans is just baffling. And don't say, 'Its because I care about the animals' - that's no excuse to behave like an arse.

I'm on a breed page on FB and when someone asks a gentle question about perhaps breeding their dog, people take the time to give sensible answers and ask probing questions in a polite and respectful way. Some of those answering will be involved in rescue, some will be experienced breeders, all love the breed.

And OP, I've known bitches have a successful first litter at five, but it is thought to be pushing it a bit. And for a working-line dog, I'd want to know if it was in work and how good it was.

You might find a stud dog owner who wants to keep a female puppy from the litter to breed with her dad or another of his offspring

Have I misunderstood this - that's inbreeding, no?

I’ve had a first time litter from a five year old bitch, it was fine.

5 would be my cut off though, and only if the bitch was pretty fit to start with.

@TheSpottedZebra yes it is inbreeding, which means pups can't be KC registered but genuinely doesn't stop people.

I admit, I’m appalled at the thought of inbreeding.

Maybe I’m naive but that does not sit well with me

In maiden bitches over 4 years of age there is an increased incidence of c-section this rises again at 6 years of age.
It is going to take while to get the health checks done as these are non-essential services so are not taking priority in vet practices currently.
You also have to consider that whilst it is rare if you breed your bitch there is a risk that you will loose the pups, the bitch and have a bill of several thousand pounds.

Wow there are some low lives on this thread.

@Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel

Wow there are some low lives on this thread.

The only low lifes are people who commercialise animals for their own selfish gain.