[rsfhere]

Dear Dog Lovers:

I am trying to breed for the first time my 2 standard poodles...
The male is 7 and a virgin, the female is 6 and has had previous litters. She is now in the bleeding phase of her cycle ( has been bleeding for 9 days today).
The male follows her around and licks her vulva but doesn't try to mount her. Is this normal behavior until she is ready to mate or is my male confused and doesn't know what to do? Please help right away as I know I only have a few days of ovulation left. Thanks so much

RSF

[cigwyllt]

Your bitch is 6? How many litters has she had?

Breeding isn't something that can be learned from books or by asking questions. You really need to have someone on hand that you can talk to who can guide you through the whole business. Some of the signs that the bitch is ready to stand can be very subtle and more easily pointed out by someone on the ground rather than described in a post.

Although of course she may not be happy to be mounted even if she is giving out the right signals in which case you may need to hold her throughout the process and as the dog is a virgin he may need help to position himself correctly.

I really think that you are not fully prepared to go through with this and you should either find an experienced breeder to help you or give up on the idea.

[Lunareclipse]

I really hate to rain on your parade, but breeding really isn't a great idea just because you have two dogs of the same breed. Even if you have papers, it isn't a good idea. Breeding should be done for the betterment of the breed. If neither of your dogs have Ch then I honestly wouldn't breed. Also, do you have homes lined up for your puppies once they are born? Reputable breeders have at least 6-9 people ready to buy before they would even consider breeding. Did you do OFA testing on both dogs before deciding to breed? Are you more than willing to buy or take back any of the puppies that you bred? Since you will be the reason these puppies come into this world, you had better be prepared for getting some of your dogs back. I certainly hope that you understand that at least 40 percent of all dogs that are bred end up in shelters. 6 million dogs get put to sleep per year because people think they can breed for money or because they think they don't want to shell out the money to get their dogs fixed. People like that shouldn't own dogs. If this is your first time breeding, you need to find a mentor. And you should have hands on experience from a mentor for MANY years before you even attempt to breed. I'm not sure why you want to breed your dogs, but whatever the reason, there is no money to made from it. The best breeders are doing great if they break even. The ultrasound alone is $750.00. Building a whelping box costs around $250.00. Vet care for the bitch or the puppies could run in the thousands is there are any complications. You might even need to get a cecarian section if your bitch has any problems having her puppies. Normally it would cost a reputable breeder $3000 to have a litter of puppies, and that is without complications. You will probably be disappointed by my post, but breeding should be left to reputable breeders that breed the dogs for specific reasons.

[reeskujo]

Luna you've pretty much covered it all!...Just one thing I would like to add..Females should not be bred after 5yr.s of age...It causes a lot of uneeded and unnecessary stress on their bodies...also dogs are considered seniors at the age of 6...This is not fair to you're female to put her through the stress of a pregnancy,delivery or taking care of the litter..

As an experienced breeder I highly recommend you reconsider and take what's best for you're dog into consideration as well as what Luna has posted!

[Lunareclipse]

Also, you said your dog has had previous litters. A reputable breeder would never have more than 3 litters of puppies from a bitch during it's entire lifetime. Some reputable breeders might get 4 litters, but 3 is the norm. Having too many litters can wear a dog out and make it feel a lot older before it should. Being constantly pregnant can't be too comfortable for the dog either. At 6 years old, your dog has entered it's senior years. I would do right by the dog and let her enjoy them in peace.

[mightymite]

Adding my 2 cents here- an ethical breeder often chooses NOT to use their own stud dog but looks for a dog that is suited and complements (ideally improves upon) their bitch. This means researching lines, looking at potential stud dogs and looking at what those dogs have produced. They don't just pick the most convienent male dog just because he's "there." I have friends who are breeders who litterally go out of their mind keeping their stud dogs SEPERATED from their bitches when the bitches go into heat just because they don't want those breedings (and since all these dogs are from the same breed - yorkies and poodle respectively, they could make a significant amount of money from the sale of the puppies if they allowed these breedings to happen - they just want to do BETTER than just that). Please consider whether your stud dog is truly the "right" male dog to be breeding to your bitch in the first place (and as the other said, it does sound like you should be retiring her - not breeding her again).

[GSDS4Life]

As a dog lover I am going to tell you to get the dogs fixed. Go on petfinders and see ALL the poodles up for adoption.

Anyone who comes on here asking about breeding should NOT be breeding. Are your dogs titled? Are they health/gentic tested and cleared? Have they been Temperment Tested/Certified? Are you a member of the Kennel Club? Are you a member of the Breed Club?

[Lala]

Hi there,
While I respect your decision to breed your dogs. i must say that I am totally against it, especially breeding a senior dog.