[labradorann]

I've got 2 lovely Labs who have been around each other for a few years, would love to make them a mommy and daddy but I'm not sure if I should take them to a vet? Of course Parker is all over Missy when shes in heat but I'm guessing there are ways that breeders use to get a better chance of success? Or am I overcomplicating things?

[cigwyllt]

Before going any further you should definitely take them to the vet to be hip scored and for any other genetic tests your breed requires.

[reeskujo]

Cig is right...hips need to be x-rayed and scored,all genetic health testing needs to be done,they should both be up to the breed standard and this is the very minimum that needs to be done..Breeding is much more then mating two dogs and having puppies..The female needs to be at least 2yr.s of age and no older then 5yr.s old..

A breeding should never be done just for the sake of wanting puppies..Those of us who are responsible and ethical breeders spend at least one but preferably two yr.s being mentored by other experienced breeders.Also keep in mind that when breeding is done responsibly breeders have homes available for the puppies and there is also next to no profit to be made.The female also requires extra care during and after pregnancy and money should always be on hand in case she needs an emergency c-section.

My suggestion is to reconsider and get both the male and female fixed.There are way to many dog and puppies in shelters that need homes..

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by reeskujo

Cig is right...hips need to be x-rayed and scored,all genetic health testing needs to be done,they should both be up to the breed standard and this is the very minimum that needs to be done..Breeding is much more then mating two dogs and having puppies..The female needs to be at least 2yr.s of age and no older then 5yr.s old..

A breeding should never be done just for the sake of wanting puppies..Those of us who are responsible and ethical breeders spend at least one but preferably two yr.s being mentored by other experienced breeders.Also keep in mind that when breeding is done responsibly breeders have homes available for the puppies and there is also next to no profit to be made.The female also requires extra care during and after pregnancy and money should always be on hand in case she needs an emergency c-section.

My suggestion is to reconsider and get both the male and female fixed.There are way to many dog and puppies in shelters that need homes..

I totally agree. Your dogs (both of them) need OFA testing to test hips and knee joints and some breeds require spine and eye testing. And you should seriously have at least 9 people lined up who want a puppy before planning a breeding. If you are a reputable breeder, you will take any puppy you breed back for any reason. A reputable breeder would make sure that any puppy they breed would never end up in a shelter. Which would mean calling or e-mailng people who adopted your puppies every few months to check up on your puppies and make sure everything is well and that the puppy doesn't need to be returned for any reason or need to be placed in a better home. Plan on at least 1/3 of the puppies being returned or turned into a shelter or given to other people without your consent. Plan on saving $2000 back for an emergency c-section. It could cost more than that if the dog's life is in danger and more surgery is needed. A reputable breeder normally loses money from breeding. They breed to improve the breed. They do not do it just because they have 2 dogs and think puppies would be cute. If you want an eye-opener, go to the local shelter when they put down an unwanted puppy. It is heart breaking.

[Lara's mom]

My question is, do you have homes for the pups to be? If not, don't breed. The shelters are full of wonderful dogs that someone thought would be "nice to breed" and then found that they couldn't find homes for them.

[labradorann]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Before going any further you should definitely take them to the vet to be hip scored and for any other genetic tests your breed requires.

Thanks, I'm guessing the vet will know which tests Labs need.

Originally Posted by reeskujo

Cig is right...hips need to be x-rayed and scored,all genetic health testing needs to be done,they should both be up to the breed standard and this is the very minimum that needs to be done..Breeding is much more then mating two dogs and having puppies..The female needs to be at least 2yr.s of age and no older then 5yr.s old..

A breeding should never be done just for the sake of wanting puppies..Those of us who are responsible and ethical breeders spend at least one but preferably two yr.s being mentored by other experienced breeders.Also keep in mind that when breeding is done responsibly breeders have homes available for the puppies and there is also next to no profit to be made.The female also requires extra care during and after pregnancy and money should always be on hand in case she needs an emergency c-section.

My suggestion is to reconsider and get both the male and female fixed.There are way to many dog and puppies in shelters that need homes..

Yeah I got my furry kids from the shelter. What I really hate is those pet stores where they have them on display like frosted cakes, often 10 or more pups to a smallish glass case with kids banging on the windows. Should be illegal

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I totally agree. Your dogs (both of them) need OFA testing to test hips and knee joints and some breeds require spine and eye testing. And you should seriously have at least 9 people lined up who want a puppy before planning a breeding. If you are a reputable breeder, you will take any puppy you breed back for any reason. A reputable breeder would make sure that any puppy they breed would never end up in a shelter. Which would mean calling or e-mailng people who adopted your puppies every few months to check up on your puppies and make sure everything is well and that the puppy doesn't need to be returned for any reason or need to be placed in a better home. Plan on at least 1/3 of the puppies being returned or turned into a shelter or given to other people without your consent. Plan on saving $2000 back for an emergency c-section. It could cost more than that if the dog's life is in danger and more surgery is needed. A reputable breeder normally loses money from breeding. They breed to improve the breed. They do not do it just because they have 2 dogs and think puppies would be cute. If you want an eye-opener, go to the local shelter when they put down an unwanted puppy. It is heart breaking.

Wow 2 grand for a c section? Not that I'd blink an eye - Missy is just as important to us as any non-furry child...

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

My question is, do you have homes for the pups to be? If not, don't breed. The shelters are full of wonderful dogs that someone thought would be "nice to breed" and then found that they couldn't find homes for them.

Good point, do you know how many pups Labs usually have? (I'm betting I wont be able to part with all of them, so thats 1 or 2 which are guaranteed a life of pampering, baths and cuddles lol)

[reeskujo]

You should not count on the vet knowing what tests need to be done...Educated breeders know all of the genetic issues their breeds are prone to..Secondly if you dogs are from a shelter then you nothing about their parents or their bloodline...This can be an issue if they carry a recessive gene for a health problem..Mind you the genetic testing is not at all cheap but has to be done..You also do not know if both dogs are within the breed standard..They have not been shown or titled nor have they been looked at by a professional breeder.While you can learn some of what you need to know through research and reading becoming a responsible,ethical breeder requires mentoring with another breeder to learn hands on.I spent almost to years mentoring.

I'm not trying to be mean but if your dogs are from a shelter there is absolutely no way you should be breeding them...It's extremely unethical,irresponsible and unfair to the dogs...I can't believe any shelter even adopt them out without them being spayed and neutered.You know absolutely nothing about their bloodline or the health and temperment of that bloodline and quite frankly when you adopt a dog from a shelter it's to give them a loving forever home not to breed them..I'm sorry but that's just wrong..I can tell this having been a breeder myself after asking you the proper questions about the parents I would not buy one of your pups.I'm honestly not trying to be mean but having worked in rescues it bothers me quite a bit that you would even consider breeding two dogs you got from a shelter..That's completely unethical and not how the responsible and ethical people in the breeding world work...Plain and simple it's wrong!!!

[florentina]

I think you should take them to the vet