Posted on 08/10/2014 3:16:58 PM PDT by Chickensoup
Does anyone here breed dogs? I love a certain breed of dog and next year I am going to end one of my jobs and would like to buy and raise and train a few dogs of my favorite breed.
But I don't know how to start. Love information. Or even direction.
FreeRepublic you are like a husband, advisor, computer geek and everyday company to me. Love you all and wish I could have you all over for Chickensoup!!
We’ve had four rescues. All were wonderful and very much loved.
:)
Some day I should sit down and figure out how many rescues I’ve had.
Probably 25-30, and I think maybe half of them, I kept for my own.
I’d have to remember names and tally them up that way.
I never have because it makes me so sad that so many of them are gone.
In 1991, I got involved in Ibizan rescue and 10 of them made their home with me.
I loved to sit and watch them bounce around the yard.
Of them, I only have Djinni and Gypsy the Podengo left.
Now I sit on the porch, watch them playing and wonder where my pack went.
My yard is starting to look like a pet cemetery.
It’s heart breaking.
Excellent post!
You’re a good person. Three of our dogs have passed away since 2007, one last September, another in 2012. It saddens me.
We now have a 12 year old, a 3, almost 4 year old, and an 8 month old. Thank goodness for puppies. Otherwise, I’m not sure that I could bear it.
Four of my Ibizans gone since 2008.
If not for the younger dogs, it would be soul-crushing.
[and then there was the tragedy that was Halla...and that *was* soul-crushing]
Djinni will be 9 in December, Gypsy, 7 in October, Odin just turned 5 in July and Seven had her first birthday in March.
They are nicely staggered so I should be okay for a while.
As with human siblings of the same parents, there are variations among the siblings in regards to intelligence, personality and disposition. These traits are not necessarily hereditary.
English Shepherds to be used for breeding should be OFA or PennHIP tested. The dog being considered for breeding purposes may have perfect hips, yet carry the gene for hip dysplasia, which is genetically inherited.
Wikipedia tells us that 15% of all English Shepherds carry the MDR1 gene mutation, a potentially life-threatening condition. Potential breeding stock should be tested for the MDR1 gene mutation. Again, the dog selected for breeding may not have this condition, but may be a genetic carrier and pass it on to the puppies.
In addition to all the absolutely excellent advice given by rintense, I'd add studying and understanding genetics to the list of important considerations.
I don’t think that I could have just one dog. As it is, I worry about every little thing. Frankie was limping a few days ago and I was beside myself. He’s fine now, and I canceled the appointment I had made for him for this afternoon, but it was quite a scare. And he’s the puppy!
What happened to Halla?
Exactly! My bitch that I campaigned, took to Eukanuba in CA, Westminster, etc had 1 litter. Three of the bitches from that litter got their Ch, among other titles. None of them will be bred. I had two contracts for the puppies, one for pet homes and one for show/performance homes. Show bitches I co-own and had to approve of any breedings were they to happen. Pet homes had a spay/neuter requirement. And all homes require regular communication as to the well being of the animal. If someone contacted me and I didn’t like them, so didn’t want to have long term regular communication with them they didn’t get a puppy. And all my puppies, out of a 10 puppy litter were spoken for before they whelped. And oh the money and time I spent through the whole process: cardiac clearance, cone degenration clearance, hips, elbows, thyroid, etc etc. And thanfully my bitch was a great mother! Puppies sold for $1k each and I did not make any profit. It’s a real shame what some people do with the bitches they breed.
You totally rock.
:)
Halla was my little doomed Dobe girl who was hydrocephalic and died just shy of 8 months old.
Yes, but Halla was fortunate enough to have YOU as an owner.
English Shepherds to be used for breeding should be OFA or PennHIP tested. The dog being considered for breeding purposes may have perfect hips, yet carry the gene for hip dysplasia, which is genetically inherited.
Wikipedia tells us that 15% of all English Shepherds carry the MDR1 gene mutation, a potentially life-threatening condition. Potential breeding stock should be tested for the MDR1 gene mutation. Again, the dog selected for breeding may not have this condition, but may be a genetic carrier and pass it on to the puppies.
_____________
great information, thanks!
Actually, you indicated that you wanted to have 2 litters per year, that would be breeding every heat cycle.
_____________
Not with the same dog.
Oh, that’s a shame! Poor baby.
I reckon.
That was one rescue that nearly killed me.
I’d only gone over to give her daddy (also Odin’s daddy) a decent dog house so he’d do better in the harsh winters.
But I met her mom and the (surviving) pups and next thing I knew, I got a call that a pup was seriously not well and would I come get it.
Infinite amounts of love invested (and $4000) later, she was gone and there was not a thing I could do to stop what was happening inside her skull.
I have never had anything hurt so badly.
There’s lots of prayer threads here for her and FReepers generously helped with her medical expenses.
If not for them, I would not have had her as long as I did.
Talk about a debt that I can never repay.
I now have 4!!! No idea how I got here. :)
I am owned by two Belgian Sheepdogs and two Border Collies. 4 high drive herding breeds in one house means life is never dull!
But you did it. YOU did.
And little Halla was lucky to have met you.
I waited 20 years to get another dog. It wasn’t that there weren’t any. I grieved way too long.
Now, I have 3.
We do have some very kind FReepers. Vet bills can easily run into the thousands of dollars, I know.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.