Stud Dog Checks Before Conception

Earlier we wrote an article about deciding whether or not you should breed your dog (see Things To Know Before You Breed Your Dog).  Assuming you decided you have the time, the money and the knowledge to breed her, here is a quick guide to a few more checks you should do before proceeding.

How healthy is your bitch?

Before conception, it is essential that you get your dog checked by your vet to rule out any health issues or genetic issues associated with the breed that could be passed onto the puppies, or any other unwanted breed standards.  The Kennel Club (KC) has a defined list of standards for any breed and even if you are only breeding your dog to produce puppies as pets rather than show dogs, you should still only breed your bitch if she is a good example of the breed.

Check that her vaccinations and worming treatments are also up to date.

Now, you are ready to find the perfect match for your dog, find a stud dog.

Is he the right stud dog?

Look through the stud dog directories to find a stud dog.  You should look for one to complement your bitch, not simply the nearest or the cheapest one.  We will discuss stud dog fees in a later article.

Once you’ve found a potential stud dog, spend some time with him to check he has a good temperament.  Similar to the checks you have done with your bitch, you should make sure that he too has had a vet check to rule out any genetic health issues and that his vaccinations are up to date and he has been wormed.  Also, check him yourself to make sure that he is up to standard, for example, you might want to check his mouth to make sure he is not too far undershot or overshot.  Make sure that he is a good example of his breed.

Pedigrees

Before conception, make sure that you have seen the stud dog’s pedigree and that it is authentic.  If you breed with a cross-breed, you only create more cross-breeds.  This means that they may be difficult to re-home and you will not know the genetic history of the dog.

Check through the pedigree to make sure that the stud dog and the bitch are not related.  There can be genetic defects if you breed relations such as brother to sister, father to daughter, mother to son or cousin combinations.

Check that there are no breeding endorsements on the pedigree.  An endorsement will stop the puppies being registered as pedigrees and it cannot be removed except by the original breeder who placed it.  Breeding endorsements are normally added by the breed to protect the dog and the breed and are not usually removed.

Once you have completed these checks, you are ready to arrange for the stud dog and bitch to mate.

Leanne Thompson