I am interested in any information about breeding. My Labrador is Brea, she is nearly 2 and she is black. She also carries both yellow and chocolate genes. I am new to breeding but my parents bred Labradors when I was younger and YES I have considered breeding carefully!! If anyone has any tips I would welcome them as I want as much information as possible before I start, BUT please don't tell me I shouldn't breed her just because I haven't done it before, everyone has to start somewhere. I am particularly interested in any information about whelping boxes. My parents built their own but no longer have the design plans. I want to build something that can be used again if all goes well on our first attempt, and that will be resistant to the chewy nature of Labradors. I also want it to be usable for the whole time the puppies are with us. Brea has a penned area that she stays in when she is not with me and she sleeps in her cage which is in this area. She also has a dog flap in this area so that she has access to the garden as she pleases. Many thanks Carol
Re: Hello Hi and welcome You might find this useful: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-breeding-should-you-let-your-dog-have-puppies/
Re: Hello Hi Carol, and welcome to the forum. Breeding is such an extensive subject, I don't think I would be able to just offer tips. But am happy to answer any specific questions you may have. I recommend you buy a copy of The Book of The Bitch if you don't have one already, it is a thorough and helpful guide to pregnancy, whelping and afterwards. I use disposable whelping boxes so can't really advise on constructing one. Have you chosen a stud dog yet?
Re: Hello Hi, thanks for your replies! I have read through the http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-breeding-should-you-let-your-dog-have-puppies/ page and am aware of the pitfalls Brea has had hip and elbow score done her elbows are 0 and hips 7/7 which although not perfect do not concern me too much. these were done just recently and I was happy enough with the results that I am happy to go ahead and breed her. Equally I have ordered "The Book of the Bitch" and is should arrive tomorrow and I have pre ordered your Happy puppy book Pippa! As for studs I have a couple that I am looking into right now, one is through the kennels we use and the owner breeds and trains gundogs and I am going to see him when we put Brea into kennels next month, the other is a KC registered family pet and I have been in touch with the owner and plan to take Brea to meet him before making a final decision. I am also still looking though in case neither of these work out as I am looking for a smaller than average male as Brea is quite small in size. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from more of you Carol
Re: Hello Hi Carol - sorry I can't help, but welcome from me too! Jac and Lilly (black girl, almost 4)
Re: Hello Just wanted to welcome you, sorry no experience to offer. Hattie 6 years and Charlie our rescue 3 years. Have fun on the forum. Helen x
Re: Hello In addition to all the essential health tests, my advice would be to choose a mate for Brea who is not carrying both chocolate and yellow genes. You want to avoid producing puppies that have two doses of both yellow and chocolate. They will be yellow dogs without the correct black pigmentation. A dog carrying only black and chocolate would be fine. A dog carrying only black and yellow would be fine. A dog carrying only black would be fine. A dog carrying only chocolate would be fine. If Brea is black and carries both yellow and chocolate this means she has one black gene, one chocolate gene (which together form a pair), one yellow gene and one 'not yellow' gene (which together also form a pair).
Re: Hello Hi there and welcome. I too am considering having one litter of pups from our girl, probably next year, so I'll be following your updates with interest!
Re: Hello [quote author=Oberon link=topic=5069.msg63713#msg63713 date=1395821874] In addition to all the essential health tests, my advice would be to choose a mate for Brea who is not carrying both chocolate and yellow genes. You want to avoid producing puppies that have two doses of both yellow and chocolate. They will be yellow dogs without the correct black pigmentation. A dog carrying only black and chocolate would be fine. A dog carrying only black and yellow would be fine. A dog carrying only black would be fine. A dog carrying only chocolate would be fine. If Brea is black and carries both yellow and chocolate this means she has one black gene, one chocolate gene (which together form a pair), one yellow gene and one 'not yellow' gene (which together also form a pair). [/quote] Apart from being disqualified from showing Dudleys (two chocolate genes and two "Yellow" genes) is there any other reason why you wouldn't want to have puppies with this colouration? IMHO they are really cute with their "cherry" noses as my grandad used to call them. To be honest the disqualification from showing seems a little outdated but maybe I have missed some other more serious reason behind this and these doubly double recessive dogs are more prone to life threatening illness. Thanks
Re: Hello No, the Labrador Breed Standard is the only reason Where I live (Australia) there is another reason which is that black noses are at less risk of sunburn (actually a very real issue for pink nosed dogs). But not an issue in the UK I'm guessing. That would be the only health related thing I can think of and it's certainly not confined to pink-nosed Labradors
Re: Hello Ah, see I am not planning to produce "Breed standard" puppies as such. Brea is quite a little dog and was chosen for that reason, I don't personally like the bigger broad headed breed standard I prefer the wirier field look.
