Are You Thinking Of Breeding Labrador Retrievers?

Are you wandering if breeding Labrador retrievers is really for you? Most Labrador dog owners will, at some point, consider breeding their dogs but there are a number of things to consider before reaching a decision. Generally speaking, there are two main reasons why any owners would want to breed their dogs; either because they want some more lab puppies for themselves or because they want to make breeding a part time, or even full time, business.

Whatever your motivation it should be remembered that not all pregnancies result in a happy, healthy litter. And, if you have the female dog, breeding a litter at home can be a great experience for the first time breeder or it can be an unmitigated disaster. The most fundamental thing to get right when breeding dogs is to find the best possible match between the breeding pair of animals. It is important that both dogs have a suitable temperament, are in good shape and do not have any medical problems. Each animals lineage should be checked to ensure there are no inherited problems such as hip dysplasia.

The temperament of the breeding pair is just as important as their health. Labradors inevitably end up in a family home so it is essential that they are temperamentally suited to sharing a home with children as well as adults.

Another essential point to consider when breeding Labrador Retrievers is to check the pedigrees of each of the breeding pair to ensure the dogs are not too closely related. The implications of using closely related dogs are poor health in the puppies, questionable temperament and a weakening of the bloodline.

Before mating it is advisable to let the dogs get to know each other and, ideally, each dog should be over two years-of-age. By this time any temperamental or health issues should be apparent. Of course, whether to breed Labrador retrievers or not isn’t a decision to rush into and a very pertinent point is that having an ideal pair of dogs to mate is only the start of the breeding procedure. Once the mating has taken place and pregnancy is confirmed the real work begins.

Taking care of the bitch during pregnancy can take a lot of work as can the whelping process. After the mum has produced her litter taking care of the puppies, and finding good homes for the puppies is a time-consuming and potentially expensive undertaking.

The last point is the most relevant. It isn’t always easy to find suitable new owners for your puppies. Rest assured there is no way you will let the puppies go to just anyone. Be prepared to reject potential owners if you are not satisfied that they will offer a caring and loving home to a puppy. For example a couple working long hours to pursue their careers may not have the time a dog needs.

————————

The Labrador Retriever Guide http://www.labrador-retriever-guide.com/ is the ultimate online resource for Lab owners. The site has a monthly newsletter to stay in touch with the Labrador Retriever Guide is just the place for Lab owners to hang out together http://www.labrador-retriever-guide.com/labradorreview.html