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wildcard · 08-21-2008, 01:52 PM

You need to speak with the owners of those dogs. For me, this is easy, because I have a mentor who has allowed me access to her breeding dogs via leased bitches and use of her stud dogs. For the most part, she has bred and/or owned the dogs that are in their pedigree, and where she outcrossed to other lines, I am not shy about contacting the owners or breeders of those dogs to get more information. When I outcross I try to get as much information as possible from that dog's owner and/or breeder. If you look at the pedigree, if the dogs are from responsible breeders you will be able to trace owners of the dogs via their kennel names and/or the AKC can provide some information.

For the particular dogs being bred, I have their eyes examined by a veterinary opthamologist who will perform the tests necessary to register results with CERF, I try for within 4-5 months prior to breeding or do the test annually. I also have a veterinary cardiologist listen for heart issues, however if I cannot get to a cardiologist I do have my vet listen specifically for heart murmurs. Typically these tests are performed at clinics sponsored by dog clubs, either in conjunction with dog shows or stand-alone clinics or you can schedule private appointments (more expensive). I have my vet check for luxating patellas. I breed papillons (I have a yorkie but do not breed them) and liver shunt is not such a problem to the extent it is in yorkies so I will leave that to the yorkie breeders to advise you on as to what testing is appropriate.

I advocate breeding a bitch at an age that it is safe for her to start her breeding career (at 2 or 3, I do not want to wait until she is 5 or 6 if it can be avoided) BUT I tend to only use older stud dogs (age 6 plus) because I feel like many genetic conditions do not become known until a later age (sometimes even older than 6 but I also have to weigh risking poorer sperm quality if I really do not want to lose his potential contribution) and there is no harm in waiting for a dog to be closer to mid-life before using him at stud. My AKC CH/MACH/UD/RE dog named Piper sired his first litter at age 6 and his second litter (of 6!) is one week old, he is 8.5 yrs old) By waiting until the stud is older I feel like I have even more information even if it only comes from half the equation.

Is there a particular reason people want to use your dog, i.e. is he winning in the breed or performance rings, or does he have a fantastic pedigree? I don't breed a dog just because he is attractive and healthy, he needs to be able to contribute to the gene pool in a positive and fairly significant way for me to want to use him to perpetuate the canine population.

08-21-2008, 01:52 PM	#5
wildcard Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 236	You need to speak with the owners of those dogs. For me, this is easy, because I have a mentor who has allowed me access to her breeding dogs via leased bitches and use of her stud dogs. For the most part, she has bred and/or owned the dogs that are in their pedigree, and where she outcrossed to other lines, I am not shy about contacting the owners or breeders of those dogs to get more information. When I outcross I try to get as much information as possible from that dog's owner and/or breeder. If you look at the pedigree, if the dogs are from responsible breeders you will be able to trace owners of the dogs via their kennel names and/or the AKC can provide some information. For the particular dogs being bred, I have their eyes examined by a veterinary opthamologist who will perform the tests necessary to register results with CERF, I try for within 4-5 months prior to breeding or do the test annually. I also have a veterinary cardiologist listen for heart issues, however if I cannot get to a cardiologist I do have my vet listen specifically for heart murmurs. Typically these tests are performed at clinics sponsored by dog clubs, either in conjunction with dog shows or stand-alone clinics or you can schedule private appointments (more expensive). I have my vet check for luxating patellas. I breed papillons (I have a yorkie but do not breed them) and liver shunt is not such a problem to the extent it is in yorkies so I will leave that to the yorkie breeders to advise you on as to what testing is appropriate. I advocate breeding a bitch at an age that it is safe for her to start her breeding career (at 2 or 3, I do not want to wait until she is 5 or 6 if it can be avoided) BUT I tend to only use older stud dogs (age 6 plus) because I feel like many genetic conditions do not become known until a later age (sometimes even older than 6 but I also have to weigh risking poorer sperm quality if I really do not want to lose his potential contribution) and there is no harm in waiting for a dog to be closer to mid-life before using him at stud. My AKC CH/MACH/UD/RE dog named Piper sired his first litter at age 6 and his second litter (of 6!) is one week old, he is 8.5 yrs old) By waiting until the stud is older I feel like I have even more information even if it only comes from half the equation. Is there a particular reason people want to use your dog, i.e. is he winning in the breed or performance rings, or does he have a fantastic pedigree? I don't breed a dog just because he is attractive and healthy, he needs to be able to contribute to the gene pool in a positive and fairly significant way for me to want to use him to perpetuate the canine population.