[FlDebra]

I am glad to hear your Birdie beat the odds and survived as well as delivering her pups. Also VERY glad to hear you are spaying her so this never happens again. You will have a long way to go if you plan to get into breeding. Not only study and finding a mentor, but you need to get financially solvent before you undertake something like breeding. It is expensive if you do it right.

Finding appropriate dogs to breed is a challenge in itself. The breeders that have the breeding quality pups are not eager to give full registration so you can breed them. Most normally only sell with limited registration -- meaning you can get papers but you cannot register a litter. They will sell with full registration only when they determine you are ready and meet their qualifications. You may be able to find pet quality breeders that give full registration, but better to find a mentor breeder willing to give you a chance with quality pups.

Once you have your pups, you have to wait and see that they do, indeed meet conformation and pass all of their genetic testing. The vet visits to get all pre-mating tests on both the female and male will not be cheap but it is well worth it and considered a must. You will get a full panel of blood work, a BAT, and the STD tests. They will do a full xray on each pup to get your OFA certification showing the joints are all good. An eye exam is required to get the CERF certification. I would also have at least two show breeders evaluate for conformation and give their opinion on breedability. You cannot breed the female for at least a minimum of 18 months and never on the first heat. So, it should be closer tothe 2 year mark. That 2 years should be spent reading all you can on breeding, attending any classes you can find, watching a couple of litters beig born with your mentor, and generally preparing yourself and your environment for mating, whelping, and puppy rearing.

Now you are ready to start putting some of the study and mentoring knowledge to use. But be sure you have several thousand in reserve in case a C-section is needed or other complications happen. You lucked out with Birdie -- especially after the seizure. Don't count on that luck -- you have to be prepared to take care of them. It is a HUGE responsibility and they deserve to have you well prepared to help them in any situation.