PLANNING THE DOG MATING

You will be wise to plan the mating of your dog well in advance. Remember the age factor: mate a male after he is one year old and the bitch on her second or third heat.

If you own a bitch, it will be up to you to start negotiations for mating. This means you will have to survey the field, make arrangements to bring your bitch to the male when she comes into heat, and take her home again. For intelligent planning, you will have to keep a record of the bitch's heat periods. Guesswork will only lead to frustration.

Breed your purebred bitch to a purebred male or stud. A suitable male in the neighborhood will simplify matters. But make sure the male is in good health and not a monor-chid. Also, try to pick a male that is somewhat like your bitch in size and type.

Matings are usually done at the home of the stud. There are some good reasons for this requirement. Most males perform much better when on their own home grounds. And if the male is being used for other matings, travel will sometimes affect his potency or ardor.

Perhaps you may want to breed your bitch to one of the professional studs of the breed. If you do, your arrangements will be more formal. The professional studs are usually advertised in the dog magazines, such as Dog World, Popular Dogs and Dog News. Some of these studs are for restricted use. When they are, the advertisements will specify that the stud is available to "approved bitches only." Now, this is not a snob motive. Many of these professional studs have produced outstanding progeny. Their owners naturally want to continue this policy. They have to; their livelihood depends on quality puppies.

The usual procedure when you answer one of these ads offering the services of a professional stud is to send a copy of your bitch's pedigree. You may also have to include a photograph of the bitch, since the breeder may want to see what she looks like. If your bitch measures up to the breeder's standards, she will probably be accepted for mating.

It's your responsibility to get the bitch to the professional stud and home again. No matter if the stud lives in your state or clear across the country, you will have to ship your bitch. You can ship the bitch by rail or plane. But query the breeder and the commercial carrier before shipping the dog. Both usually have special requirements, especially as to health and rabies certificates. A note of caution: shipping your bitch a long distance can be both costly and hard on the dog. So make sure that she is in the right stage of heat and will be ready to mate upon arrival. Sending her too soon will result in a boarding bill from the breeder. Likewise, don't send her when she's on the way out of heat.

Professional breeders have certain requirements and practices insofar as mating and fees are concerned. Stud fees may range up to $200, depending on the stud and his record. Or, instead of a fee, the breeder may ask for the best pup in the litter resulting from the mating. The "pick of the litter" pup is, usually claimed when he is 6 to 8 weeks old.

Regardless of whether you mate your bitch to a neighbor's male or send her off to a professional stud, you should have a written agreement. Very few professional breeders will accept your bitch without one. And the terms of the mating will be set down in black-and-white, including the method of payment. The agreement will also state that your bitch is entitled to a return service, if the first mating fails to result in conception. But that's all the return trips or rain checks she will get. If she doesn't conceive after the second mating, (upon her next heat period), there's something wrong with the bitch, or else you are making an error as to her heat period. You can assume that the stud is potent; professional studs are proven sires and are examined for potency.

You will still have to pay the stud fee even though the bitch fails to conceive after two matings. After all, the breeder can't guarantee conception; just two matings. He takes a gamble if he asks for a pup from the litter and no litter is forthcoming. Technically, if only one pup is born, the breeder who has specified that he wants a pup can claim the lone pup.

Make sure that you understand all of the terms of the mating agreement. Ask questions. You'll find the dog breeders are congenial people and willing to help you out.

If you own a male dog and want to mate him, you'll have to shop around for a bitch. Pass the word along to friends and neighbors or put an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper. When you get a response, work out the arrangements and put them in writing.

home | Sitemap: XML - HTML 1 2 3 | Privacy Policy