Should I breed my male?

The following article was composed by Linda Oldham.

Will owners of quality bitches want to breed to your dog?  In dog breeding it is the owner of the bitch who seeks the services of the dog, not the other way round. 

There are literally 100's (perhaps 1,000's) of fine male Labradors whose pedigrees, looks and accomplishments make them desirable as sires.  A breeder (owner of a female) has so much choice, it can make their head spin.

So, to even hope to have a given male will have the opportunity to sire a quality litter (and why would you settle for anything short of top quality?) you must prove his worth by competing against others in Conformation, Field or Hunting work, Obedience and be successful.  He must have certified clear hips, elbows, eyes, heart.  You must know his pedigree history (what problems are lurking in his background).  You must be familiar with Labrador pedigrees in general in order to determine whether or not breeding him to a particular bitch will result in healthy, quality pups.

Then you must be willing to deal with assisting in the breeding, whether natural or AI (artificial insemination).  You just don't turn the two dogs out in the back yard, not when your charging a stud fee (money or a pup) and not when your dog is inexperienced (as the bitch may be also).  You must also be willing and able to board the bitch for a day or two or more.  That is a gigantic responsibility: taking care of someone else's dog.

And then when the pups are born and growing, if there is anything wrong with them, guess who gets the blame.  I will give you a hint.   The owner of the female knows she is perfect, therefore....

So, my advice is to have your pup neutered and enjoy him for the next 12, 13 or more years.  Your life and his will be simpler, perhaps healthier and perhaps longer.

All text and graphics are Copyright � by LabsR4U. Please do not copy any text or graphics without permission.