The Complete Book of Dog Breeding. Dan Rice

is recommended. Your health care professional may detect something minor such as an ear infection or dental problem that needs correction before the stress of breeding and pregnancy begins.

      The examination will affirm your dog’s nutritional and general health status, and recommendations may be made about exercise or dietary changes. A fecal (stool) sample will probably be requested to determine if she has intestinal parasites. If the test is positive, treatment will be arranged to relieve the stress of the parasites and minimize their passage to the puppies.

      Heartworm protection will be discussed and recommendations about the best prevention techniques that are compatible with breeding animals.

      Your veterinarian will update you on anything new on the immunization scene. He or she will probably recommend vaccinations for your bitch to assure that the highest possible immunity and disease protection will be passed to the puppies.

      In the rapidly advancing animal biological and pharmaceutical industries, new products and techniques enter the arena regularly. It is not appropriate to list each parasite and its treatment in this book or to advise you about which vaccines should be administered to your brood bitch. Some diseases are prevalent in one part of the country and virtually absent in others. Biologicals that were appropriately administered to a breeding animal last year may be less effective than new vaccines that just emerged from the laboratories (see Some Diseases Preventable by Vaccinations, page 160).

      Even if you treat your dogs for parasites at home, it is important to use the best products and to have the latest information. Update your knowledge through a consultation with your veterinarian, even if it is only a phone call. Ask about newer flea and tick control methods, including systemic products and yard treatments. Don’t spend your time and money on gimmicks, insecticide baths, repellent collars, or electronic devices, all of which may or may not work for you. Inquire about vermifuges (worm medications) that are safe to use during breeding, gestation, and lactation. A number of chemicals are contraindicated during bitches’ reproductive phases.

      It is unlikely you will see the most up-to-date information in your daily newspaper. Advertisements and package inserts are easily misinterpreted or misleading. Place your trust in information from professionals whose business it is to stay currently informed.

Selecting a Suitable Male

      We have spent many pages discussing the choice and conditioning of breeding females prior to and at the time of breeding. Now a few words need to be said about your choice of a sire for the new litter. The indisputable fact is, he will contribute half of the puppies’ genetic characteristics.

      It goes without saying that you have studied the breed standards and compared them to the conformation, color, and markings of available males. Pedigrees have been studied; if he is a proven sire, his progeny have been evaluated. Final selection might rest on other, rather esoteric values.

      • Evaluate his temperament. If possible, meet and handle the prospective sire and all his available adult offspring. Be especially critical of exaggerated aggressiveness or shyness.

      • If your bitch has any flaws or faults (heaven forbid!) that have been discovered in the show ring or elsewhere, look for a male that does not duplicate those faults. When evaluating a potential stud dog, identify his faults (there are bound to be a few), and be sure that your bitch does not have similar faults.

      • Genetic problems exist in virtually all breeds. To avoid as many as possible of those hereditary deformities and diseases, contact the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) and avail yourself of that organization’s DNA registry. (See page 45.)

      • Health considerations are extremely important. If breeding to a show animal, you will probably find him in excellent condition. If not, be sure he appears strong and vital. His coat should shine; he should be well muscled and active. His eyes should be clear and bright, and he should display a natural curiosity when you meet him.

      Stud Fees and Contracts

      Stud fee considerations are in the purview of the dam and sire’s owners. Generally, the better a stud has performed in exhibition, the higher his fee. If he has sired classwinning offspring or champions, the stud costs may increase also. A proven stud that complements your bitch’s qualities is a bargain, no matter what the fee.

      Choice of a sire should never be made on the basis of a low stud fee. Sometimes the fee is negotiable, and if the dam is equal or superior in quality to the sire, a choice of puppies may be made a part of the fee. The fee should always be discussed and committed to writing, signed by both owners, before the bitch is bred.

      Always look at the stud’s registration paper to assure that he belongs to the person with whom you are negotiating. Check his pedigree and compare it to the other data you have seen and offspring you have handled. Arrive at a definite, written agreement on where the breeding will take place and who will witness it. Note repeat service guarantees in case no pregnancy results. If a kennel boarding fee is to be charged, it should also be stated.

      Chocolate Labrador Retriever dam and her six-week-old litter of blacks and browns.

      The fee agreement should also address who is responsible for payment for physical examination of the stud. A reproductive physical examination is absolutely essential for a stud if one has not been done within the previous 90 days (see Male Examination, page 50) and be sure to inquire about his CHIC evaluation. If you decide an exam is not necessary because of a recent certification of health, read the health report carefully. If it does not specify prostatic and testicular examinations, request a new examination.

      If the above recommendations seem like overkill to you, consider your investment in time, money, and love. Don’t be intimidated into compromising your standard because of friendship or respect for a person. If the owner of a stud is insulted by your requests and summarily denies them, perhaps you should look for another stud. Handshakes may work for some, but don’t depend on it.