ADVICE  FOR REPRODUCTION

 

You would like your dog to have puppies ?

 

Think hard and long before going ahead.

Will you have time to help at the birth and to be present for the first two months to care for them? Can you give feeding bottles every 4 hours, night and day, if required? There will be lots of washing to do and there will be many costs, which are not always recuperable. If you live in an apartment, forget the idea now. At 1 month, puppies run around all over the place and make the most enormous mess. Your neighbours will not appreciate the noise or the odours.

This breed is prolific, with an average of 7 to 8 puppies per litter, but often more.

You must also consider the possibility that you may not be able to find buyers for all the puppies, particularly if one of them has a major fault, which renders it unsalable. What would you do?

If you have decided to go ahead after going through all the pro's and con's, yfou must not loose sight of the fact the reproduction of pedigree dogs should be with the aim of achieving quality.

Have your dog confirmed at some time after 15 months and enter her in some competitions so that you are aware of her qualities and her faults. You must find her a partner who will optimise her chances of having a good litter.

A sire should not be chosen on the basis that it lives nearby, nor should it be selected purely on the grounds of it being a champion, without comparing the pedigrees and without assuring that he doesn't suffer from the same faults as your bitch. A Champion is not a perfect dog but a dog whose qualities outweigh his faults.

Consult the Amicale, who will help you.

Have your Golden's hips X-rayed from the age of 12 months and send the results to the Commission de Lecture du Golden Retriever Club de France.

Also, arrange a vet for eye tests. (We can furnish you with a list of agreed vets).

Make sure that the sire you have chosen has satisfied the same investigations.

Beware; if the score given for the hip test is more than `C' or an eye defect is discovered renounce the idea of reproducing with your bitch.

These maladies are characteristically hereditary.

A private individual is responsible for the puppies he produces. The law hold you to the same guarantee as the professionals.

Wait until your bitch achieves at least her third heat before arranging the mating.

If you enjoy hunting and are looking specifically for the qualities of `nose' and work, make enquiries, as certain lines prefer the sofa to the streams and brambles.

GOOD  LUCK