I have just registered with pet forum today. I live in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. I have a golden cocker spaniel who is KC registered and is aged 16 months. I am interested to hear from anyone in the Londonderry area who has a female golden cocker spaniel and would like to breed. I am new to this so any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Has your Spaniel had any health tests done

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

Hello welcome to petforums.

Have you got your dog health tested? Have you shown him (to see if he's a good example of the breed). If not these would be great places to start if you are hoping to stud him out.

This might be helpful to read also

Thinking about offering your dog at Stud?

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

he has been checked over by our vet just last week when he was in for his boosters. He is in very good health according to the vet

A check isnt the same as health tests...

Eye testing. £50 (ish).
DNA test - prcd-PRA £120 (not including postage to America).
DNA test - FN £58 (not including postage to America).
Hip scoring - £150 (ish).

=£378

You get the DNA tests from:
Optigen - Prices, Discounts and Patents - canine genetic testing

Don't forget there there is also the BVA fees or hips - and vet charges for taking blood vary enormously

If the vets continue to give this information to the owners (who are presumably being open about their desire to breed) - there really is NO hope and something really needs to be done about it because the message simply is not getting through (or pet owners are not giving all the facts - or are not listening )

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

I am disgusted that vets are not giving out advice and information on what tests should be done before breeding. Giving a dog a general check up will not in anyway show the dogs genetic problems.

Did your vet say this in relation to breeding from him? This is not enough and is not the same as having health tests done. I've spent over £500 on health testing my bitch recently.

I would also add, that if you know nothing about breeding, then I'd forget it and enjoy him as a pet. IMO a stud owner/handler needs experience of breeding before going into stud work. A bitch's owner will rely heavily on a stud handler for support and information. In addition, it is not as easy as letting them into the garden and get on with it. Not all bitches are happy mating - you need to know the signs when a bitch is ready and, particularly with a maiden bitch, it can be a very 'hands on' process. You also need to be prepared to step in. A bitch can get very frightened by the process and panic causing potentially life threatening injury to the stud or bitch.

Maybe thats a positive way to make a difference, wouldnt be too hard to write to local vets and ask what advice they generally give and suggest they might like to refer people to resources IRO health tests, if someone put together a leaflet with website people can access to check what tests are needed then we can print it off and present it to all our vets

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/