hi there all.

I have a 3 month old puppy called Max (Westie). in 2 months time we are getting a female westie and evenually when she is old enough and past her first/second season i would like to breed from them. Mainly because we would love Max's offspring, but also because Breeding is somehitng I have always been interested in. I want to preduce quality dogs and give them loving homes.

in terms of the money, Shane (my fiance) and I have agreed that any money made should go to the upkeep and constant research into producing better pups every time.

I am currently reading everything i can get my hands on about breeding and westies. Anyting else I should be doing? Thanks! Helen (and Max) x

I dont know a lot about Westies but I would check with the Kennel Club or someone in the breed if there are any health problems in Westies and obviously get both parents health tested before you breed from them.

You will find this link useful,
Health

Breeding is something which should not be undertaken lightly,things can and do go wrong.You can loose your bitch and all pups,you can loose the bitch and end up hand rearing puppies,this means feeding every two hours day and night.You may not loose either but you need time space and money to bring up a litter.
Your bitch may need a c-section at 2am,very costly as well as out of hours call out fee for a vet.

Are your dogs good enough to breed from,just because you want a puppy like Max is not in my opinion a good enough reason to be breeding,pups take on gentics from both parents so it will be difficult to get one just like max.

Could you take a dog back you bred at any time during the dogs lifetime if the owner could not keep it?

Don't forget the extra expense of food,both for mom and pups,whelping box and bedding,extra laundry,cleaning up after mucky pups several times daily,pedigrees and registrations,puppy packs,etc......

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Rooney Rumpus DNA Tested L2/HC Clear

Ellies Babe Genetically L2/HC Clear

ruardeanstaffords

Thank you for the advice.

Scare tacktics are working! I completely appreciate the undertaking something like this involves, but i guess its all theory until it actually happens.

Every one has to start somewhere I suppose. I dont mean to take this lightly at all.

Like I said im doing all the research i can and i intend to provide the pups and new homes with all i can e.g. puppy pack, food, incurace, vaxinations (if they go early enough), worming etc.

But i have many months still to research before we get our little girl, and many more before we could even start to think seriously about it.

Thank you for the advice. Keep it coming! Helen x

Hi Helen,
I didn't mean to scare you but things do go wrong,we had a great first litter from our bitch,second litter was a nightmare.
She went into labour early hours,first pup was breach and she needed help delivering,second & third were normal but forth was breach,again help was needed,fifth was stillborn and to finish off the nightmare a trip to the vets was needed because the last pup was dead and stuck in the birth canal.That litter cost us a small fortune.

Another thing you might want to ask is could you cope with losing pups?

Breeding isn't all it's cracked up to be,it's very tiring,hardwork and at times heartbreaking.

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Rooney Rumpus DNA Tested L2/HC Clear

Ellies Babe Genetically L2/HC Clear

ruardeanstaffords

i will second that yes it can be heartbreaking

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i was told & read that you should wait untill the bitch has had at least * 3 * seasons before mating??
i have just studded my rough coat jr for the 1st time & i researched & researched for months before i decided i would do it,but omg no-one said how time consuming it would actualy be,because i chose that i would for the safety of both dogs to supervise the tie.i was watching for hours all 3 times i was knackered i can tell you as each tie last approx 30 mins so had to keep both dogs calm.But the bitch owner hadnt disclosed that she had several weeks earlier had an eye oporation & during the 3rd tie her eye started to bleed,well you can imagine i wasnt prepared for that one it was very nerve wracking i can tell you,so if you go into this be warned things do not always go as planned.
good luck

Hi Helen
My two cairn bitches have just produced lovely pups, they popped out like smarties and appeared healthy. The first bitch to whelp lost one of her pups two days later and another started to loose weight, after asking the vet he suggested putting the wee one in with my second bitch who took over the feeding, glad to say she has now doubled her weight. Yes they do have problems but the experience is well worth it. Goos luck for when the time comes,

Thank you all very much. What a mixed bag of replies! I hope that when it happens for us everything will be ok, but i guess thats the same with all of you! if there is anything else, please let me know! Thanks again all! Helen x

i wish you luck if you go ahead with breeding your dogs.