Cocker Spaniel Stud

laurencampion

Hi ther, i own a orange roan cocker spaniel and am hoping to breed from him just wondering what is the best way to go about it. Ive done a lot of research but the IKC website has been down for the past month or so. He is IKC registered, microchipped, vaccinated, liecenced, very friendly and vet checked. He is 15 months old. Anything else I need to do before allowing him to breed?
thanks:)

ISDW

have you looked into the heridetery (sp) health problems and had him checked for these? A vet health check isn't enough, you need to get him hip scored if the breed can suffer from hip problems, eyes checked and scored if that is appropriate.

You also need to consider why you want to breed from him. You, as much as the owner of the bitch will be responsible for those puppies for the rest of their lives. Are you willing to take any of them back into your home if they need to be rehomed? Even when they're 8 or 9 years old? What if you can't find homes for all of the pups, are you ready for another dog?

I don't show my dogs, but most breeders do, and will only breed the dogs that have been judged to be a good example of that breed, have you shown him at all, and had him judged by a breed specialist?

laurencampion

Yes had him checked for heart problems hip dysplasia, eye and ear problems. Do need a cert to say you have had these checks and if so does your vet supply them? Yes showed him in some local agricultural with great success. I've got someone interested in breeding their IKC registered black cocker with him, what sort of questions should i be asking them? thanks

mymo

I think they have to be at least 18 months before breeding, but you'd have to check that.
Really think about this, I know someone with very well bred cockers, who had a litter of 9 last year and it took 10 months to find homes for all the pups. Not a good time to be breeding and selling pups, and also what about homing them?
How would you go about checking they go to good homes?

Also you can't get X-ray hip score until 18 months. And yes you do need certs. (Eye cert yearly, ask bred club as some organise the eye check normally yearly)

Ask if bitch has same Info you need.

Hermit07

To be honest I would not breed from him

Local agricultural shows would not be a judge of his quality. You would have to take him to IKC shows to have him assessed and I doubt his quality would match the dogs you will see there.

Only Top Quality dogs should be used as stud dogs. Reputable breeders only use top class stock that are usually champions of their breed. Being IKC reg is no indication of quality. If your cocker was eye tested for inherited eye problems in the cocker, you would have got a cert for this already. All bitches would have to be tested too and a cert provided

Too many people with an IKC reg dog breed bitches and offer unsuitable dogs as stud to make a few quid. One only has to look at donedeal if they are in any doubt

Also a pet dog that has been used at stud will be constantly looking to mate again.