we are about to start breeding our silver male lab and are ready to
hear all the discussion on the pros and con. Any other lab stud owners
are more than welcome to respond for some refreshing views. This is a
high dollar male and we expect some high dollar returns.

said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

This is a high dollar male and we
expect some high dollar returns.

Name?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

On 22 Jun 2006 19:26:58 -0700 whittled these words:
we are about to start breeding our silver male lab and are ready to
hear all the discussion on the pros and con. Any other lab stud owners
are more than welcome to respond for some refreshing views. This is a
high dollar male and we expect some high dollar returns.

Well what kind of breeder do you want to be? Your post mentions only
color and money. Are these your primary interests? Have you read any
books on good breeding practices? How much have you learned about canine
genetics? Even as a non-breeder, just a person seriously interested in
dogs and their health and welfare, I own books on canine genetics, canine
structure, movement, and more. Whether we have anything to discuss
depends on whether your interest in breeding extends beyond color and
money. If you want to include concern with the health and welfare of the
puppies in your plans then we can explore why even expensive dogs end up
in shelters, why even healthy parents can produce unhealthy pups, and what
you can do to be more than just a color and money breeder.

I believe in good breeders. I'm not against breeding. I'm just against
dead dogs and I know that lack of knowledge kills far more dogs than bad
intentions.

http://www.dogplay.com/Breeding/

--
Diane Blackman
There is no moral victory in proclaiming to abhor violence
while preaching with violent words.
http://dog-play.com/ http://dogplayshops.com/

wrote:

we are about to start breeding our silver male lab and are ready to
hear all the discussion on the pros and con. Any other lab stud owners
are more than welcome to respond for some refreshing views. This is a
high dollar male and we expect some high dollar returns.

It's a competitive marketplace. Breeding decisions are made by owners
of females (bitches). If you want to make some stud fees, you need
to convince breeders (bitch owners) that your male is the most desirable
that is accessible to them.

My guess is that your dog will not be too attractive to owners of
most black, yellow, and chocolate bitches. Many of them consider silver
an improper color. Standards for conformation, working ability,
temperament, and health are typically relaxed in the production of an
exotic color. This means that you will probably be at a disadvantage
competing for non-color-oriented breeders, even apart from prejudice.

Probably most interest in your dog will come from owners of silver
or silver-factored chocolate bitches who are interested in breeding
silver puppies. To make your dog attractive to them, you might first
make sure he has the basic health clearances (OFA for hips, CERF for
eyes), then see what else you can do to set him apart, such as earning
hunt test titles. Then figure out where and how to advertise. The more
accessible you can make your dog, the more appealing he's going to be,
but there are few enough silvers around that getting to him may require
traveling.

If you enter him in events, such as hunt tests, a lot of people will
become
aware of him, and get an idea what kind of dog he is.

Since you don't know in advance exactly when a bitch will be receptive,
standard procedure is for the stud owner to board the bitch for several
days while attempting to get breedings. You will need to have the
facilities to keep her absolutely safe from access by any other male.

I recommend that when you breed, you supervise with the bitch on a
leash. This is a frustrating and boring task. Be ready to pick her up
if she panics while tied. If you do not supervise, you will not be able
to tell the bitch owner when a breeding has taken place (or if), and
there is some risk of injury to your dog.

This is not a complete list, just a few thoughts from an occasional
stud handler.

Amy Dahl