Gneral Breeding Age

[trigger2 3,146]

 

It depends if the bitch comes from an inbred line that breeds true,then she has a strong proven family behind her,then I would say breed while she is young and supple. The longer you leave her the higher the chances of trouble. In any case if the bitch isnt a goodun you should know by the time shes 3. Whats behind the parents is just if not more important than there own ability. A dog could be a one off champ but have mediocre ancestors that will show up in the whelps.

Plenty start to show faults after the age of 3.

 

Let's have it right, up to 12 months old they are pups, up to 2 years old they are seeing a bit and learning the ropes. After that they should have a proper season to go at.

 

So after 1 proper season you know if it isn't a goodun?

 

Not sure I agree with that.

 

Not disputing you sometimes need to take a chance and breed young when continuing a line. But to say you know it's a goodun at 3?

 

I agree with the lads saying 3-4 good seasons to know what you've got.

 

true gaz. i always think that youth and enthuisasium in a dog can sometime make a dog look a little better in its early years. once they get to around 3 years old ive seen dogs change and not always for the better.

[jeemes 4,485]

I was talking about strains,not a pack of one off crosses. It takes years to build a strain from a family of dogs,but when you do you can more or less rely on how it will turn out because its a fixed type.

Dont want to get too scientific but basically a dogs ability to catch rabbits (or anything else) well even into longevity does not guarantee in any way it producing good offspring. I would rather breed from a well inbred bitch from a tested line in her first season than gamble on a random cross that had worked well for how ever many seasons. If you breed a strain it takes years and you suffer a lot of disappointments but in the end you know what you have will not only perform but also produce.

[roybo 2,873]

Agree with what you say jeemes,in regards to inbred lines and families but the lad wants a litter out if his 2 dogs,

As far as I'm aware he hasn't got a line ,and would be best at least waiting to know what he has before breeding.

Like you say no guarantees it will produce the same better or worse ,

But the least we can do is to try to breed off better parents .

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I was talking about strains,not a pack of one off crosses. It takes years to build a strain from a family of dogs,but when you do you can more or less rely on how it will turn out because its a fixed type.

Dont want to get too scientific but basically a dogs ability to catch rabbits (or anything else) well even into longevity does not guarantee in any way it producing good offspring. I would rather breed from a well inbred bitch from a tested line in her first season than gamble on a random cross that had worked well for how ever many seasons. If you breed a strain it takes years and you suffer a lot of disappointments but in the end you know what you have will not only perform but also produce.

Ok fair enough. But this thread isn't about strains or inbred lines fella.

[Sirius 1,391]

It's down to the owners.

My ideal is a dog and bitch which have 3 - 4 good seasons behind them. Or work to the standard I want.

But theory and real life can be different.

Edited March 15, 2016 by Sirius

[nottzhunter08 898]

​some good advice from all thanks, I've always had it in my mind around 4 years old, my bitch is 3 now and dog 2 so another two year I reckon, as I say my dogs do me proud and if they carry on the way they have bin for the next few year I would be stupid not to breed them, none of them come from lines as I have never bin bothered about names tbh, I feel if you put the time in and put game in front of the dog it clicks with most of them, the bitch I got I use alot for rabbits, cracking on the lamp done good numbers, good ferreting bitch knows the game, and caught herself a fair few big rabbits, were as my dog is my main daytime dog, caught plenty big rabbits and knows how to run them well, he's done plenty rabbiting day and night as well so if all goes well for the next few years I should have myself some good little pups for the future and they would be my first ever bred litter so still got alot to take into consideration, thanks for replies guys heres a pic of my two

Duke (dog)

 

Lass (bitch)

 

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

They are both nice types nottzhunter. Only you will know if they are good enough to breed off.

 

I've got a brindle bitch here that I know in my heart isn't good enough to ever breed off. She's 3 years old. She's alright don't get me wrong and never chucked the towel in. She keeps my freezer full. But I know there are better bitches out there that want the job just that little bit more and would probably catch a few of the bits what she let's escape.

 

My pup on the other hand is showing massive potential. She would and probably will kill herself in pursuit of her quarry. She's got a couple of seasons to carry on doing her thing, but I won't have any hesitation in breeding from her young if I'm happy with what I'm seeing.

 

All the best,

 

Gaz

[logan 447]

My dog kim is out of a aunty to nethew mateing and she was out ov a repeat mateing because the first litter was that good ,and she will be going back across her father ,this heat line breeding is about the long game not just your next mateing.,

[nottzhunter08 898]

​cheers Gaz, I hope all goes well in the future for the pup, if I felt mine weren't good enough to breed from I would have no hesitation in not breeding from them, but as I say I can't fault them so far, cheers

[king 11,984]

They are both nice types nottzhunter. Only you will know if they are good enough to breed off.

I've got a brindle bitch here that I know in my heart isn't good enough to ever breed off. She's 3 years old. She's alright don't get me wrong and never chucked the towel in. She keeps my freezer full. But I know there are better bitches out there that want the job just that little bit more and would probably catch a few of the bits what she let's escape.

My pup on the other hand is showing massive potential. She would and probably will kill herself in pursuit of her quarry. She's got a couple of seasons to carry on doing her thing, but I won't have any hesitation in breeding from her young if I'm happy with what I'm seeing.

All the best,

Gaz

Very honest post gaz.

If everyone thought like that there would be some belting pups everywhere.

[nottzhunter08 898]

+1 king

 

[jiggy 3,209]

If i had an average dog that gave 7 good seasons graft but i had an exceptionally gifted dog that you just know is top of their game from day one that only done 2 super seasons for me i know which one id be breeding from and wouldnt care what

Anybody thought those special ones are hard come by and a fencepost could end your future line very quick.

[nottzhunter08 898]

Agree with you there jiggy, part of me feels like going for it sooner but I also don't want to breed them too young, nowadays I'm always on new ground exploring new places etc which rises the chance of a fatal accident happening which is a worrying thought, but I suppose its all part and parcel of working dogs