Breeding Golden Retrievers can be an exciting task but it’s not something that you should take lightly. This is a big decision that will end up taking up a lot of your time and money. Before you make this decision, make sure you’ve done your research. You need to be aware of all the work that can go into quality breeding. Getting involved with local dog clubs is a great idea and you should probably belong to the AKC. If you decide that you really do want to breed these dogs, here are a few breeding tips that you need to keep in mind for the best results.
Check the Health of Your Dogs
If you are planning on breeding Golden Retrievers, the first tip to remember is to check out the health of your dogs. It’s important to have the health of the male and the female checked out very well before you start. Your female should be extremely healthy and she should have all the best traits of the breed. It’s important that she is at least two before you begin breeding her and she should also be kept on a very high quality dog food. Ensure that your male has no health problems as well before you begin breeding.
Track Your Females Heat
It is important that you track when your female goes into heat if you’re going to breed these dogs. Usually dogs only go into heat twice each year, so you need to keep track of this so you are able to predict when she will go into heat. This way you can put your male and female together.
Screen for Common Breed Problems
Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to particular health problems. Some of the common problems that Golden Retrievers often deal with include cataracts and hip dysplasia. It’s a good idea to have both of your dogs screened for these common problems before you go on to breeding Golden Retrievers. Genetic tests and x-rays can help to screen for these types of problems.
Consider the Temperament of the Dogs
When you’re planning on breeding Golden Retrievers, you want to make sure that you use dogs that have great temperaments. This doesn’t just mean that you want to use a friendly Golden. It’s important that you look for ways to improve the breed, which means you need dogs with the best possible temperaments. When choosing dogs to breed, make sure that they have the qualities that the AKC looks for in Golden Retrievers.
Care for Your Female
Once your female is pregnant, caring your female is one of the most important parts of breeding Golden Retrievers. You’ll need to ensure she is kept healthy. Since she is carrying puppies, she’ll need a better diet. It’s often a good idea to look for foods that provide more fat in them. Make sure you take her to the vet after you know she is pregnant so you can keep her as healthy as possible.