I'm not sure if this is the right spot for this, but someday down the road (a few years from now) I want to get into hobby breeding. I am still very new to this world and have a lot to learn so I realize its going to be a while before I am even close to ready to start breeding. Oliver and I will be taking the first steps together from showing to agility to other exciting adventures. If we do well I am hoping he will be my first stud dog (he's 5 months so very long way to go!). I was just wondering how the breeders on the GRF got started with breeding. I know many of you have been breeding for tens of years and would love to get any advice/recommendations. Oliver's breeder has offered to be a mentor to me down the road and she's helping me with showing him as well. This forum has definitely already been really helpful with giving me an idea of what goes into breeding, but I know i have barely brushed the surface. Please let me know if you know of any good resources or if you have any advice! I'm going to list a few of the questions I have below (sorry if they're stupid )
I have 2 male goldens - 1 I intend to breed once proven, 1 that will not be bred. I want to get another puppy around a year and a half from now.
Since I want to get into breeding would it be better to look for a girl or a boy?
Can I even get a girl if I'm going to have an intact male?
Usually when getting a puppy with full registration you have to sign some sort of co-ownership contact. Are these good/bad?
When is a good time to start doing clearances? (Oliver had his eyes done in Jan).
What's your story - success and mistakes?
Is it possible to breed and work full time?
Once I start "assembling my breeding team" (didn't know how to put that?) would there have to be a division of my males - for example would they get hostile towards each other?
Are there tests or some sort of checklist you go through before deciding if a dog will be good to breed?
I know usually people don't start breeding until the dogs are 2 years of age - how long can you continue to breed for?
What is the typical age to start breeding your dog (males vs females)?
I'm sure there are a million of other questions, but these are the only ones I can think of right now. Thank you for your insight!
I have 2 male goldens - 1 I intend to breed once proven, 1 that will not be bred. I want to get another puppy around a year and a half from now.
Since I want to get into breeding would it be better to look for a girl or a boy?
Can I even get a girl if I'm going to have an intact male?
Usually when getting a puppy with full registration you have to sign some sort of co-ownership contact. Are these good/bad?
When is a good time to start doing clearances? (Oliver had his eyes done in Jan).
What's your story - success and mistakes?
Is it possible to breed and work full time?
Once I start "assembling my breeding team" (didn't know how to put that?) would there have to be a division of my males - for example would they get hostile towards each other?
Are there tests or some sort of checklist you go through before deciding if a dog will be good to breed?
I know usually people don't start breeding until the dogs are 2 years of age - how long can you continue to breed for?
What is the typical age to start breeding your dog (males vs females)?
I'm sure there are a million of other questions, but these are the only ones I can think of right now. Thank you for your insight!