More puppy info at Shiloh Ridge Retrievers (SRR) and here 😎
Last week I wrote about Smokey’s trip to the vet, here. She wasn’t the only dawg to make the trip. She was accompanied by her Daddy, Thunder and her Great Uncle, Bear. Smokey’s appointment was to confirm her pregnancy by ultrasound, but Thunder and Bear had a very different reason for going to the vet.
Sometimes a breeder will have their stud dogs checked from time to time by a vet to verify that they are, well, still studly. It is best to have this done by a vet who specializes in canine reproduction. Bear is 10 years old and as a dog ages their ability to sire litters decreases. Bear is a litter-mate to Thunder’s mother, Dakota. This is the first time I have met Bear. He is a sweetie pie and looks very healthy and fit for being 10 years old. I wanted to get a decent picture of him, but if there is any movement my cell phone camera takes a blurry picture. 🙁 This is the best picture I got of bear.
Thunder was also at the vet to have an evaluation done. If the sample was good then it was going to be frozen for use in future breeding. Some stud dog owners elect to have their studs collected while they are young so that they are available to use in the future. It is not inexpensive to collect a dog and there is an annual storage fee so it is commitment. Some regular readers to this blog might remember that I have mentioned that Storm is the product of frozen semen as her father was long gone by the time her breeding was ever planned.
As part of the collection process they evaluate the collection under a microscope to see if it is a good sample to be frozen. The microscope is attached to a monitor so that you can clearly see what is going on. When Thunder’s sample was put up, it was clear that he is still a studly stud. 🙂 He had a nice size collection and enough for several breedings. Again, the cell phone takes blurry pictures of any movement, but I thought the monitor set-up was cool. The vet also takes a DNA profile and gives a brucellosis test at the time of collection, (the brucellosis test needs to be negative). This becomes a permanent part of the information that goes with the collection.
I used lay terms to describe the process, but if you want more detail of what is involved, you can find it on the vet’s site, here. We were at the vet’s office a short time, but I really learned a lot about what is involved with certain aspects of canine reproduction. What kind of things the vet considers when evaluating a sample. What vitamins might improve a stud’s ability to produce and other things a breeder can do should they have a stud that isn’t too studly anymore, but they still want to use him. That there isn’t a real accurate blood test to determine whether a dog is pregnant. Whether a scheduled c-section makes sense and what a breeder should consider in making that decision. Thanks again to Cindy for letting me tag along and thanks to the Dr. Schultz and his staff for being so friendly and informative.
Fascinating! I never realized how much went into pure breed breeding!
For most breeders, it is a labor of love.
You explained this way better than I ever could of! Nice job!
I have been known to take a peek at how Sherman and Leroy’s “swimmers” are doing. One of the perks at working at a vet’s office:)
Thanks! This means a lot! I am neither comfortable or an expert on the topic. I guess working in a vet’s office has a lot of perks. 🙂
Bongo didn’t like the vet when I first got him, but he doesn’t seem to mind it now. Interesting post. I learned some new stuff.
Thunder doesn’t really mind the vet, but this was a strange place. However, after this particular visit, I think he will be more than happy should he ever have to go back. 😉
Again I say love this reproduction stuff!! I loved Dr Schultz’s office and staff, when I took Riva there for her puppy x-ray they were all very nice and helpful.
Great job explaining it and I’m glad Thunders swimmers are still swimming 🙂
Dr. Schultz has a beautiful office and is just so informative in explaining things even before you ask.
Wow, more great info & fascinating stuff! Again, am SO impressed with your breeders for the obvious care & attention & effort they’re putting into their breeding – I know I’ve said this several times already but ALL BREEDERS SHOULD BE LIKE THEM!!!!! It is really awful & sad how short most of them fall (and we’re not even getting into BYB territory) – most people seem to think that if you have an intact male & female together, you’re a “breeder” 🙄
Yeah, Honey’s breeders use a lot of frozen semen too. She is the product of a “live” mating but her father was/is so in demand that people are still applying to her breeders for litter from him. He only had 2 live matings – both with the same bitch – so Honey has litter brothers & sisters from another litter but from the same parents. It was such a successful mating and produced such nice pups that her breeders did a “repeat mating” – and we’re very greatful that they did! 🙂 We met her brother from the first mating and just fell in love with his temperament (he was already 2yrs old then) – so we were lucky to have a “sample” of the litter to see – which is more than most people have! 😛
Hsin-Yi
Obviously Honey is the product of a wonderful breeding because she is still so healthy and has a wonderful temperament. Of course you deserve a lot of credit too. 🙂
Thunder and Storm are from 2 different breeders, but each breeder has been breeding Chessies for over 30 years. They have a lot of knowledge. The great thing about our breed is that many of the long time breeders are very dedicated and willing to mentor people who want to breed a litter. Of course you cannot discount people who just breed hunting dogs. They have a role to play in adding to the genetic diversity of our breed even though they may just breed one or two litters total.
Very interesting!
Moses is also the product of a ‘frozen sample’ – his dad is still around, but is one very busy Newf travelling around to shows and various other events (he was the #3 Newf in Canada in 2008 – the year Moses’ litter was born). We did end up showing Moses against his dad one year, though.
So it’s pretty interesting to see this side of things – I had no idea!
PS – I like the countdown clock!
Thanks I am glad you like the clock. With Chessies, few breeders actually ship their bitch to the studs place for the breeding anymore. It just so happened that this stud was close enough and available for a natural breeding (I guess a 10 hour drive is close :)). Fresh chilled is very popular when the stud is still alive with frozen pretty much reserved for studs who have passed away or been neutered.
What an interesting post — I have learned SO much from your blog!! You all should be proud of your dogs and your breeding ethics and how you better the breed. And of course Thunder is still studly. 😉
Thank you, but we are not the breeder of Thunder, Storm or this litter, (so can’t take credit). Both Thunder and Storm have very long-time knowledgeable breeders who are dedicated to breeding a healthy hunting dog.
We are counting dog this litter because we are so excited about it!
Very interesting. I never knew that went on. We are happy to hear that Thunder didn’t mind seeing that vet. Bear is beautiful! Hugs and nose kisses
Thanks. I wish I had a better picture of Bear because he is a handsome 10 year old.
Ha, ha. My first thought about the TV is that is what they were watching while they were being “collected”. Now very “exciting” though 🙂
Haha…with dawgs everything is smell so you might be interested to know they has scented swabs in front of Thunder’s nose while doing the collection. 😆
Lots of info here. Never knew how much was truly involved in breeding.
Yes there is a lot to it. I have learned a lot.
Hi Y’all,
They do the “freeze sperm” with horses too, with the exception of thoroughbreds intended for racing. Then the male actually gets to have the fun. 🙂
Y’all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
I think Thunder had fun, maybe not the usual way, but he seemed to enjoy his vet visit. 😆
OOOH, been there done that, recently too! Hope you’re OK! 🙂
Woofs & hugs, <3
~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)
A OK! 🙂
Jon Farleigh’s dad is over 13 and still going through this process. In fact, Sam never even met JF’s mom until after JF was born. 🙂 The posthumous breeding is a bit odd for me, though. I suppose it shouldn’t be.
It’s amazing how much work goes into a good breeding program.
With Chessies, there are so few of them that they keep the frozen stuff so as not to loose good genetics. That is why most frozen breeding is done after the stud is gone or has been sterilized. Otherwise it is natural, or fresh chilled.
Yeah, it’s done that way with Cardis too. They are also considered “rare.”
I don’t think Chessies are considered rare yet. Do they do overseas shipments for breeding at all with Cardis?
Yep. JF’s dad Sam was actually “imported” several years ago from Finland. 🙂 JF also has a maternal granddad in New Zealand. Bloodlines are definitely diversified.
I would consider Chessies lesser known for sure. (But I’m speaking from an outsider’s viewpoint.)
It is cool that JF has such diversified bloodlines. Although there are Chessies outside of the US, since the breed originated here, most of the bloodlines come right back to the US. Can be a problem for genetic diversity in the breed.
Goodness, I didn’t know about any of this!! The vet’s office we took Sampson to as a puppy (which we no longer use as a result of Delilah’s spaying) was bought (after we left.) The vet who purchased the practice specializes in reproduction. I had no idea it was so involved.
Great job of explaining.
It really is a fascinating area. Our Chessie club (the Education Committee) sponsored a lecture by this doctor for interested breeders last Feb. We did not attend, but there was very good feedback from those who attended (it was not just Chessie breeders).