First Time Breeder
By Steve Tillotson
Visitors to the site have asked about breeding. I do not consider myself a qualified expert, but I have bred a single litter. I've decided to post a summary here and hope that it proves helpful to people thinking of breeding for the first time. Elsewhere in this section we will post articles from more experienced breeders which we hope will prove informative and helpful.In 1987 I sought to buy in a third Afghan from a successful kennel. I already had a bitch and a dog from another leading kennel carrying very close/similar family bloodlines to those of the new dog I was seeking. When asked why I wanted one of their dogs, I responded honestly by stating that their breeding was the line I liked and I might want to breed at a later date. Back came the question “why do you want to breed?â€ÂÂ
I remember thinking at the time that that was an impertinent question, why should I have to explain to this kennel my reasons for potentially becoming a breeder? The dialogue continued, uncomfortably for me, because I wasn't expecting or prepared for the kennels challenge to my breeding ambitions. Eventually they agreed to "put me on the list". In the event, I never heard anymore until, one day at a show, the breeder of my other two Afghans approached me and said that such and such a kennel had a super Afghan available and they knew I would like him. So I telephoned them, reminded them that they said they would "put me on the list" etc. They apologised and stated they had lost the list. Anyway, I visited them and their kennels and duly returned with the puppy (and bloodlines) I had originally sought. Just to complete this story, the puppy had in fact been reserved/ordered by a well known exhibitor, who changed their mind.
Although I still do not like the challenge, years on, and wiser, I can perhaps better understand why the challenge was made. Incidentally, these particular breeders are very responsible, they register their Afghans with "endorsements", such as not allowed to breed from (in fact my dog from them was registered with that endorsement, not a problem as I have no plans to breed from him), and not allowed to export etc. They always take back their stock if the owner is unable to continue to own and care for it. In one instance, they went to enormous expense to go overseas, to buy back and bring back home one of their Afghans that had ended up in an unsatisfactory situation. Thus, these breeders, deservedly, have my respect.
Was I prepared for breeding? Absolutely not! Of course, at the time, I thought I was prepared. I read up on the subject, I spent weeks searching for the Sire-to-be and studying pedigrees, I consulted with friends who had bred, I knew what equipment I needed, whelping box etc, I involved my Vet from beginning to end. Sounds good - what wasn't I prepared for? I didn't expect to make three trips to the stud dog, first time he was not interested, second time success, third time to re-mate just in case the first one was a day or so out. I didn’t understand why when the puppies were born I had trouble keeping them warm (despite a breeder’s heat lamp over the whelping box). The explanation was that the bitch’s milk did not come down until 24 hours after she whelped. I of course called the Vet early, who described my prize Afghans as "looking like rats" (friendly statement), and equipped me there and then with little feeding bottles and feed. I didn’t expect to have to keep up 2/4 hour feeds, round the clock for the next 10 days (and still go to do a job of work, devoid of sleep).
I didn't realise just how quick they grow, how their feeding needs change. I fussed like hell, drove my bitch mad who started to ignore the puppies and me in an attempt to get some peace and quiet.
I didn’t "book" any sales in advance, response to the advertisement was poor. I ended up keeping 4 of the 7 puppies. I did find three good "Afghan" homes for the three I sold. I was warned by friends about these considerations, but my enthusiasm (determination) to breed perhaps caused me to not fully consider the wisdom of their words. At the end of the day it worked out, and whilst I have more Afghans than I would like in the house, I would not be without any of them now. Did I get what I wanted from the breeding? Yes, I got a good bitch, but she does not enjoy showing, so was retired early. As a bonus I got an exciting silver dog which I still show. And I have the bloodlines if I ever decide to breed again.
Will I breed again? I don't know. Over a year ago I wanted a bitch to show (noting my own bred bitch doesn't like showing), and after my experience of breeding I decided to buy in again. All I do know is that any future breeding will be a long considered decision, and hopefully, involve better preparation.
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Written by Steve Tillotson, April 1996, first published Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange
First Time Breeder was published by The Dog Scene on 15 Aug, 2006. © All rights reserved. You may download and print this article for personal or non-profit use only. Please feel free to link to this article.
First Time Breeder was published by The Dog Scene on 15 Aug, 2006. © All rights reserved. You may download and print this article for personal or non-profit use only. Please feel free to link to this article.
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15 Aug, 2006 (Edited 12 Jun, 2007)
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