Researching Stud Labs available in WA or OR

[RatherBOutdoors]

I'm new to this forum and found it when I searched for information about stud Lab services in the NW.  As a result, I found a member and have exchanged PMs.

I thought I'd broaden my knowledge by asking the group...
I've been kicking around the idea of breeding my lab.  I have mixed feelings because I know there are a lot of labs available and I don't necessarily NEED to breed mine.  I've owned 3 labs and hunted them all.  My youngest (will be 3 in the Spring) displays many of the individual qualities that my others possessed, but all rolled into one.  I don't participate in the Training Certifications because I just don't have the time.  I have always looked for a family and hunting dog.  Intelligence, a certain amount of dominance and aggressiveness, birdy and of course, I have a particular "look" that I prefer (somewhat blocky head, but still a lean body type...75 lb range).

Anyway, I'm interested to hear about positive and negative experiences with those of you who have bred your labs using stud services in the area.  Recommendations and/or just information is appreciated.  Please don't judge on the merits of "should I breed or shouldn't I"...I haven't made the decision and I'm well aware of the reasons to and reasons not to breed.

Thanks for your input.  PM's are welcome as well.

[Happy Gilmore]

You need to first have the following tests done on your bitch to prove her health before considering passing along what could be horrible diseases to every single puppy and potential puppy owner.

Hips / Elbows
EIC
CNM
PRA
CERF
Echocardiogram

Will probably cost you about $550.

You can then search for studs based upon the outcome of the tests.

[RatherBOutdoors]

I understand the cost and due diligence needed...what I'm looking for is opinions on studs available for the service.  I don't take this lightly.  If she doesn't pass all the health tests with flying colors, I won't move forward.  I may not move forward anyway.

I'm only looking for opinions on the stud services available and peoples personal experiences...both positive and negative.

Thanks.

[Happy Gilmore]

What are you wanting to know? Did wine and cheese come with the date? A romantic movie?

You pay the stud fee and upon approval they'll let your dog mate with the stud. Oh, don't forget progesterone testing prior to breeding. Have to make sure they are ready and not wasting the stud dog owners time.

I'd be more concerned with the attributes of the dog you are looking at than if it was a pleasurable experience.

[RatherBOutdoors]

Happy Gilmore....Your sarcasm isn't helpful. 

[Happy Gilmore]

I don't understand your question. Are you looking for suggestions for a good stud dog? Are you looking to hear the ups and downs of potentially having a litter of puppies? Asking about good and bad experiences with local stud services doesn't make much sense. There are no "Stud Services" that I am aware of anywhere around here. People have their stud dogs available for breeding but, usually only to approved bitches. As I mentioned above, most folks won't even talk to you beyond telling you their price until the health testing has been completed.

There is no point in looking for a stud until you know the EIC, CNM and PRA status of your bitch to begin with in the first place. She may be a carrier of all or one of the mentioned and you may have to look for a clear stud to produce non-affected pups. Also, she must be two years old to get her hips / elbows OFA done. So, you'd probably be planning on a breeding when she's three-ish?

You should start by talking to your dogs' breeder and find out if there is a possibility she could be clear by parentage on a few which will save a little money if she is. Also, this is assuming she is AKC registered in the first place. Otherwise, probably just find someone on here who wants their male to get lucky and give the leftover pups away at Albertsons on Valentines Day or something?

She's a nice looking dog BTW. How old is she?

[jackelope]

Happy knows dogs...that's for sure.
 

[Happy Gilmore]

Here's one way to look. Sign up for Entry Express. Search local hunt test and field trial events. Find dogs names. Look up the registered names. Research their pass/fail/win records.

https://www.entryexpress.net/loggedIn/default.aspx


Then, go to the OFA website and start researching the stud dogs health records. See if they match up.

http://www.offa.org/

[Curly]

Here is an ad for Long Hollow Retriever stud services (out of Ellensburg) : Link

I've heard that breeder's name mentioned on here before.

[Mulieman]

Look into Sunnyview Labradors. They produce awesome dogs. My lab that just passed away this spring was from their lines. The bitch was purchased from them and then the lady bred it back to one of their studs. I bought it for about half of the price of buying it directly from them. He was the best dog I have ever hunted with. He had great instinct for hunting. I was not looking for a robot so  didn't do a lot of formal training with him. We went hunting and he learned most of what he was supposed to do on his own. Many times I caught myself paying more attention to him than in the air because he would see the birds coming almost as quickly as I would. If I get another lab, it will be from the same lines. Hope this helps.

[RatherBOutdoors]

Happy...I typed up a long response to your message to better clarify my question and I must have taken too long.  When I hit post, it never posted and now it is gone.  It was really good too.

Summary:  I'm looking for recommendations of reputable breeders that offer their stud for breeding.  The assumption is that ALL tests will be done on my bitch and she will pass.  If that doesn't happen, I'm not moving forward anyway and she will be spayed.
The tests cost money; looking for a stud that is available for a reasonable fee and possesses all the attributes I'm looking for is just research (i.e. free).  If I don't find the right stud, I won't be moving forward and it doesn't make sense for me to do the testing.

I will only breed her responsibly.  I've seen enough "Albertson's" puppies (although, around here they have them in boxes outside Cabelas to offer some sense of credibility).

I'm researching only.  Some have posted breeders names that offer studs for purposes of breeding for a fee.  That is the information I'm looking for.  Again, the assumption is that Belle will have tests or I'm not moving forward anyway.

Belle is AKC registered and I have her pedigree.  No medical issues noted, but I haven't put her through the tests yet.  She is 2 1/2 years old.

Thanks for the replies.

[Happy Gilmore]

A good stud is going to be between $1,000-2,000. Like I said, there are many good dogs out there but you need to know the status of your bitches EIC and CNM before you make a selection. Any stud owner is going to tell you the same thing.

Give Lee Salmon a call at Windriver Labs- She'll gladly outline probably the same thing I'm telling you. She knows all pedigrees inside out and backwards across the nation and might give you a direction to head. Your dog appears to look like a field breeding and she'd probably also know the tendencies of what the line carries if, your pup has a well known pedigree.

You're putting the cart before the horse in selecting a stud. Sorry to be blunt. PM'd you Lee's #

[WRL]

I think when breeding, you have to look at it from 4 angles:

1) Why are you wanting to breed your bitch?

2) Health clearances.

3) What are you hoping to accomplish with the breeding?

4)Worst case scenario......do you have the $$ or resources?

So lets start with:

1) It kind of sounds like you already know the answer to that. From what you wrote, you see lots of good stuff there that you like and are (I am assuming) wanting a puppy from her for yourself. So lets move on to 2.

2) Health clearances. Depending on whether you have a known pedigree, and what the health clearances are on your bitch's parents, that would dictate what you need to do with your bitch. Lets assume you have nothing on her parents so you need to do all the clearances on your bitch. That is gonna run you $600 probably depending on where and what vet you go to for the clearances. Hips/elbows are gonna run you $250-$350 depending (possible to find them cheaper but it may also run more for your area). Then eyes are gonna run you $50 (also possible to find them cheaper but may run you more depending on where you go). Then you need to do the genetic testing. EIC/CNM will run you $65 EACH. Then a PRA test and maybe an RD/OSD test, will run you about $350 combined unless you get a discount code from one of the clinics. So now that you know your bitch has her clearances (carriers aren't bad, but that just means your stud needs to be clear) you move to looking for a male.

3) The stud dog. Well he has ALL of his clearances so that you know you are not (to the best of your ability) producing affected puppies unnecessarily. What will he bring to the table to either enhance your bitch's lacking, or reinforce her strengths? What do you hope to produce in the pups? Color? That's a marketing thing but also can be a big picture thing. What happens if you get 14 puppies? Yeah you have one you are keeping and friends have said they want one here or there etc. So you feel pretty good about having 6 of them "committed". But what happens when they hit the ground and so and so wanted a female and you only have males? Or vice versa? You have a chocolate dog. She may or may not be yellow factored. So if you breed her to a yellow, probably will only get black puppies......you breed her to a chocolate dog, but there are not A LOT of really nice chocolate dogs out there....so, now do you have a good enough specimen to produce quality dogs?

[WRL]

So now you think you have it all lined up...stud, bitch, health clearances.....

You drop your bitch off at the stud's.....she's knocked up and 9 weeks later here come the puppies.

4) Do you have the money or the resources? What if your bitch needs a section? Gonna run you $1000 probably. Have you got that kind of cash laying around? What if she dies in whelp? Can you raise a litter of puppies? Feeding every 2 hours? Morning and night? What kind of support system do you have? Others that can pitch in? Somene local that can help you with hands on? Ok......they are ready to go home.....but you have 4 puppies not sold at 10 weeks of age. What are you gonna do? They eat a TON at that age and poop 10x more than a ton! What's your back up plan?

After all you figure out the answers to all of that and if you decide to go forward, I would look for people with studs. Titles are nice.....if they have pups already on the ground is good. If your bitch has a weak pedigree, you are gonna want to go to dogs with better pedigrees so that might cost you a bit more.

I would be happy to look at a pedigree for you if you want to send it to me. Conformation lines have their own passel of issues just like the field dogs do. ANY AND ALL conformation lines I would REQUIRE the stud to have a PRA clearance at minimum (dogs with CH in the pedigree) with EIC. Field dogs at a MINIMUM should have the EIC/CNM clearances and PRA if they are from chocolate lines. That is in addition to hips/elbows/eyes.

There are lots of "dogs" out there to breed to but not a lot of quality dogs.

These are just some things off the top of my head.

WRL

[jackelope]

WRL=Wind River Labs?