Breeding services

Lightbringer canine breeding services

As a breeder myself, I know how important a successful mating and resulting litter is. I have over 16 years experience breeding litters and handling stud dogs, both my own and for other kennels. I am experienced in collecting semen from my boy(s) and shipping chilled semen. I have completed a canine reproduction course at the Canine fertility centre in Jarrow and I am fully trained and certified to perform Ai and semen evaluation. I can also offer advice on stud dog fertility and management and I sell various items to assist with this in the online shop. I offer a mobile service and cover the following areas - Royal Wootton Bassett, Lyneham, Calne, Marlborough, Malmesbury, Swindon and Devizes. I am happy to travel further afield but will have to charge a mileage fee. I don't offer progesterone testing or ultrasound scanning as I prefer to leave that to the experts but I can recommend people that do..

Stud dog handling / mating assistance

It is very important that a stud dogs first few matings are successful and as stress free as possible for both him and the visiting bitch. A natural mating is not a case of just letting the two dogs get on with it without assistance, as serious injuries can occur. There are several reasons why you may need to use our service:

There may be a size or height difference between the dog and the bitch
A bitch can be progesterone tested as ready but still put up a fight
A maiden bitch or inexperienced dog may need reassurance and careful handling
Help for the owner - it can be quite physical dealing with a mating and a tie.

Artificial insemination

I can perform side by side artificial insemination if a natural mating isn't possible or inseminate chilled semen. If performed correctly, Ai can produce the same results as a natural mating. My equipment is individually sealed in sterile packaging and I use soft tipped insemination tubes. The procedure involves stimulating uterine contractions to closely mimic a natural tie. I have performed Ai on several bitches and so far I have a 100% success rate. I can also check the quality of the semen before inseminating.

Semen evaluation

It is important for stud dog owners to know their dog has good quality semen, especially as he gets older. Several things can affect semen quality including - mating too frequently, a poor quality diet and certain medications. I prefer to come to the dogs home to collect a sample as they often are more relaxed and perform better. Ideally a teaser bitch should be present when collecting a sample but I have a very good method that works if a teaser bitch is unavailable. Semen can suffer from cold or thermal shock when exposed to temperatures of even a few degrees lower or higher than normal and many will die off as a result. I use gently warmed microscope slides, so as not to shock the sample before examination. After the initial examination and motility check, the PH of the sample is tested and then the sperm are then immobilised to check morphology. I can collect a sample or one can be delivered to me. I then send a report by email with information on: semen volume & colour, morphology, motility, PH and any bacteria levels present and I can email a short video clip or a screenshot of the semen under the microscope. If the semen quality is low, I can give advice on diet, lifestyle etc and I sell products that can help improve fertility in stud dogs.

Litter microchipping

We offer a microchipping service for litters. Both Andrew and I are fully qualified implanters and I have over 15 years experience. The microchips we use have an anti-migratory coating and we stock two sizes of chip - regular and midi. We can chip litters of puppies from 6 weeks of age but prefer to do them at 7 weeks. All microchips are registered with Petlog - the national database.

Labradors - Breeding, whelping and raising a litter, 30 page PDF book

Written by me, a 30 page detailed guide to breeding from your Labrador bitch with full colour photos throughout. The book will be sent by email as a PDF file. Contents: Breeding from your bitch, choosing a stud dog, the mating. pregnancy weeks 1-9, pregnancy photo diary, whelping equipment, whelping, week 1-3, weaning, weeks 4-8, registering and selling your puppies, worming, vaccinations and healthcare, conclusion. Charts - Bitch breeding record, whelping chart and litter weight chart.
Available in the online shop

Prices

Stud dog handling / Mating assistance - £40.00 per mating*
Artificial insemination - £40.00 per insemination*
Ai & semen check - £50.00
Semen evaluation and report - £35.00
Microchipping litter rate - £15.00 per puppy
Labradors - breeding PDF - £10.00.

Rates will vary for Sunday, Bank holiday, Christmas & New year appointments.

*For mating assistance and Ai - the bitch must be progesterone tested as ready. I keep my schedule clear for several days around the time of the mating / Ai, so please let me know promptly if my services are no longer required - for example if a natural mating has occured..

*For progesterone testing - I highly recommend using Anne Morley at Matenow for fast and accurate results. I have progesterone testing kits available or they can be ordered
on the website - see link opposite. Your vet or vet nurse can draw the blood and it can be posted at any post office. . .