How to breed a Labrador retriever? 3 Key Health Factors to Consider

Labradors are one of the most prevalent dog breeds nowadays. They’re social, very friendly, and outgoing. Similar to any dog breed, breeding Labradors has distinctive challenges. To effectively breed Labradors, you should confirm your dog’s health, look at your dog’s pedigree, buy essential equipment, and learn about the breeding procedure. If you promise yourself safe and liable breeding, your Labradors have a great chance of giving healthy litter, and you might gain a reputation as a reliable dog breeder. So, let’s discuss how to breed a Labrador retriever.

How to breed a Labrador retriever? Things to Consider

It is very significant to ensure you have the best potential pairing of dogs. Each dog should have a good character, be in good physical shape and be free from illness. Each animal’s ancestry should be checked to confirm no congenital issues.

While breeding Labrador Retrievers, there are 3 key health factors to consider:

• Hip dysplasia: blemishes in the joints
• Progressive retinal atrophy: congenital eye disease
• OCD (Osteochondritis dissicans): congenital joint disease

Any of the above are grave defects, and the breeder must verify that the dogs are examined and x-rayed before mating to ensure they are free from them. The personality of the breeding pair is just as significant as their health.

Labradors certainly end up in a family home; thus, they must be temperamentally suitable to sharing a home with kids and adults. Another essential point to consider once breeding Labrador is to check the lineages of each breeding pair to guarantee the dogs are not too closely related.

The consequences of utilizing closely related canines are poor health in the pups, doubtful temperament and flagging of the bloodline. Before mating, it is desirable to allow the dogs to recognize each other; preferably, each dog must be over two years of age. By this time, any unpredictable health problems must be apparent.

Breeding Labrador retrievers: When to breed or not to breed?

Breeding Labrador Retrievers is not a choice to rush into; however, it must be recalled that getting the right pair of dogs is only the start of the breeding procedure. The real work initiates when the mating has been done and the prenatal period is confirmed.

Caring for the female Lab during pregnancy can require a lot of work, as can the whelping method. After the mum has given her litter, taking care of the pups and having good homes for the pups is a time-consuming and costly undertaking.

The last point, finding good holders, should not be misjudged. Be ready to reject potential owners if you are not happy that they will provide a caring as well as loving home to a pup.

The basic rule here is to believe in your nature. You will see who is suited to having one of your pups.

At what age should you mate a male Labrador retriever?

Soon after six months of age, a male Lab is mature to breed. The suggestion is to wait until 2 years as, in the 12th month, Labs become sexually mature. However, it can mate anytime and be sexually active even in old age.

What is the perfect age to breed a male Labrador?

However, numerous factors are essential once you allow a Labrador to breed. Male canines of the medium to large breed must be full size; thus, breeders must have them into the stud services after two years.

For the large dog breed, completing their progression before the mating stage of life is significant. Some heart complications, accompanied by hip as well as elbow dysplasia, might occur in them.

Thus, it’s highly suggested not to breed male Labs before the ideal age. Similarly, for the female Lab owner, there is guidance to authorize the age of the male Labrador before letting any breeding.

At what age can female Lab retriever mates?

Although you will observe a female Labrador’s heat cycle begins within six months of age. That’s the stage in which female Labs are permitted to breed and become pregnant. The heat cycle stage comes after the accomplishment of 6 months in a year until late in life.

Do not allow breeding throughout your lab’s first heat cycle; otherwise, your female Lab might suffer difficulties.

At this age, a female dog is relatively young, and you must not execute the pressure of lactation as well as pregnancy as she is still living her growing age. Although female Labradors might be sexually energetic, she is not mature enough to carry numerous puppies in the womb.

You can also read a guide about other pets mating including parrots and budgies.

Labrador retriever female mating time                                                                    

Conflicting the lab’s reproductive cycle and individuals, they frequently go through the collaboration two times every year. Unfavorably, not all canines and breeds are alike in their cycle; some breeds go into the cycle once every year.

Numerous dogs might have their cycle many times each year. Dog owners have to log their Lab’s heat cycle. Due to the standard sorting of what is going on with the illustration, dog owners can know the odd changes.

Sudden changes can prompt a trip to the veterinarian to promise that all is going well and in outstanding condition.

Female Labrador heat cycle                                       

The heat cycle continues for 3 to 54 weeks. Understand that, during the cycle, your Lab can be remarkably “energetic” and astonishingly ready to jump on any stuff. Regardless of whether it’s a human, male or female dog, whether you give a soft toy, name it, and your female Lab will need it.

FAQs: How to breed a Labrador retriever?

How many times can you breed a Labrador retriever?

Most trustworthy breeders will cap even their rightest, best mothers at approximately 4 to 6 litters so that they can be sterilized, although she is still young and in excellent shape.

How many months is a female Labrador pregnant?

The gestation period for a female Lab is only around two months; thus, you don’t have a longer period to see the symptoms. A notable number of dog owners are astonished throughout the final days of pregnancy.