This question has to be asked in a general way as I obviously cant go into too much detail, to protect the innocent!!!!
I am a newish breeder. My first two litters where overseen by a mentor who is at the top of his/her tree. I am now planning my first solo litter, which will happen, hopefully in spring next year when my girl will be 2 and a bit. I already have several enquiries so that side of it is ok. No problems with the birth and afterwards as did that all on my own last two times. My main problem, I suppose, is inexperience in chosing the right stud. I have found a boy who I think is perfect, from looks, size, colour, show history, correct lines etc etc. Of course he has to be hundreds of miles away, but that is not a problem. All appropriate health tests have been done and are totally satisfactory on both sides.
Now, at last, my question. Like many other breeds, my own breed are known to be susceptible to kidney prolems, although I havent come across any as yet, but my "pack" is relatively young. What I want to know is, when you are looking at your prospective stud's pedigree, do you have any knowledge of, and do you take into consideration, any health problems his grandparents/great grandparents etc etc may have had and if fact, how long they lived? I know that the sire of the boy I am looking at died from kidney disease at a relatively early age. Does this mean I should stay away from him and look elsewhere? If so, how would I know that other stud's parents/grandparents etc lived long healthy lives. Surely none of us know for sure, do we, or am I missing out on some knowledge here. I have looked at the internet on hereditary kidney disease but I found it all a bit baffling. Any help/advice would be gratefully received.

If the potential studs sire died of kidney disease I would have expected at the very least for the stud owner to be prepared to have his dog kidney function tested, both blood and urine.

I would also ask about any puppies he has already sired, and the studs litter mates.

In my breed we have had cases of FRD and dogs usually are unthrifty and if going to die die at under five years of age.

Cocker Spaniels have a form that can be DNA tested for, but ours does not seem to be frequent or have enough of a pattern to show how/if it is inherited.

I would be asking, in the most tactful way possible, the breeder of the dog that died whether they can trace where the problem might have come from, there are many reasons for kidney failure, not all of them inherited.

> If the potential studs sire died of kidney disease I would have expected at the very least for the stud owner to be prepared to have his dog kidney function tested, both blood and urine.

Right, thank-you. Will get on to that.

> would be asking, in the most tactful way possible, the breeder of the dog that died whether they can trace where the problem might have come from.

That one scares me to death but of course I will have to.

As a matter of interest, would you in the normal way of things, ask about ages and causes of death of grandparents etc.? I am thinking that might be hard to do in some cases?

> As a matter of interest, would you in the normal way of things, ask about ages and causes of death of grandparents etc.? I am thinking that might be hard to do in some cases?

I do like to dig around and prefer to use older studs on young bitches or sons of lines where the adults have been long lived and young for their age as veterans.

I have found the yearbooks/Journals of the breed clubs very useful for research as you will see adverts for dogs when they were Young, as adults and obituaries etc for them and get an idea of how lines have evolved etc.

I first purchased the last 10 years, and then the next 10 years back,a nd after that any of my National breed club journals I could get.

Ours have all the champ show results and all the Breed records supplement info each year, so health tests registrations, ownership changes, stud book numbers, CC winners etc etc.

> have found the yearbooks/Journals of the breed clubs very useful for research as you will see adverts for dogs when they were Young, as adults and obituaries etc for them and get an idea of how lines have evolved etc.
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Wow!. You see, there is so much to this breeding lark (bad word, I agree) I do realise I have a very very long way to go in this field. Luckily I have plenty of time to do as much homework as I can and will take into consideration your comments. I may have to pass on this lovely guy, he does not have much experience to date as a stud, just in the show ring, so will have another look for a more mature lad who hopefully will fill all my criteria.
Thank-you for your very useful reply.

Just to throw another little idea in here........

I like to use older studs and preferably ones with champion mothers. You get the likelyhood of longevity with the added bonus of the type the 'granny' is responsible for..... ie the stud dog you want to use.

I found over the years that using a dog with a less than good mother would surely (sods law) produce the poor type of that mother - if not in the first generation certainly the next.

Add this to all the health histories and you may get a good looking - healthy litter.

mmm, the more ideas from experience, the better. That is an interesting and very useful point.  thank-you

I've always used mature sires (aged 7+, preferably older) on my bitches. If only because I plan to keep one of the pups for myself, I want longevity to avoid the heartache of early death for my beloved dogs.

The sires from both my previous overseen litters were older lads and all puppies are well and happy, including the lovely girl I kept back. She will be mum next year. I really appreciate your help and will get back to the homework!!!

Making friends with the older/retired people in ones breeds helps an awful lot with research, though it is a good idea to have a variety of opinions etc to avoid bias, and of course gossip needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.