I've heard many times about the benefits of finding a mentor to help and guide when a novice in breeding.

I would very much like to find such a mentor, but don't quite know how to go about it. I firstly asked the breeder of my dogs for advice on suitable studs etc for my girl. Although she was helpful, it was quite obvious she didn't want to get heavily involved. She's not in the best of health and does not show anymore. She's had my breed for many years and her lines are present in some of the best dogs in the country. She has great knowledge but I didn't get much feedback from her, I guess I've got to go elsewhere but at least I tried?

I had some really good constructive advice from the stud dog owner of our recent litter. She helped me with every aspect, although to be honest she's a very strong character, and I sometimes felt a little brow beaten. However, I'm eternally grateful for her input, as we had a large litter which were born without any problems (thankfully).

I'm looking into a "boyfriend" for her on her next season summer next year. I'm looking into my bitch's lines and have approached some that I know (some well know breed judges) for advice. Those I have asked are happy to give advice re genetics, closeness of lines etc, but I would feel so much happier if I had one person I could go to. As you know, it can get very confusing asking different people, because they can all give differing answers and also make suggestions which would suit them!!

So what I'm wondering is, do I ask someone experienced if they would be prepared to mentor me? I'm so keen to get this right, and is it preferable to involve someone with my "lines"? I also want to know how to go about researching health problems in lines... I have no idea where to start!

I'm feeling excited about another litter, mainly because we'll be keeping a pup ourselves (my daughter has pick from last litter), but I want to give it the best shot possible on choice of stud, and in my breed (very numerous!) it's a complete minefield!!

Confused (and getting more confused) from the west country!!!

I had similar experiences when I first started with my breed but found as time went by and I showed my interest re genetics, health, temperaments as well as finding photo's etc to see what dogs were in my lines my mentor sort of evovled.

I am very fortunate as our breed club president is my mentor and believe me at 85 yrs old that woman knows her dogs, has photo's of some pre war champions as well as pedigree's going back to the first ones registered.  She has found me a stud for our next breeding, a very plain looking male but she knows his background and knows how it works with her bitchline which is what we're using.  She's also faster than the PC when I'm going way back on pedigrees, heaven forbid I just print out a 5 gen one and say its an outcross, give her an hr and she'll be back 10 generations and pointing out where the lines cross!

Maybe the breeder of your girls gparents holds the key to a mentor as mine did?

Actually I would say you want to have a variety of mentors to get balance.

You want advice and grounding, background etc not necessarily to become a satellite of someone Else's breeding program and ideas.

The kind of person often most useful is someone who is scaling things down themselves and their involvement is likely to cease soon due to age, like your breeder, though perhaps in better health.

This kind of person has been through the highs and lows of breeding and success and the quieter times when others have been in the limelight, so are perhaps not as self involved, and want to hand on the baton to the next generation.

I have found that people have their "favourite" dogs, or maybe suggest a dog they've got their eye on to see what he produces. I know that sounds a little negative, but this happened with the last litter, don't get me wrong extremely nice dog, total outcross of course... and she has now just used the same dog on her bitch.

I agree that different opinions can give a balanced view, as long as we don't blindly accept things. I've read a lot up on my breed, am attending lots of shows, and can happily say I definitely know what I like, so I suppose that's somewhere to start.

I want to look into lines which might carry epilepsy for instance. As far as I'm aware this information wouldn't be published anywhere... or is it? I have been told there are lines which carry it, but the person wouldn't tell me which!!! So frustrating!

Anyway, I'm enjoying meeting all the people involved in my breed, perhaps there is someone I've yet to meet who I get on well with who can give me a guiding hand... let's hope!!

Thanks for your replies!

It's a difficult one where faults are concerned, as most failings are not a matter of simple inheritance and anyone pointing out such may be seen as trying to ruin a dos or breeders reputation.

Most breed clubs have health committees so health info is gathered, what form this takes varies, some of it may be general so that people are willing to report in confidence, so good for a general view of a problems occurrence, but not that good for specifics.  Other clubs publish full details, which may cause some people to be unwilling to disclose.

This is where the old yearbooks can be so useful you may notice that particularly nice dogs lines are suddenly dropped, a little digging may turn up a health issue associated with that dog or lien.  If your considering line-breeding on said dog or lien it may give you pause or get you trying to find out more from owners or breders of said dogs or those that used them, but bewre of sour grapes or shifting blame.

Discretion is a prerequisite so that people feel they can be honest without you stirring trouble for them, such is human nature sadly.

Hello Itsadogslife, I have found myself in exactly the same position as you, we have the same breed and have both just had our first litters, I have received some advice but not as much as I had hoped from the breeder of my girl.  At the moment I visit shows and talk to as many breeders as possible, trying to gain as much experience as possible rather than stick to one person.  I've met many people who tell you not to speak to so and so because of this problem or that problem, but I want to make my own mind up, I will bear their comments in mind when doing my research and thank them very much for telling me, as Brainless said people will open up a bit more if they feel they can trust you not to pass any information on.  The internet is a wonderful thing and you can find out lots of information on lines of breeding by searching on the internet carefully!  I will pm you places that may be of interest to you, sorry I haven't yet replied to your pm.

I like the idea of looking at the old yearbooks that Brainless suggested, you can learn a lot from these, I will try to get hold of some as well!

I wish you luck but will keep in touch

JanW