Sled dog breeding

[Americano Blue]

Culling as in killing?

Know several mushers, haven't heard anyone kill dogs who don't meet up to standards. Useless, as the meat has no value nor does the pelt. I'd imagine that would only happen in extreme cases.

yes, or at leas thats what i'm talking about. its mean but there are legitimate reasons behind doing so. when can afford to care for the extra dogs, and you can sell them, its the easiest thing to do. i don't like doing it unless the dog will suffer if it isn't killed.

i guess you could use the meat as bait for bears and other carnivores during hunting seasons or give it the dogs or eat it yourself.... the more i re-read what i just said, the worst it sounds

......

 

[enola]

The longer I read this thread the worse the whole idea sounds........

 

[Americano Blue]

The longer I read this thread the worse the whole idea sounds........

what do you mean?

 

[SternRose]

I'm buying 6 pups when I start up, so on litter a year is a great start. Ill have 2 breeds. So I'll do sibs then labs the keep that going unless I don't need a new pup yet.

 

[SternRose]

The longer I read this thread the worse the whole idea sounds........

It's a little dis encouraging but I have my mind set on this already so.. They can't unpreswade me. Lol. I'm like training a rock to move. Lol

 

[Americano Blue]

It's a little dis encouraging but I have my mind set on this already so.. They can't unpreswade me. Lol. I'm like training a rock to move. Lol

true. you even said you were stubborn in your signature lol!

killing pups is typically only used as a last option. its better to kill the pup then have it starve and not be able to run it. you could release it but in Alaska it might not live long...

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

It's a little dis encouraging but I have my mind set on this already so.. They can't unpreswade me. Lol. I'm like training a rock to move. Lol

I don't see anyone trying to persuade you otherwise. I just see a lot of people telling you to research this more, which I think is a good idea. If you are going into this with the thought of making money or intentions of cutting corners, you will end up with unfit animals that people will not buy. If you are breeding, you want something that will both compete well for you and be sell-able. Many people are pointing you in the right direction, even if that is difficult to hear.

Culling does not necessarily mean killing, though I must say killing is often one of the more humane methods of taking care of unwanted animals. Too many animals get shuffled around from home to home, especially if they have health issues or behavioral issues (remember, working dogs have very different lives than pets. By the time you realize whether a dog is capable of pulling, it will have already gotten used to life in a kennel. Many dogs get over this just fine and settle into pet homes. Some end up with severe behavioral issues that are difficult or expensive to treat.)

 

[Americano Blue]

Culling as in killing?

Know several mushers, haven't heard anyone kill dogs who don't meet up to standards. Useless, as the meat has no value nor does the pelt. I'd imagine that would only happen in extreme cases.

i forgot to say this earlier but killing unwanted dogs is done by very very few these days

 

[dainerra]

even though must sledding dogs aren't registered with AKC or similar registries, they still have family trees. You have to do a LOT of research to learn those.

For the labs, are you going to breed field labs? I can tell you what people will want to see there. They are going to want to see real life hunting experience - doubt you are going to be going out bird hunting every weekend? They are going to want to see hips, elbows and eyes. They are going to want to see hunt test titles. They are going to want to see all of these tests - http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=LR

They are going to want to see that you know the dogs pedigrees inside and out. You will need to know exactly what you will produce as far as drives when you breed Dog A to Dog B. They will want to know why you chose to breed Dog A to Dog B. The fact that you own both mom and dad? They are going to view that as a huge caution flag. Having two different breeds? They are going to view that as an even bigger caution flag.

Having just one breed and doing all of the work and testing that goes into it is practically a full-time job squished into a hobby. Having two breeds that have such different jobs? Nigh impossible. Now, if you had two similar breeds - 2 breeds of bird dogs then it might be more manageable. The same trial will work for both breeds though it automatically means twice the entry fees.
For one title on one dog, you are looking at several thousand dollars invested.

These prices will vary depending on your area: http://www.siberianoutpost.com/littercosts.html

They also don't include the cost of proving the dogs. If you are going to have 3 dogs of each breed, you are looking at an easy $20K before you can think of starting breeding. That doesn't include the cost of purchasing your dogs. The cost of building your facilities. The cost of vet care on those dogs. The expenses with having license fees etc. Also, since it sounds like you will be shipping puppies (not a lot of mushers in KS), you are going to fall under the USDA guidelines. Those carry very specific ways that the dogs must be housed and separate facilities for moms with pups.

I've been in GSDs for 10 years. I've been researching the pedigree of my current boy for 3. I've been working him since 6 months old. Just in this one dog I have several thousands invested and I'm a lucky one. My local kennel club has given me the ability to get most of my training classes at no charge. If I had to pay for training, I would have passed $10K a long time ago.

 

[res]

I think this OP is still very young. I hope she continues to research her endeavor for YEARS and YEARS before blindly jumping in to it. I hope she is like a sponge, and is able to absorb all the good, helpful information, and leaves behind the current "backyard breeder" mindset. The experienced adults on the forum have given her lots of good advice on how to proceed raising sled dogs in KANSAS. (psst - Labs and Sibs are not very common sled dogs!) Location is definitely going to be a factor in her case, and I hope she comes to realize that she cannot do things the way they are done in a northern climate where there is actually a market for GOOD sled dogs.