Gundog Training Forum

There is no reason to favour a bitch over a dog for temp or ability.

Usually when somebody says something like this they have an all dog kennel like me but maybe I'm wrong on this occassion.

IF you can arrange for a bitch not to break when you want to run her there is absolutly nothing on this earth that can compete with a fit bitch in the three or four weeks prior to her season. Now there are plenty of people who have spayed bitches that will tell you their dogs don't appear to have lost anything since they have been spayed but I put this down to possibly the breed they have or their perception of what constitutes fit.

Many bitches (not all !) that come through here perform better when approaching season.
The dogs however don't!

There is potentially big big money to be made from a FTcH dog- have a look on the KC health test finder at some well known dogs and look up their progeney. When I was looking for my labrador pup, some of the dogs I was interested in had sired aprox 100 litters! Thats about £50,000! (based on stud fee of £500).

Polmaise wrote:Many bitches (not all !) that come through here perform better when approaching season.
The dogs however don't!

Robt., can bitches whilst in season compete in tests and trials? Do you all train them during their heat cycle regardless, and have them run with dogs at the same training session?

Our protocol, with one retriever out working at a time, is to have a bitch in season run last (in training); not allowed in either tests or trials.

MG

crackerd wrote:

Polmaise wrote:Many bitches (not all !) that come through here perform better when approaching season.
The dogs however don't!

Robt., can bitches whilst in season compete in tests and trials? Do you all train them during their heat cycle regardless, and have them run with dogs at the same training session?

Our protocol, with one retriever out working at a time, is to have a bitch in season run last (in training); not allowed in either tests or trials.

MG

Test and trials , (and group club training) requires 'no bitches in season'!
Individual training is a personal thing'?...some don't have the set up' or environment to facilitate'?
Out of 100'? I would say 80% (ime) train and run better when the cycle starts
Nature would dictate that the 'prospective mother' is in preperation for mating', and would require as much 'protein' and body fat required for 'an intended act'?

In racing a mare in foal, is often worth following.

I insisted we had bitches as I'm out numbered by too many males in my house

My present litter I wanted dog pups !
I got bitches.
Doris Day sang'.............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc

Que sera.sera.

i think its what you make of the dog regardless of sex!!