How to Breed Labrador Retriever Puppies

Breeding Labrador retrievers is great for fun and profit. Labrador puppies can sell for upwards of $500 each if they are healthy. Many families want to own a Labrador retriever puppy because they are reputed to be gentle with children and make great family pets. As a dog breeder, you should be responsible to breed dogs that are the best representation of a Labrador retriever. The parent dogs should be healthy and conform to the breed standard, which is friendly, intelligent, sociable and likes to hunt and retrieve objects. As a breeder, you should strive to breed the best Labrador puppies you can in order to uphold the breed's reputation.

Things You'll Need

  • Male Labrador retriever
  • Female Labrador retriever
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a male and female Labrador retriever that represent the best traits for their breed. They should be intelligent, gentle, playful and possess a retriever instinct. Physical characteristics of the ideal Labrador include a well-muscled body without excess fat, weight between 55-80 pounds and no more than 24-1/2 inches tall at the withers. The teeth should be even and have a normal bite. The nose should be fully brown or black with no pink spots. Choose dogs of similar coloring if you want the puppies to have more predictable coloring.

    • 2

      Find a stud dog in advance of the female's heat. Arrange it so that the dog will be available when the female goes into heat, which can be fairly unpredictable.

    • 3

      Allow the two dogs to meet each other before the female goes into heat. Make sure they get along and do not fight.

    • 4

      Wait for the female to go into heat, which occurs about once every six months. You will notice drops of blood coming from her genitals, which signals menstruation. Ten days after bleeding begins, she is ready to mate and will try to seek out a male partner. Do not let her out of your sight during this time period, since she will be anxious to mate with any male dog available.

    • 5

      Bring the dogs together about ten days after the female has started menstruating. Allow them to mate every two days until the female rejects the male. Watch the dogs to make sure there is no aggression.

    • 6

      Keep the female dog away from other male dogs after mating has ceased, since it is possible she may get pregnant from another male. Bring her to the veterinarian about two weeks after she is done mating to see if she is pregnant.