How to Mate Labrador Retrievers

Mating Labrador Retrievers is a big responsibility. You should only mate your dog if you are knowledgeable about the breeding process and have the proper facilities. Too many Labs and Lab mixes end up in shelters as a result of backyard breeding. Before you breed your Labs, you should ascertain that the dogs have something to contribute to the breed.

Instructions

    • 1

      Have your dog inspected for physical health. You should not breed a dog that's going to pass health problems on to its offspring. Particularly, get your dog's hips tested--hip issues are a common problem with Labradors. You should also have it checked for hereditary eye disease, such as progressive retinal atrophy. Consider your dogs' achievements; according to the Labrador Club, breeders and buyers look for dogs, especially males, with distinctive titles and/or bloodlines.

    • 2

      Test your dog's genetic background for color through a veterinary clinic or hospital. You should mate your Labrador with a dog that's genetically compatible. Black is the most dominant color in Labs, while chocolate is recessive and yellow is another gene entirely. You want to avoid creating a color known as "dudley," which refers to a yellow lab with no pigmentation on the eyes, ears and muzzle. These have pink noses and eyes and do not meet the breed standard.

    • 3

      Monitor the female dog's reproduction cycle, but do not breed her during her first reproductive cycle; she's still in puberty and is not physically ready to have puppies. Wait until the dog is three or four years old.

      Most females come into heat twice a year. Heat starts with a clear discharge from the vulva that changes to bleeding. After four to nine days of bleeding, your female should be ready to accept a male.

    • 4

      Bring the dogs together during the female's heat cycle to ensure that the dogs mate multiple times. If the dogs aren't compatible, separate them rather than let their differences escalate into a fight. Sometimes the female simply doesn't want to be mated. If she is consistently reluctant to live cover, you can try artificial insemination, performed by a veterinarian.

    • 5

      Oversee the mating process. To ensure insemination, you should mate the dogs every other day, stopping when the female no longer accepts the male. Stand close by and hold the female's head while while the male mounts. Once the male is in place, do not interfere until mating is finished (10 to 40 minutes).