Breeding a german shepard

Question
Hi, I wanted to breed my female shepard she is 2 but I don't know what I have to do can you please inform me what I have to do? how do I don't know when she is ready? Do I have to go to the vet before I get her started ? I would appreciate any information you could give me I have no idea what to do but I'm willing to learn THANK YOU

Answer
Hi Diane,  First you want to get your GSD tested for genetic problems like Von Wilbrahnds disease (this is a blood disease that is common in GSDs), Hip Dysplasia an elbow dysplasia (very common in GSDs) and get her eyes CERF (certified to not have any genetic faults that can be passed on.  Once she has passed these tests so that she will not pass these problems on to her pups, you will want to find a stud dog that has also been tested for the same genetic problems.  You will also want to get at least a 3 generation (preferably a 5 generation) pedigree on both the stud dog & your dog so that you can compare their lineage and make sure you are not doing any inbreeding.  Inbreeding is a mother to a son, father to a daughter, grandfather to granddaughter etc.  So basically you want to make sure that no other dog is close in the pedigree that you are breeding to.  If there is a dog that is related in the pedigee at all, it is called linebreeding, and you really want to know more about that dog (his or her faults that they pass on) because you are still doubling up on that dog and can pass on genetic problems.  Breeding is just not putting two dogs together.  Its making sure that you do it responsibly so that you produce the most healthy puppies possible, but unfortunately you have one of the worse genetically made up breeds there are.  GSDs have the most genetic faults of any breed, most of which have been man made due to bad breeding.  Once you do all the research, testing etc., then you deal with her heat cycle which breaks done into 3 segments basically. The 1st 7-10 days, they tend to bleed heavier and will not accept a male, the 2nd 7-10 day segment their vulva will swell and they will be willing to accept a male. The last segment also will last approx. 7-10 days and they will be going out of heat and not accept a male.  You breed her in the second segment of her cycle, normally 3 times to the male on an every other day schedule.  Once she accepts him, give her a day break inbetween for the next two breedings.  Then count 63 days from the 1st day she bred.  That will be her 1st due date.  2 weeks before that day, set up a place away from the world that is quiet and keep her there for her to give birth.  Closets, laundry rooms etc. make nice whelping areas.  Hope this helps,

Dawn