1st breeding session

Question
Hello, my name is Charlotte and I am a new dog breeder. My husband and I have fallen in love with two mini schnauzers. Female Trixie who is a Phantom and Clyde Jr. which is black. They are both very close in age by exactly 2 weeks, but from two complete families (of course) Anyway, she has come into her 1st heat. He has slightly dropped and we are very afraid they are going to breed. Which to be quite honest with you I am afraid my husband wants them to. I have heard that the 1st heat is a no no. I am going to do some homework and research as much as possible, with the little bit of time that I have owning my own biz, home with 2 kids and both in all kinds of activities....HeLp..!@#$%^&*  Thank you in advance for your considerate time.. Hoping for a good start!

Answer
Hello:

You should definitely NOT allow breeding if this is the female's first heat -- she's FAR too young. She may develop health problems & may fall short of being a good mother as well. She too young both physically & emotionally. I would urge you to wait until she's a minimum of 18 months of age. Also, prior to breeding, you should have both dogs examined thoroughly by a qualified veterinarian to ensure they have no underlying health problems which could be passed on to any offspring. Complete blood work is a wise idea as well as having an eye exam known as CERF testing. Schnauzers can be predisposed to several health issues, such as juvenile diabetes, bladder stones, etc. I would urge you to research the breed standard & be as sure as possible that both dogs meet or hopefully exceed it. As a Miniature Schnauzer breeder myself, I am often confronted with potential buyers of puppies that have had bad experiences due to people breeding that were unaware of the potential risks. I see many very poor quality Schnauzers, which I know is simply a result of well-intentioned breeding. Sadly, the puppies suffer as do their new owners, who may have to deal with life-long health or disposition issues that are inherited. Also you should know that the term "phantom" (Black & Silver) is a color term associated with Poodle breeds, not Schnauzers. If you intend to breed, it's best to learn all you can about the breed so that you can adequately discuss it with potential buyers and others. Black & Silver, Black & Salt & Pepper are the three colors recognized by the AKC although these days breeders are producing other colors, such as livers, chocolates, whites, & parti-colors. None of these are acceptable colors & it's my opinion that the likelihood of another terrier breed has been introduced into the blood line, which completely dissolves the nature of a pure-bred Schnauzer. I would encourage you to research the AKC web site as well as that of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club to learn more about the history of the breed and the standard. Also you could greatly benefit from befriending a quality Schnauzer breeder. You may be able to find a good breeder/shower through the AKC's mentoring program & learn a great deal from them.Also if you're able to attend a few breed dog shows you'll have access to seeing quality dogs & the ability to talk with breeders, which would be helpful if you intend to breed. Hope this helps!