Our Breeding Process.....

Each litter is planned and carefully thought out.  All breedings are done with the intent to keep one or more offspring for ourselves.   Both parents are evaluated and compared to determine which match ups would make the best overall improvement in the offspring.  Our goals are to produce offspring that is better than the parents by combining the good genetics from both Sire & Dam.  Not only do we compare body structure, but overall health, movement and even temperament.   Read about our practices for Rabbits & Dachshunds below.  Follow the link to see what we have planned, when and why we chose to pair them.

The Rabbits

In most cases, we like to give our does time to grow and mature.  Not to mention time on that show table when they are their prime self!  Our Mini Lops are bred between the ages of 1 year and 1 1/2 years old.  Waiting this long, I also find they are better and more attentive mothers.

We always breed in "sets".  This allows us to have multiple does with litters at one time, in case we need to foster.  Generally, Mini Lops are great moms, but sometimes we need to even out a litter when a Mom has too many or too few.  We always breed first-time moms and experienced moms at the same time as well.

Our does have one to two litters a year.  I will keep the best one from the first litter, but if I am not 100% happy with it, I will rebreed her, usually with a different buck, and evaluate the second litter.  Then keeping the best one of two, sometimes both, before moving on the doe.

After our does have produced what we have needed from them, they are moved on to other breeders.  Very rarely will we hold on to a doe for a long length of time.    Our bucks, on the other hand, are usually lifers.  Very rarely do we let go of our herd bucks.  

The Dachshunds

On occasion, we will have a litter of Dachshund pups.  As with the bunnies, we breed with the intent to keep one for ourselves.  We look first at the body structure of both potential parents.  Do they complement each other?  Will one's fault possibly be corrected by the other?  Next, we look at health testing, and then finally we ensure that color wise they are compatible and will likely not produce undesired colors.  This sometimes means that we seek outside studs and do not use the boys we own.

Our Dachshunds are not bred until 2 years of age and have been Embark or otherwise genetically tested.  Complete OFA testing is done per availability at shows.  We OFA test for Eyes, Heart, Patellar Luxation (Knees), and Spine.

Our girls are bred no more than 4 times.  Once they are done having litters, they are spayed and live out the rest of their lives being spoiled by us and watching their pups grow up, have pups, show, etc!

Our boys are rarely studded out.