The first was a driving adventure to Wisconsin dairy country, and the second a flight to Portland and drive over the Cascades to the high desert of central Oregon.

I’d never been either place. Because ES folks are that sort of people, I stayed with the stud’s owners both times, and helped out as much as I could.

Being on those two wonderful farms — a family dairy, and a heritage breed cattle ranch — was one more prod towards getting our own place.

And in both cases, the wonderful stud dogs were as advertised. Indeed — because I am naturally skeptical of anything said to be great — the dogs exceeded my expectations in temperament, working ability, and extreme handsomeness and charm.

Have a great time!

Call if you have mating/whelping/puppy questions!

(BTW, the reason we took the long drive the first time was because I don’t believe in breeding an animal who can’t/won’t mate naturally. The reason we took the big flight the second time was that it turned out to be more trouble and expense to get semen, ship it, and inseminate on this end, with dedicated repro vets on both ends a long drive away. And in our breed, AI’s have been spotty, with a lot of misses and very small litters in a breed that is highly fecund as a rule. This was the last heat at which I’d consider breeding Pip, who had just turned seven, so I wanted the best chance possible.)

You go argue it with Christie, who jumped all over me the last time I said I was a breeder because Woody had sired a litter.

Which of course I am forever responsible for, no matter what the breed club’s code of ethics says.

Count me in as one who is surprised that you’re looking at this trip rather than AI. Especially at that time of year.

After being stuck for 12 hours in the Raleigh-Durham airport, I don’t fly anymore, either.

I think a vacation in CA in February would be very welcome, especially if you were picking up the tab. Otherwise, I’d go with FedEx — the other options are just way too stressful and after all the effort, you don’t want her so stressed that she just re-absorbs what you went out there to get. . .

Now “shipment” sounds kinda dirty too…

Congratulations on that 3rd leg Gina and McKenzie! If Nature cooperates, maybe you both can compete for the 4th and final one, AND make that important rendezvous at the No Tell Motel somewhere in the snowy Midwest!
Gotta ask though, is fresh frozen not an option? Seems to me safer than driving or flying.

So my point is, have you considered shipping chilled semen? There are several fantastic veterinary specialists in NorCal and there are good people in the midwest as well. While a natural breeding with a tie is always reassuring, a properly timed AI will often produce excellent results with far less risk than flying or driving in the snow! :-)

Personally in the past 10 years I have had two litters of 8 and one litter of 5 from chilled shipments, and a litter of 9 from a frozen breeding from a dog who had been gone over a decade.