My husband and I are considering breeding Owen ourselves, when he gets older. We realize this is a decision to not be taken lightly, so are asking for advice on books we can read, sites to visit etc to educate ourselves.

We want to be knowledgeable before we decide one way or the other. Any and all advice that can be given will be appreciated.

I do realize that I will have to talk to my vet so I know all of the related costs for the mommy, daddy and pups. I will be checking for any bylawys that will apply with the city as well.

Thank you for all info you can give me so we can make an informed decision and not go into this lightly.

Moggy

While I don't have books to suggest, I can suggest the following things:

Are there shows nearby? You should start to show him, as he should be a champion before he is bred.
Temperament testing is a great thing to have. I think in Canada it's called Canine Good Neighbor test.
When he is old enough, you should get him genetically tested, OFA Hips, Elbows, Knees, and CERF eyes. Also for any heart issues if the breed is known for them.

That's a start, at least. The people who are more knowledgeable on the practise of breeding itself will be along.

Also as a side note, chances are you may lose money in breeding, as a lot of these things aren't cheap.

Money is not a deciding factor for us. I mean we will want to know how much it costs but are not in it to "get rich".
We are considering it as I have had 2 friends who want pups from him and we met another person the other day who wants a pup from this breed as well. Was shocking to meet someone who knew the breed as he is a rare breed.
Thank you for the suggestions they are appreciated.

Are they a recognised breed where you are?

As Sariss said, I would highly recommend entering him in dog shows, it's not just about the prizes and the ribbons, it's a really good way to find out just how good your dog really is.
He is judged not only by the judge on the day but you can ask other breeders and owners opinions and really learn a lot.
Not to mention having 'Champion sire' on the puppies papers always looks more inpressive.

Next step would be the health testing once he is around 2 years old. Not sure the specifics for ABBB's but I imagine CERF for the eyes, hip and elbow x-rays and any other tests specific to the breed.
With hips and elbows they are given a score. 0:0 is perfect, each side has no problems whatsoever. 2:3 means one side scored 2, the other scored 3.
Every breed has it's own different 'average' So some breeds may be allowed to go as high as 12, while some should only go to 2.

Eye tests are very important as there are a few genetic problems like PRA and PRCD which can lay dormant in the parents as recessive genes but if doubled up can become dominant in the puppies and can lead to blindness.

As for finding a suitable mate, that's not really my domain, in the show world it's the owner of the female who finds the stud dog, usually through seeing the dog in person or by finding 'stud dog' advertisements.
If someone approaches you to use him make sure they have also done all the appropriate testing on their dog and it is a good example of the breed.

I know some bulldogs do have trouble whelping which leads to C-sections, but from memory it may only be English Bulldogs, that is something I would have to look up.

Whelping isn't hard if you study up beforehand and know what to expect.
There are a few tools you need such as cotton and scissors to tie and cut the cords which a lot of people don't think about (we have had one question on here where the asker let the mother bite the cord off and the pup bled to death)

I think that covers the basics... anything else just ask ;)

mogrann, I went back over some of binx's posts about the pups and their breeding and found where Sariss had posted the official founding registry and breed club for ABBAs. It's in the US, but by contacting them you should be able to find out about clubs and breeders/owners in Canada.
The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog Association Official Website

Breed specific clubs can be great sources of information for responsibly breeding your animal if he is a good candidate. Because Owen's breed is so rare, it is imperative that those animals who are bred are prime examples of what the breed is supposed to be and that the animal doesn't pass down any known defects. It is also imperative that both parents are registered by a reputable and responsible organization.

I am a bit confused. Are you thinking about getting a female or are you just wanting to be very thorough in getting as much information as you can?

American dogs aren't going to be recognized in Canada.. I think that was Binx biggest problem with Ryu. I don't even think the Kennel club in Canada accepts them.

Sooo.. with that note.. you for sure need to register with ABBA.. More then likely you'll be breeding into the US.. Seeing as how the CKC is very limited on what an unregistered dog can and can't do you're going to have to find other outlits. As far as breed standard, I could be wrong, but you will more then likely have to travel into the US and compete. But you can also compete in other types of things besides breed.. such as pulling, agility, obedience and other things that put titles behind your dog.

I'm a strong believer in prooving your dog before breeding. Either by breed standard (you'll get more money per breeding if he is the top winner in the breed ring) or obedience. This shows your potential buyer that they are breeding a smart dog, confirmationally sound dog and a dog that can learn and has prooven himself in the ring.

But definitely contact Abba and see what is available in Canada.

I have also asked Binx to find me some info to read or people to talk to. I figured the more different information I have the better decision we will be able to make.
I just don't want to be one that does something that hurts my dog in the long run, or the puppies etc.