Your're right Carolyn, but in the "old days" of natural breedings there was always the element of risk. Now with all this new stuff, one can remove all doubt, with the exception that I have had dogs not give as good a collection when they didn't have a real bitch, ready to be bred to collect with. got a whole bunch of prostatic fluid and a few sperm!LOL! No problem with the dog, he just couldn't be fooled! :) On , Hickoryhill <hickoryhillgsd1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Yes I know, I have a microscope, I have used it successfully. I think it boils down to what the bitch owner feels comfortable with. If a stud owner is proficient with doing the shipping and the bitch owner is fine than there shouldn't be a problem. C On Monday, March 10, 2014 5:52 PM, "Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx" <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx> wrote: Yup, I can see it but prefer the documentation from the repro vet.... Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit http://www.pinehillgsds.com/ In a message dated 3/10/2014 6:00:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, barbara17236@xxxxxxx writes: In my experience, the ONLY vets who can truly breakdown a collection, are repro vets. I know my regular vet does not do it. BTW - it is quite easy for anyone to check semen with a microscope.  You will not get an exact count, but you can clearly tell a good collection from a bad collection. And, if they are moving forward on the slide or not, and under the highest magnification on your scope, you can see double-heads,  no heads, kinks, and premature sperm. Barb Hively - PA DNA. It's what makes a white, a German Shepherd -----Original Message----- From: Hickoryhill <hickoryhillgsd1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: marhaven <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; SHOW LIST <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:35 pm Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Taboo discussion for Stud owners...? IMHO having the vet check the semen before being sent gets the monkey off my back. If I send it myself, then I am not in a position to evaluate motility, viability and numbers. Even if I look at the semen under the microscope, I know I can see numbers, but to the degree of what is acceptable I wouldn't feel qualified to evaluate it. Also if the semen is sent and the sperm are dead, I have professional documentation that it was fine when sent. Like you I know I could do it myself, but with all the money being spent, just prefer the documentation. C On Monday, March 10, 2014 4:20 PM, Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Can't figure out how this can start a "war"...so will "test the waters" to see.� <G>� Question: *� I'm just wondering how many breeders handle their own A.I's ? *� AND..wondering how many possible stud dog owners already do,� or even would consider... collecting their own stud dog for packaging and shipping fresh chilled semen themselves?? If...as a breeder you have had to handle an A.I. with your own stud dog and your own bitch occasionally for a whole variety of reasons....I am wondering why more stud dog owners do not consider collecting, packaging and shipping fresh chilled semen from their own stud dog themselves? Having spent a few thousand dollars in the last few years for fresh chilled semen being sent for A.I.'s, Surgical Implants, and trans-cervical implants for breeding... I'm just wondering? We have been with our bitches for surgical implants, several trans-cervical implants..several "professionally" done A.I.'s� and of course have ourselves handled a few natural breedings and A.I.'s....SO..I am wondering why more stud dog owners do not collect, package and ship fresh chilled semen themselves?? You can purchase all the same products your REPRO Vet uses... ANY local Vet can check results under the microscope for you. Just wondering...... Carolyn� marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.marhaven.com ===========================================================================P OST is Copyrighted 2014.� All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post.� This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org/SUBSCRIPTION: http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ===========================================================================�� ===========================================================================P OST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the origin al author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org/ SUBSCRIPTION: http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org/ SUBSCRIPTION: http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org/ SUBSCRIPTION: http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ÿÿ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION: http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================