Dog Breeding Is Not For Amateurs (Part 1)

Are you tempted to start breeding your dogs in the hopes of adding a couple of new puppies to the family and/or making a few extra dollars by selling the other pups? I think everyone who owns a dog has thought about it at some time or another. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to breeding your dogs that you may not feel comfortable with.

Dog breeding is considered to be a “way of life” for those professionals that are passionate about their animals. These people live, eat, and breathe dog breeding. However, the same is not true for 99% of the other people out there that just decided to have puppies for the fun of it or for the possibility of smalltime profits.

Here are a few reasons why you might want to reconsider dog breeding unless you are 100% committed to the process and to the health of the new puppies:

1. Breeding can be a bit expensive. For starters, the costs that you will have to absorb can get a little pricey with veterinarian checkups and care for all of the puppies, which include prevention of heartworms, fleas, and regular worms. In addition, you need to budget enough money to advertise the new puppies once they are born. For most people that are not professional breeders, you may barely make enough money back to cover your investment.

2. Breeding puppies yourself can also be emotionally heartbreaking. This is one downside of breeding that most people do not expect. For example, it is not unusual for the mother to die due to whelping complications. What is even more depressing is that many times one or more puppies from the litter will pass away as well. These kind of circumstances are not something that every family can handle so please keep these possibilities in mind should you begin to breed your dogs.

3. A third downside to breeding your dogs is that the entire process is a huge responsibility. This should be quite obvious with even just the above two examples given in terms of your investment and emotional participation. Once you decide to breed your dogs and bring new life into this world, you are now entirely responsible to ensure that those puppies are given the utmost in high quality attention and health care. Breeding new puppies is not a hobby and therefore you must understand that your time and energy must be devoted to the process 100%.

Dog Breeders – Finding A Professional Breeder That Puts Health First

If you are thinking about getting a specific pure bred puppy, the best route is to go to a professional breeder. And if you want to make sure that the purebred puppy is in great health, has a sound temperament, and one that will match with your personality and lifestyle, then you need to find an honest and knowledgeable breeder, one that will help you find that perfect puppy.

The Importance Of Finding The Right Breeder
Nowadays, finding a reputable breeder is not as easy as it used to be. Many self-proclaimed breeders are nothing more than regular dog owners practicing “backyard breeding”. Many of these backyard breeders lack proper knowledge, history, and understanding of the breed, other than the one that they own.

Therefore, you need to do a thorough research and find a legitimate breeder, one who is also honest and well educated about specific dog breeds. A reputable breeder should be able to give you pertinent information about his puppies, as well as answer questions you may have regarding the breed, even after you have purchased the puppy. Most importantly, a reputable breeder should have genuine interest and love for his dogs.

One advantage of going to a breeder is that he has first-hand experience and knowledge of raising that specific dog breed. These are two important factors that he can pass down to you which will help you raise a healthy and happy dog. Reliable breeders are concerned about many aspects of their dogs, with health being number one.

Health
A reputable breeder’s top priority is to make sure that his puppies are free of genetic diseases that are common and dangerous to that specific breed. For instance, a breeder of Labrador retrievers should test their puppies for, at the least, diseases and disorders that are common with the breed, such as developmental diseases of the bone and joint, retinal dysplasia, and tricuspid dysplasia.

That breeder should all have an updated certificate for eye evaluation obtained from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation that ensures the puppy does not have genetic eye disease. The results of the eye evaluation should be registered at the Canine Health Information Center, where potential buyers and owners can go to and check the results.

To Breed or not to Breed?

It is very tempting to think about having a litter of small cuddly puppies from your beautiful bitch, but before even thinking about it, there are important factors to consider.

First of all, you may think your dog is the best in the world, but is it really? Look at her dispassionately, is she of sound construction and reliable temperament? Is she free from any genetic defect? If she is a pedigree dog, is she a good example of the breed, coming from a good pedigree?

Do not be tempted to breed from a dog that has serious defects and do not contemplate breeding as a means of trying to compensate for any signs of nervousness or distress in your bitch or as a way to avoid problems with the uterus. Your dog should be mature enough to physically cope with a litter (in a large breed this can be when the bitch is at least two years old.)

If you are happy so far that breeding is the right thing to do, then you should turn your attention to the pups. Have you the room for a whelping box and then perhaps 12 pups running around? Have you the time to sit with your bitch while she is birthing, perhaps over 12 hours? Then there is the cleaning, weaning, feeding routine for the next eight to 12 weeks. What about money? The cost of the feeds can be large and you really must budget for any veterinary costs that are caused by complications in the birth. Finally, what will you do with the pups? You must be in a position to look after them all. If it is a pedigree dog then you will be looking at selling the pups, if not you will be giving them away or selling for a very small fee. Either way you should be checking very carefully where your pups are going, possibly including a home visit; this again takes time and money. Remember also that you bred the pups and you should always be prepared to take them back, for whatever reason, as a good breeder, they are ultimately your responsibility for life.

If you still think breeding is for you, then your final consideration will be the stud dog. If attempting to breed a pedigree dog, then your ultimate aim will be to produce sound, quality dogs of both structure and temperament, that are ideally as near the Breed Standard as possible. Therefore you should look at your bitch against the Breed Standard, identifying strengths and weaknesses and then look for a stud dog that will complement your bitch, building on her strengths and compensating for her weaknesses. If your bitch has poor pigmentation then do not use a dog that also has poor pigmentation. Study the dogs pedigree and antecedents, do whatever research you can to try to ensure you breed healthy well developed dogs.

Remember you are breeding living animals, their quality of life should come first and not your own interests, especially money!

How to Buy a Dog From a Breeder

The first thing to decide before buying a dog is what type and size you want. Many factors are important when buying, but be sure to consider what breed is suitable for you and your family. Remember also, that different breeds may have genetic health issues to watch out for…

Larger dog breeds can be susceptible to hip-dysplasia. This is a degenerative disease that affects the hip joint. When a dog with hip-dysplasia matures, the hip joint and socket loose their ability to bear the animal’s bodyweight. They will have a hard time running, walking or even standing. The only cure for this condition is surgery.

Smaller breeds of dogs can have genetic concerns of their own. Dogs that are in the “Toy” breed category, like the Pug, the Pekinese and the Lassa Apso are susceptible to breathing problems. These dogs have a short muzzle (or nose), which does not leave much room for sinus and nasal development. This is a condition that is often times not evident in early development.

So, what should you look for when buying a dog? INFORMATION is the key word! After you decide what type of dog you want, seek out people who already own this type of dog. Maybe somebody you know already owns one? Get the word out that you are looking to buy a dog. Talk to people and gather as much information about the breed as you can. If you go to a pet store, talk with people. Pet owners love to talk about their pets.

Research the internet about your dog breed and print out whatever information you can find. Buy books and read about the bread you are interested in. Know that it is extremely important to become an educated consumer BEFORE you buy your dog from a breeder.

Finally, when you talk with dog breeders, ask any questions that come to mind. Honest dog breeders will be more than happy to talk with you and answer every question. Note the condition of dog’s environment. Are the dogs pens clean? Are the puppies well cared for? Can you see the mother and father? What type of puppy food are they being feed? Have the puppies had their shots? Reputable breeders love their animals and go to great lengths to provide a proper “home like” environment. Puppies are products of their surroundings. A good, clean environment will surely be reflected in a dog’s playfulness.

Beware of breeders who are interested only in making money. They generally don’t pay much attention to their dog’s emotional needs and health concerns. Also, they may in-breed their dogs and this can trigger severe health issues. AVOID THESE BREEDERS!

Some breeders may offer a 72 hour guarantee. This allows time to take your puppy to a vet for inspection. If any health issues are identified, contact the breeder and get your questions answered.

Good, honest breeders care for their dogs and it shows in their surroundings. There are no guarantees that you will always have a normal, perfect puppy, but you greatly increase the odds when you do your homework first!

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