Breeding your dog is an important responsibility and
should not be entered into without a great deal of thought and preparation.
Responsible breeding is time-consuming, expensive and can potentially
involve risks to your dog. However, when done responsibly, breeding your
dog can be a very rewarding experience.
Shouldn’t I breed to perpetuate the qualities of
my dog?
Your dog may be a wonderful companion and may display
many excellent attributes of its breed. However, make sure you step back
and take a critical look at your dog. Are all of its qualities good? For
instance, you may have a dog with a wonderful disposition, but it may have
health problems that could be passed to its offspring. Make sure you
consider the entire dog in assessing its ‘breedability” and remember that
you should try to improve the overall quality of the breed each time you
consider mating your dog. Also, consider that there may already be breeders
in your area who are breeding dogs that share your dog’s excellent
qualities.
Isn’t breeding a good way to “recoup” the costs
involved in raising a dog?
When done responsibly, breeding is an expensive
proposition. Even in the best-case scenario, breeding involves significant
financial commitment. If there are any problems with the breeding, the
pregnancy, the delivery, or post-delivery health of the bitch or puppies,
health care costs can rise rapidly. Current costs for an emergency
c-section are in excess of $2,000.00 and potentially risk the life of the
dog and the puppies. Money should never be the motivating factor for dog
breeding!
Shouldn’t my children experience the miracle of
birth?
It is understandable that we may want to experience the
miracle of birth or share that experience with our children. However, there
are countless books and videos available that teach about birth in a
responsible manner. Over 15 million animals are killed in animal shelters
each year due to a lack of homes. Allowing your pet to reproduce without
being assured of homes is irresponsible. Remember, for every puppy your pet
produces, there is another puppy somewhere that won’t have a home.
What steps should I take to become a responsible
breeder?
Learn about your dog. Study its breed standard.
Attend dog events. Become involved with dog clubs. Read books and
magazines and watch videos. Learn everything you can about your dog’s breed
so that you can understand and identify the traits that you wish to
perpetuate in its breed. Contact the American Kennel Club (AKC) for
information on your dog and the AKC registry programs.
Discuss health issues with your veterinarian. Make
sure that you dog is healthy and is free of genetic diseases which can be
passed to its offspring. It is best if you know the familial history of
your dog and its relatives so that you can be aware of any health concerns
that may exist in its line. In addition, you should discuss the breeding
process and the specifics of how to have the healthiest bitch and litter.
OK. I’ve decided not to breed my dog….should I
have it spayed or neutered?
Yes! See the Spay/Neuter
Page.
