Are You Interested In Becoming A Breeder? Know The Risks Involved

You may eventually decide to breed your dog. In that case, please don't take this responsibility lightly. There are already far too many unwanted dogs in the world. As dog lovers, let's try to resolve rather than aggravate this unfortunate situation. You must have plans for each and every puppy before the litter is even conceived.

Breeding dogs also has its emotional costs. Ask a breeder what it's like to see a dog through a difficult birth or Caesarean section, or to witness the death of a beloved female or her puppies. Death plays as large a role as life when it comes to breeding dogs, and rare is the litter in which all the puppies survive.

But while you're at it, ask about the excitement and challenge of breeding dogs. Catch a glimpse of how it feels to be responsible for building a solid foundation for future generations of dogs. This will really help make up your mind whether breeding dogs is right for you.

And if you decide to go forward and become a breeder, we hope you will embrace the belief that each new litter you produce should represent an improvement over the last. This means that you don't choose the dog who lives down the street to mix genes with your female dog because he happens to be close by and performs for free. Try to find an individual whose blood-lines will strengthen your dog's weaknesses and emphasize his or her good qualities. The rewards of your discretion will be long-lived.

When it comes to selecting breeding partners, there are three important points we wish to make concerning the selection of a breeding partner for your dog. First, as complicated as genetics may seem, there is a simple principle to bear in mind in selecting dogs; namely, you mate animals that complement one another. Meaning, for example, if your dog's coat is not as good as it might be, then locate a partner with a good coat from a line with good coats. The truth is, of course, that selecting breeding partners is more complex, because you must weigh all the factors that make up the two animals. Obviously, this is one area where experienced breeders are your absolute best resource.

The second and third points boil down to two words: temperament and health. Temperament is a hereditary trait in dogs. Selection over many generations eventually produced breeds with the correct temperament to pull sleds, follow scent on trails or retrieve game. The inheritance factors of temperament are complex. However, never consider breeding a dog with questionable temperament. You impose a major disservice on both human and canine communities if you produce another generation of skittish or bad-tempered animals.

In addition, dogs are subject to many hereditary defects, some of which are potentially crippling or fatal. If you breed, you carry the responsibility of ensuring that the dogs you produce are not affected by the major known hereditary diseases occurring in your breed. Both your dog's breeder and your veterinarian can advise you. Please do not take this warning lightly. Consider how devastated you would feel if the beautiful eight-week-old puppy you place in a loving home develops a crippling hip problem at one year of age. Ignorance is no excuse for having contributed to this tragic situation.