There are pros and cons to every activity, and breeding dogs is no exception. As a prospective dog breeder you will need to weigh up the pros and cons before you start.

You may have thought dog breeding was an inexpensive hobby, but in fact that is not the case. It is a task which carries a lot of responsibility; and this includes taking care of your dog’s health whether it happens to be male or female. The decision to start breeding dogs should not be taken lightly, and it needs to be discussed with family members and your local vet.

Pros

The pros of breeding a female dog are numerous, and they include the opportunity to produce good quality pups. Remember to choose loving homes for your puppies; you don’t want them to end up in an animal shelter.

You may be able to breed champion pups from your female. Your kennel will attract more attention if one of your pups is declared a champion.

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A lot of people start breeding puppies without making plans for the future. Some of them breed pups on the assumption that their friends and family members will take them off their hands. But what if the arrangement fails and no-one takes the pups? What would you do?

It is vital to have re-homing arrangements in place before the pups are born. Unless you happen to be very wealthy you are not going to be in a position to care for all the pups in your own home.

Dog breeders usually start looking for new homes for the pups once they reach six weeks of age. Puppies at that age need a great deal of looking after, and without constant attention they can cause a lot of damage to your home. At six weeks old they are at their most curious, and they will enjoy wandering around to explore their surroundings. As a breeder it is your responsibility to provide them with opportunities to play and socialise, but you are also responsible for their safety.

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When you want to breed dogs you obviously need a male and a female, otherwise you can’t produce any puppies. Since your two dogs will be working for you to produce pups it makes sense to have them regularly checked. Medical checks are vital to ensure the ongoing health and vitality of your dogs. Whether you want to become a full-time breeder or you just want to produce extra pups for your own family, you should know a lot about dog breeding. If you are just starting out there is a lot to learn.

You cannot produce healthy pups if one of your dogs suffers from sterility problems. If one or both parents have sterility problems it will seriously affect the pups’ chance of survival. The pups could be aborted or die shortly after birth. This condition, known as brucellosis, not only affects dogs but it can also be passed on to humans. As a dog breeder you need to be aware of this condition, and to take extra care during handling. Brucellosis can be transmitted to other dogs during sexual intercourse. It can also be transmitted through secretions left in the kennel of the affected dog. Vaccinations are essential to ensure the male dog remains in good health and the female is able to withstand the rigors of pregnancy.

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As a dog breeder you need to be aware of potential hereditary problems. The problems may be infrequent but you still need to be aware of any conditions that could be passed on to your puppies. Listed below are some of the hereditary conditions you need to be aware of, and the effects they could have on your dogs.

You need to start by learning as much as you can about your particular dog breed. Thorough screening is essential to prevent problems arising in the future. To ensure the health and vitality of your pubs you will need to look into the bloodline of your dogs.

Eye problems are frequently encountered by dog breeders. These problems include:

1. PRA – Progressive Retinol Atrophy. If this condition is not treated early enough your dog can become totally blind. Some breeds develop the condition once they reach 2 – 3 years of age, or even before the breeding period. In some cases the condition does not develop until the dog is aged between 4 and 8 years. For Red Setter breeders there is a test which can identify whether or not their dogs are carriers. It is vital to have the test carried out at an early stage. Late onset PRA can seriously affect breeding programs.
2. CEA – Collie Eye Anomaly. Collie breeds including the border, bearded, smooth, and rough varieties, as well as closely related other breeds, can suffer from this condition. The condition is hereditary, and varies in severity from minor sight loss to total blindness. Even if your dog is not displaying any symptoms of CEA it could be a carrier of the condition. This condition can then be passed on to the pups with disastrous results.
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If you are the owner of a female dog you may have already considered the issue of breeding. You can never be certain about your dog’s life expectancy, and by allowing her to produce pups you will at least be guaranteed some continuity. Training pups can be a daunting task but it is also very rewarding; and you can choose to sell any that you don’t need. It is important to remember, however, that breeding dogs is not an easy task; and you will need to start off by finding the right mate.

Once puppies are born it will be your responsibility as the breeder to take good care of them. You may become emotionally attached to some of them, but you should not allow your emotions to interfere with your plans. You need to be prepared for the inevitable because sooner or later the pups will be going to new homes.

Handling newborn pups may seem a difficult job, but first of all you need to find a good mate for your dog. Ideally you should start breeding your dog when she is at least two years old. If you start the breeding process when your dog is very young she may not be mature enough to take care of her pups. Before you start breeding you also need to make sure your dog has received all the necessary injections. Try to schedule your visits to the vet so that your dog is ready when the perfect partner comes along. If you feel you can handle the responsibility for breeding dogs you can start looking for a mate.

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Once your dog gives birth to puppies you will need to start looking after them. Taking care of puppies is not always as easy as it seems, and a lot of responsibility will fall upon you as the breeder. Your responsibility does not end with the female giving birth; in fact your job is only just beginning.

You will need to make preparations prior to the birth; and these include providing a whelping box which is clean and sturdy. Try to incorporate some kind of ‘pig rail’ to stop the mother accidentally crushing the puppies. The box should be large enough for the mother to move around comfortably, but on the other hand it should not be so large that the puppies are in danger of getting lost in it. Use a box which is six inches longer and a foot wider than the size of the bitch.

When you have chosen a suitable box you will need to line it with suitable materials. Take some sheets of newspaper and plastic and arrange them in layers in the box, starting with several sheets of newspaper followed by some plastic. Continue in this way until you have 4 – 5 layers of newspaper and plastic.

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