How to Become a Dog Breeder

Have you thought about breeding a favorite animal and enjoying the life of a dog breeder? If you are a dog lover with a special place in your heart for a particular breed, you could be a potential candidate to be a great dog breeder.

How does one become a dog breeder? Many times, you will need to concentrate on specific traits to better the breed for future generations. There is a lot of planning that goes into breeding dogs.

To be a dog breeder, you will need a female dog that has not been “fixed” or neutered. Most states will not even require you to register your kennel unless you have more than three adult dogs. However, if you want to become one of the top breeders and produce reliable, healthy animals, you need to follow certain guidelines.

A good dog breeder will not use a dog with any major problems. Typically, the breeder will show the dog in AKC shows to obtain a championship before breeding them. A puppy whose mother is a champion show dog is more expensive and more sought-after. In addition, shows will also help to connect the dog breeder with other breeders who can help grow the new business. Even if your dog does not win a championship, having a few wins under its belt will help in the long run. If you can find another male dog that has similar outstanding qualities, you can produce wonderful puppies.

You will want to choose a kennel name and get your kennel registered with the American Kennel Club. The puppies that are produced in your kennel will carry your kennel name, which is a great way to advertise and promote your breeding business.

You will also want to get a kennel permit. If you keep some of your puppies, the kennel permit will help. You will want to get a kennel permit before you get attached to your dogs and realize that you are against regulations and have problems with the neighbors, thus forbidding you to get a state permit now.

The male dog should belong to an experienced dog breeder. Not all dogs hit it off right away and you typically only have a few days that a dog is in heat and ready to conceive. A breeder who is experienced can introduce the dogs to each other in a way that encourages their successfully breeding potential.

If the breeding takes, you will need to take the new mother dog to the veterinarian at least once for a pre-natal visit. Depending on her statistics, the vet will let you know if you need to come back again. The vet can sometimes guess the number of puppies the mother will have by feeling her belly or you can find out the exact number with an x-ray.

Ask the vet ahead of time about the birthing process and the best way to prepare for the new puppies. Some dog breeds must be delivered by C-section to have the highest success rate, while other breeds don’t have any problems typically. Pre-natal vitamins can also help to keep your dog healthy throughout the pregnancy.

Prepare a quiet spot for your new mother to delivery. You will need a whelping box, clean rags, heating pad and emergency contact numbers for the vet on hand in case something happens that you need quick answers for. You can buy a whelping box or make one yourself, but the most important part is to have a small ledge in the box a few inches from the bottom so that the mother doesn’t accidentally crush her babies between her body and the sides of the box.

Finally, you will see a number of happy, healthy puppies, but the hardest part has arrived. You are going to have to send these new precious animals home to a new family and away from you!

         

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