Dog Breeding Information and Considerations

Although the idea of surrounding yourself with cute puppies and dogs all day as your income might seem enticing, breeding dogs is a serious business and carries serious responsibility. There are risks and surprises around the corner for even the most experienced breeder. There are a few dog breeding information and considerations you should think about before you become a dog breeder.

You must have high-quality parents when you begin to breed. There are already an abundance of unwanted, “mutt” dogs in the world. Though some find places to live, many of them end up being put down because there isn’t enough room in the shelter. If you choose high-quality parents, you can ensure that your puppies offer the best qualities of the breed and have better chances of finding excellent owners for each litter.

The best way to find good parents is to review their medical histories. The parents should both be free from hereditary diseases and have been tested for infectious diseases. Finally, the dogs should both display a good temperament. You don’t want to have puppies that are unfriendly and unaffectionate towards their potential owners.

Breeding is always risky for both the mother and the father. E. Coli, strep and other bacteria can be common problems when breeding in the country or on a farm. You will need to take extra effort to ensure healthy mother and puppies from these bacteria strains.

Not all of the puppies are sure to survive the birth or time thereafter. Some puppies die during whelping, which can be emotionally difficult. The effects of dying puppies and sick moms are a risk that comes with breeding animals, but should not be an overall deterrent.

Breeding and whelping the puppies can take time and cost money. A whelping box is needed for the puppies, as well as heat lamps, thermometers, hemostats and other medical items to help the puppies and the mother during this vulnerable time. You will need to practice using these instruments before your new puppies arrive.

After the puppies arrive, the mother will look after them for roughly 3 weeks. The mother will bathe and feed them, generally keeping them out of trouble. The new puppies, however, will need a safe and private place to stay during this time so that the mom feels that her babies are protected. She will also need access to go outside whenever she wishes to avoid accidents. If she is housetrained and on a schedule, it may be disrupted during this time and sometimes, she will just need time away from the puppies.

You will need a lot of fresh newspaper or similar material to keep the puppies and the area clean. The material will need to be changed frequently in order to keep the area safe from bacteria and other messes.

Puppies need to stay warm at all times. Hypothermia is the leading cause of puppy mortality, so heat lamps with an automatic thermostat are important pieces of the puppies upbringing. You will need to keep the puppies around 75 - 80F although the mother may get uncomfortable and move farther away from the heat.

Most breeds will be continually attended by their mother, but they often whine and bark at night. They will sleep an hour, get up to go the bathroom and then want to play. They will settle down, but you might be cleaning while they are sleeping and not get any rest for yourself. Typically, this pattern starts at the second or third week and lasts up until the eighth or ninth week. If you ignore them all night, you will have a large mess on your hands in the morning and a higher risk of infection in the puppies.

You will need to bring the puppies in to be in to get their shots and be checked by the vet. Then you will need to find the puppies good homes. Be ready to experience some emotional loss when you say goodbye to each puppy as they venture off to their new homes. It’s a bittersweet time for puppy and owner.

If you can deal with all of these issues, being a dog breeder is a rewarding experience. You can realize the joy of finding a new member of a person’s family, as well as create lifelong friendships. Plus, you get all the joy of having new puppies in your house for weeks on end!

         

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