Monzo

Should I Breed My Dog?

You may be wondering whether or not you should breed your dog. Here is
some information. The summary is that if you want to do it right, and
get healthy and happy puppies, it is very expensive and a lot of work.
Many people have written several treatises on this subject this article compiles many similar points.
   

Remember that you are going to need a vet that is familiar with
whelping dogs. This will be your best resource, as well as any
long-time breeders that you know. Not all vets are knowlegeable about
whelping so be sure to ask around and especially look for
recommendations from local breeders that you may know.
  
I want to make some money!
 
Breeding, and doing it right, is an expensive undertaking. By the time
you've picked out a good bitch, waited for her to grow old enough
(minimum age: two years before breeding), picked out the best dog to
mate her with, gone through all the health checks she needs, ensured
that the dog you want to use also passes the same health checks,
you've invested a lot of time and effort. You still have to pay a stud
fee (or give a puppy back), you have potential extra expenses during
pregnancy, you have the time and expense of whelping (either you take
time off from work or something goes wrong and you have to take her in
to the vets). You need to keep the puppies for a minimum of 8 weeks
before sending them to their homes; you need to advertise and find
good homes for the puppies, you need to make sure they have had their
shots before going. You may have possible vet bills if the puppies
require extra attention. If some of the puppies die, or you have a
smaller than usual litter, you may not get as much money from the sale
of the puppies as you had though. There are even potential problems
later on with dissatified customers! You are better off consulting
with a financial wizard about investing the money you would otherwise
spend and lose on breeding!
  
Breeders frequently count themselves _lucky_ if they break even.
  
  My kids should see the wonders of birth and life!
 
What if the whelping goes wrong and dead puppies are born? What if the
bitch dies? These are all very real risks that you are undertaking.
Much better alternatives include videotapes that are available.

 
Or, you could contact your local shelter and see if there is a
pregnant bitch about to whelp or a litter of puppies that need to be
raised and socialized before being adopted out. This would allow you
to find out just what this could entail, while helping the shelters
rather than potentially contributing to the problem.
  
  I want another dog just like mine!
 
If you want to breed your dog so as to get another dog like yours,
think about this for a moment. No matter how special your dog is to
you, a puppy out of it is not guaranteed to be just like or even
similar to your dog -- half its genes will be from another dog! You
will have to find another dog that also has the characteristics you
want in your puppy; that dog will have to be unneutered; and the owner
of that dog will have to be willing to breed her/his dog to yours. It
is much easier, often less expensive, and certainly less time
consuming to pick out an existing dog that you like from the shelter
or another breeder. Best yet, go back to the same breeder of your dog,
if possible, and pick another puppy out of similar lines.
  
  Every bitch should have a litter!
 
This is flat out wrong. Bitches are not improved by having puppies.
They may undergo _temporary_ temperament changes, but once the puppies
are gone, she'll be back to her old self. Nor is it somehow good for
her physically. In fact, you will put her at risk of mammary cancer
and pyometra. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spaying a bitch
without her having a litter.
  
  But my dog is registered!
 
Well, yes, but that doesn't _mean_ a whole lot. A registered dog, be
it  KC, AKC, UKC, CKC, etc., simply means that it's parents (and their
parents) are also registered with the same registry. This confers no
merit in of itself, it simply means that the dog's parentage is known or recorded.
  
Most registries do not make any assertions of quality in the dogs they
register (except for some limited breed-only registrations, but these
are uncommon). They do not restrict the breeding of their dogs and
hence there is no guarantee that a registered dog is a good specimen
of its breed.
  
   The AKC has just started a "limited registration" program whereby
   puppies out of such dogs are ineligible for registration. It remains
   to be seen what the overall impact on AKC dog breeds will be. Other
   registries have used similar programs with good results.
  
  So I should breed when...?
 
The _only_ reason you should be breeding is that you honestly feel
that you are improving your breed by doing so. There are far too many
dogs in the country to breed without good reason. A dog in a breeding
program must be one whose genetic history you or its breeder is
intimately familiar with. Such a dog must represent the best efforts
of its breeder at that point. Such a dog must have good points to
contribute, whether that is in good conformation, good performance or
whatever. Such a dog must have some evidence of external evaluation.
That is, others besides the breeder or the owner must also think that
the dog is a good representive of its breed. That usually translates
into titles, whether for conformation, obedience, field, herding, or
whatever is appropriate for that breed. Such a dog must be tested as
it matures for any problems that tend to appear in its breed, whether
that is hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, von Willebrand's, cataracts,
PRA, PLL, fanconi syndrome, subaortic stenosis, etc.

Medical Checks before Breeding

   You must make sure the bitch and the stud both are free from
   brucellosis before breeding them. Brucellosis causes eventual
   sterility in both sexes (sometimes non-obviously) and can cause a
   litter of puppies to be aborted or die shortly after birth. In
   addition, brucellosis is on occasion transmissible to humans via the
   urine or feces of an affected dog. Between dogs, it is most commonly
   passed in sexual intercourse, although an entire kennel can be
   infected through contact with secretions.
  
   The sire should be in excellent general health. The dam _must_ be in
   good health, to withstand the stresses and rigors of a pregnancy. They
   must both be up to date on their vaccinations.
                                  
Temperament

   Never breed any animal that has temperament problems. In particular,
   this has been the cause of the degeneration of many breed's general
   temperament: Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, and so on. If your
   animal is untrustworthy around people, overly aggressive to people,
   excitable, or is a fear-biter, do not breed it. If it is shy or
   submissive, don't breed it. Look for happy, confident and obedient
   animals, and consider carefully the particular temperament
   requirements for your dog's breed.
  
   There are a variety of tests to indicate a dog's temperament. Many of
   the working breeds have a temperament test (for example, the
   Doberman's WAC test) for their breed. AKC has a Canine Good Citizen
   test (open to all dogs) that gives some indication of the dog's
   temperament (and, yes, training). Therapy Dogs International and other
   Therapy Dog clubs have temperament testing that does try to separate
   out actual temperament from training. Obedience titles can be (but are
   not necessarily) an indication of good temperament.
                                          
Pedigree Research

   You must carefully consider each dog's pedigree for compatibility. Try
   to select strengths to offset weaknesses. Do not allow your bitch to
   be bred to an unsuitable dog, and conversely, be picky about the
   bitches you allow your dog to breed. This phase alone requires
   considerable research to find a suitable candidate, and you should
   definitely work closely with a knowledgeable person, ideally the
   breeder of your dog. Simply because two dogs "look good" or even *are*
   good does not mean that they necessarily complement each other:
   suppose they are both carriers for the same disease? Suppose they both
   have a tendency to overbites or other disqualifying faults?
  
   Be honest with yourself. If your dog is not a good representation of
   its breed, do not let it reproduce. It is much easier to improve a few
   faults than to try and get excellent pups with a mediocre dog. Check
   the breed standard for your dog and ask a knowledgeable person for
   their evaluation of your dog.
  
   We'll return the the importance of scrutinizing a pedigree in the
   genetics section below.
                                          
Frequency of Breeding

   Ideally, a bitch should only be bred every other year and she should
   not be bred much before two years of age. The season closest to the
   second birthday is a good one to start with; certainly no earlier than
   this. In some breeds, you may need to wait one more season before
   beginning. By this time, she is better prepared mentally for having
   puppies than she would have been with her first few seasons. Her
   physical growth is complete and pregnancy at this point won't endanger
   her health, provided that she is healthy to begin with.
  
   In breeds with Hip Dysplasia, many people wait until after two years
   of age so that the parents can be certified; however if you have sent
   in xrays to OFA for preliminary evaluation and they came back as fine,
   many breeders consider it safe enough to then breed on the season
   closest to the second year, which can wind up being before the bitch
   is actually old enough to be certified. (And when the bitch is old
   enough, she is, of course, duly certified.) But the preliminary xrays
   _must_ be examined by OFA, not by a local veterinarian. There are many
   dysplastic dogs out there that had vets look at their xrays and
   pronounce them "wonderful."
  
   It's important, however, to keep the frequency of breeding low. Even
   at maximum, you want to allow at least one unbred season between
   breedings. This allows your bitch to rest and regain her strength. A
   bitch that whelps too often will produce weaker puppies more likely to
   die, and the repeated pregnancies are pretty rough on her, too.
  
   For dogs, they should definitely have all their certifications
   necessary. For many breeds this means that they should be over two
   years old. Since a dog can be bred at any time, unlike bitches,
   waiting for two years is not a problem, whereas a bitch often has a
   season just before two years of age and then has to wait until 2.5 or
   three which sometimes presents problems in trying to time her litters.
   But this does not apply to a stud dog, so he should definitely have
   all of his checks and certifications before being bred. Frequency is
   not generally a problem although some dogs have problems with sperm
   production if they breed once a day for several days. They need
   top-quality feeding and care if they are going to be bred often.
                                     
Care of the Pregnant or Nursing Bitch

   You should make sure the bitch is up-to-date on all her vaccinations,
   medications, and shots before she is bred. She will require
   supplementary food during the last three weeks or so of pregnancy. In
   general, puppy food is formulated both for puppies and pregnant or
   nursing bitches.
  
   She should be under the care of a vet for any related problems. Dogs
   can have miscarriages. Illnesses, diseases, or infestations that the
   bitch picks up during her pregnancy can affect the puppies.
   Difficulties during whelping are entirely possible, and the rule for
   some breeds. You must be prepared to get her to the vet quickly in an
   emergency.
  
   There are instances of "mummy puppies" where you have a puppy whose
   development went awry, but it was not aborted. Instead, it dries and
   shrivels up, and when born, looks like a mummified puppy, blackened
   and ready to rot. Overbreeding and inadequate care are usually the
   causes. It is quite likely that the dam will come down with an
   infected uterus after such a puppy. "Water puppies" are another type
   of problem in which the dead puppy appears to have never properly
   developed a skeleton and appears to be full of gelatin. This seems to
   be linked to a viral exposure.
  
   Other congenital (but not genetic) defects can include: no anus, cleft
   palates and hare lips. These conditions require corrective surgery or
   the puppy will die.
  
   While the bitch is nursing the puppies, she will require about three
   times the amount of food she normally eats! It is also common for
   nursing mothers to go out of coat at this time.
                                          
Caring for the Puppies

  Prewhelping preparations
 
   You should have a sturdy, clean, proper sized whelping box for the
   litter. It MUST include a "pig rail" around the edge to prevent the
   bitch from laying on or smashing her pups. It should be big enought to
   allow the bitch to turn around but small enough to prevent the pups
   from being "lost" in the unused portions. About six inches longer than
   she is, fore and aft, when laying prone (as in suckling her puppies)
   and about a foot on either side length wise.
  
   To get the whelping box ready for your bitch, get a sheet of plastic,
   such as you would use for painting a ceiling to protect the floor. Cut
   it up into several pieces the size of the whelping box. Put one piece
   of plastic down, several layers of newspaper, another piece of
   plastic, more layers of newspaper and so on for four or five layers.
   Then when your bitch is whelping puppies, you can roll off a layer
   when it gets messy -- and it will! -- and throw it away to instantly
   clean the whelping box.
  
  Postwhelping
 
   After the puppies are born, there are many strategies for lining the
   whelping box. Some people continue to use newspapers, but puppies get
   pretty dirty from both newspaper print and feces. Other people have
   had success with synthetic materials on top of absorbent materials:
   the synthetic material provides secure footing, but the urine and
   other liquids pass through it to leave it dry. Other people use pine
   shavings (about six inches deep). You will do a lot of laundering to
   keep things clean no matter what you use. You will also have to clean
   the feces out of the whelping box after your bitch decides that's no
   longer her job.
  
   Newborn puppies MUST be kept warm. The temperature in the whelping box
   at birth should be 90 F. The temperature can then be decreased 2
   degrees every other day. NEVER FEED A CHILLED PUPPY!!! If a puppy
   becomes chilled it will cry continually and it will tuck its tail
   between its little legs. A healthy, happy, litter will "purr" like a
   swarm of bees and when feeding their tails will be straight out from
   their bodies. Warm any chilled puppy by putting the puppy under your
   shirt and under your armpit. The best method of warming a puppy is to
   use a special whelping box heating pad with a towel over it to prevent
   soiling the pad. Make sure the temerature does not go too high.
   Heating lamps are ok but puppies can become dehydrated. If the litter
   clumps together and cries, they are too cold; if they separate and try
   to hide under shade, they are too hot.
  
   Large litters will require supplemental feedings if you want all the
   puppies to survive. Your bitch may not be able to care for a very
   large litter. You will need to get the pups rotating on shifts. For
   the first two weeks you may have to supplement as much as every four
   hours. Use a good prepared milk-supplement especially formulated for
   puppies. If you get in a bind you can use a goat-milk reciepe avilable
   in most books about breeding and whelping pups. You may have to tube
   feed those pups that will not suckle from a bottle!
  
   Are you going to remove the dewclaws or dock a tail? This must be done
   by 3 days old at the latest! Any later will not heal as nicely or
   quickly!
  
   If you have a purebred litter, you must record the date of birth and
   all of the pups (including the dead ones) in your record book. Then
   you will need to fill out and send in your litter registration form.
   You want to do this as soon as possible, since many registries can
   take up to 6 weeks to return the forms for individual registration to
   you (which you will want to give to your puppy buyers later).
  
   You will have to keep the whelping box clean. For the first two weeks
   the bitch will keep the pups pretty clean, but the bedding should be
   changed twice a day at minimum. Starting week three, the pups start to
   eliminate some on their own.. then you will need to clean much more
   often!
  
   At four weeks, the pups usually become very active and it this time
   may require a larger area then the welping box...you will need a large
   ex-pen or some way of confining them safely. You do have a place to
   keep them that they are safe in and can't destroy? Puppies at this
   stage can devastate a room or garage in hours.
  
   At week five you will probably want to introduce the pups to weaning
   food. Usually you will have to mush up the dry puppy food for the pups
   to be able to eat it. Use warm water and let the food stand in a bowl
   for about 2 hours.
  
   At week six you should vaccination and worm the pups, and have them
   checked for heartmurmers, hernias, males for testicles (yes you should
   be able to feel them at 6 weeks!), deafness, and eye problems.
  
   You should be socializing now too... And are you going to do any puppy
   testing for temperaments? At seven weeks you should be calling up
   those poeple with deposits on your pups and getting your paper work
   all sorted out. Are your spay/neuter contracts ready? How about
   pictures of the pups for your clients?
  
   And this is just if everything goes perfectly! What happens if one of
   the pups has a heart murmer, or a hernia? What about a deaf puppy?
   What if your whole litter gets parvo or distemper? What happens if one
   of the pups is affected with "swimmer-puppy" syndrome? What about
   fading-puppy syndrome? What happens if your bitch gets an infection or
   mastitis? What if she dies?
  
  Placing the puppies
 
   After the puppies are born, if not before, you must consider placing
   your puppies. Time and time again, people breed a litter because
   friends and family want one of their dog's puppies -- and then none of
   them will take one.
  
   At six weeks is when even seasoned breeders wonder why they do this. A
   healthy active litter of six will run you ragged at this age. They are
   so curious, they want to explore everywhere, and they are at the prime
   age for socialization and exposure to many things that you, as a
   responsible breeder, want to give them a head start on.
  
   At eight weeks, you may begin placing those pups that are ready to go
   to their new homes. Insecure pups may need more time, how are those
   puppy tests coming? You can't place puppies earlier than 7.5 weeks or
   so (no matter how much you may want to).
  
   Are you prepared to do some legwork to find GOOD homes for them, not
   just hand them off to the first person who comes by? You are aware
   that you won't always be able to sell all of your puppies locally,
   aren't you? What assurances do you have that the puppies will not wind
   up filling animal shelters, facing death because their parents were
   thoughtlessly bred? Suppose you wind up keeping more of the litter
   than you intended to? Suppose some of your puppies are returned? Can
   you keep the extra puppies?