Should I Breed My Dog?

We often run into dog owners with un-neutered/spayed dogs and the subject often leads to breeding.  I can not tell you how many times we have heard, “Yeah, I’m gonna let her have one litter”, or “He has papers”.  Simply put, these are not very good reasons to breed your dog.

Breeding is a huge responsibility and should not be taken lightly.  There are so many factors, all of which are above my head, that go into selecting the parents; just having “papers” on your dog or being a purebred is not enough.  I have no right to tell anyone what they can or can not do, but here are some things to consider if you are thinking of breeding your dog.

• Does your dog have something to contribute to the breed, some outstanding attribute that is lacking in the breed overall?
• Do you understand the standard enough to know what ARE faults and attributes?
• Do you have enough knowledge of genetics to understand modes of inheritance?
• Have you spent the time studying pedigrees and understanding which dogs are producing what?
• Are you aware of the health problems in the breed, and how to test for them, how to at least try to avoid them, how they are inherited? If not, do you have a mentor in the breed, someone who DOES have the knowledge required?
• Do you have the emotional, physical, and financial ability to care for every puppy for it’s lifetime in the event that you can not sell all of the dogs or they come back?
• Are you prepared emotionally and physically in the event that you have to drop an entire line and start all over again?
• If you breed him/her to “get your investment back” you are breeding for the wrong reasons.

I realize that all breeders had to start with their “first” litter at one point, and new groups of breeders are needed to carry on lines and standards.  However, please make sure you are starting a breeding program with the right knowledge base and for the right reasons.

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