Beginning Dog Breeding
Lately I’ve been seeing several new people going into dog breeding as an additional source of income. We’ve all heard of puppy mills which are detestable in my opinion. There’s nothing wrong with breeding canines as long as you know what you are doing, what to expect and can care for the pups humanely. There are several challenges involved in this field including the time it takes, the cost, the right foods and tools, and of course, lots of affection.
Space is a consideration when starting this type of venture. You never want to put more than one dog in a crate. Dog crates should be big enough for the breed you’ve selected to comfortably stand, turn around and lie down. A good crate isn’t cheap so take into consideration these costs. Other costs to remember are things like the tools you’ll need for breeding. Things like extra towels, nutritious adult and puppy food, scales, feeding bowls, suction bulbs, potential veterinary bills, vitamins, droppers, toys and more. The breeding of canines is a business, not a hobby.
Selecting the breed for your bitch should be well thought out. Picking a popular breed is safest. Be sure to check out the American Kennel Club criteria for the breed. The bitch must be a minimum of two years old before you can subject her to breeding. The female should be licensed and have had all her tests to show that she is healthy. You don’t want to take a chance if she has health issues. Typical tests would include hip x-rays and eye exams at a minimum. You should plan on spending eight hundred dollars or more for a quality breeding female. Again, these are all costs to be aware of before beginning this type of business.
Typically, the female is taken to where the stud is located for mating. The stud owner can then assist the process if needed. This is especially helpful if your female is a beginner. In some cases it doesn’t always work out. Some dogs just don’t get along and your stud fee should be returned, or the female may not get pregnant. If she does get pregnant, remember that she should be regularly checked out by a vet. After all, the point of this type of venture is to have healthy puppies.
Whether you are breeding to have puppies to keep, give away or sell, there is much to consider in the process. As I see new people coming into this field, I can only hope that they are doing it properly. That means always caring for your canines, both the adults and the puppies. There is certainly money to be made on pedigreed dogs, but you should have the space, the money, the patience and the compassion required.
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