To Breed or Not to Breed . . .
That is the question. Many people purchase a purebred,
registered puppy, and as the puppy grows up, start to think -- "Well, I like
him/her so
much, I'd like to have another in case something happens to this one."
A similar statement might be "All my friends/family/neighbors love my dog,
and want one just like him/her."
Another person may think "I'd like to teach my children about reproduction."
Still another scenario: "I'd like to make money -- I'll breed this dog and sell
the puppies for big bucks."
"My dog is so hyper and out of control -- everybody says that if I breed her,
he/she will calm down."
"Puppies are so cute and a lot of fun -- I'd love to have a houseful of them."
"He/She is registered, and healthy, so why not?"
"He/She should have at least one litter before he/she is neutered/spayed."
"He/She is a Champion and should be bred."
Let's take a look at each statement individually.
"Well, I like her so much, I'd like to have another in case something
happens to this one."
There is no guarantee that any puppy will be exactly like its parents. That RARELY
ever happens. Even if you were to find a stud dog/brood bitch with the exact same
qualities in your dog, the puppies will take half their genes from each parent. In
fact, puppies are genetically more identical to their grandparents than their parents.
Let's use the popular cockapoo as an example. The cockapoo is a mix-bred dog -- half
Cocker Spaniel and half Poodle. If two cockapoos are bred, the puppies
probably won't look like cockapoos. These puppies will most likely look like either
a Cocker Spaniel or like a Poodle. Why? The recessive genes which were not
expressed in the cockapoo parents (first generation), have come out in the second
generation. This is also why the so-called hybrid vigor often does not hold true
past the first generation.
"I'd like to teach my children about reproduction."
What will you tell your children if their beloved pet dies during whelping, and all of her
puppies with her? Is that the lesson you want to teach them?
Will you wake the children at 2 or 3 in the morning so they can see the "miracle of
birth?"
Will you take them to the vet to witness an emergency C-section?
Will you take care of the puppies when your children tire of cleaning up after 6 - 8
6-week old untrained, un-housebroken puppies?
'Nuff said.
"I'd like to make money -- I'll breed this dog and sell the puppies for
big bucks."
Right? WRONG! You still haven't figured in other expenses.
-
Health clearance testing:
$200
-
Stud fee: $500
-
Whelping supplies: $200
-
Prenatal care: $300
-
Emergency vet care: $500 (at a minimum!)
-
Dew claw removal/tail
docking: $100
-
Immunizations: $50 per
puppy/$400 total
-
Puppy food during/after
weaning: $100
-
Total expenses: $2300
UH OH! Your total profit is only $100! Are you sure it's worth it? Don't
forget to factor in the time you will spend caring for and cleaning up after your
pregnant/nursing dam and her puppies. Figure on spending at least 5 - 6 hours a day
with an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. If there are problems, and you have to
step in, plan on doubling that time, at least. If the mother dies, or
refuses to take care of the puppies, plan on spending 10 - 15 minutes per puppy
every two hours to feed, clean, and stimulate urination/defecation.
Keep in mind -- these costs are MINIMUMS! Your expenses may be much more.
(If you'd like to know how much I spent on my last litter compared
to how much I got back -- email
me. Don't think it can't happen to you!)
"Puppies are so cute and a lot of fun -- I'd love to have a houseful of
them."
Puppies grow up. As they grow, they will chew on anything and everything. As they grow,
they develop individual personalities. They need to be housetrained. They need appropriate
chew toys. They eat more. What will happen to these cute, playful puppies when they are
eating you out of house and home and are untrained? What will you think of them then? Can
you imagine an average 2 or 3 bedroom single family home with an entire
litter worth of
full-grown Dalmatians?
"He/She is registered, and healthy, so why not?"
Registration does not mean a thing, except as
an assurance that the dog in question is purebred.
Nowadays, there are a lot of "generic" registries that will even register
a mix-bred dog or a dog with unknown parentage. Registration services provide
nothing but a set of papers -- they don't guarantee that the dog is free from genetic
diseases or problems; or that the dog is even physically capable of being bred.
"He/She should have at least one litter before he/she is
neutered/spayed."
The longer anyone waits to have their pet neutered or spayed, the greater the
risk of reproductive diseases and cancers. A bitch who has gone through just ONE
heat cycle without being bred has double the chance of mammary (breast) cancer. A
bitch who has not been spayed may develop pyometra -- a severe infection of the uterus
which if left untreated, can lead to death. A male dog who has not been neutered is at risk for
testicular tumors; prostate problems; and may be prone to fighting other males.
These risks do not decrease substantially after breeding; and in some cases, may increase.
"He/She is a Champion and should be bred."
Not every dog that is show quality is necessarily breeding quality also.
You may have a dog that meets the breed standard to a "T" and may be the
winningest dog in the history of the breed. However -- if that dog has hip
dysplasia, PRA, or any other congenital health problem that is common in that breed, then
this dog should NOT be bred. Congenital health problems are hereditary, and are
passed on to future generations. For more information on common canine health
problems -- go to the General Canine
Health and the Dalmatian Health pages; or
use the links in the menu bar at the top of the page.
RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
Responsible
Breeding
Ethical Breeders
Unethical Breeders
BREED YOUR
DOG ONLY IF . . .
-
It
is purebred.
-
You
got the dog from a reputable breeder.
-
You
obtained a three to five generation pedigree with your dog.
-
There
are at least four titled dogs in the last three generations (conformation, obedience,
tracking, field, etc).
-
Your
dog has a stable temperament.
-
The
dog fits the breed standard.
-
Your
dog is healthy and certified free of those genetic diseases common in your
breed.
HORROR STORIES
JOY
OF BIRTH
Shiba Inu bitch
Group-Winning Curly-Coated Retriever
Tia
the Boxer
Alcy's Story
Winnie's Story
Special Boxer
OTHER SITES
Interested In Breeding Your Dog?
Breeding FAQ
by Cindy Tittle Moore
An Open Letter to Prospective Breeders
Canine
Genetic Primer
10 Reasons to Breed Your Dog
Before
Breeding -- American Brittany Rescue
Miracle of Birth Video Tape
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Last modified:
December 08, 2001
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