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."

•  Average litter size: 8 puppies

•  Average sale price: $300

• Total profit: $2400

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.