breeding cats

Breeding Dogs Part 8

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the last (eighth) part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are like puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Eight

The Stud

As the owner of a male dog that you wish to stud, you have responsibilities as well. As stated in Part One, only the best bitches and males should be bred. The only reason to breed is to better the breed.

The male should be evaluated by an ethical breeder to determine that he is the quality to breed. This should also be reflected by wins in either the conformation show ring or as a working dog in working competitions.

The male dog must have all the medical testing that the bitch has, to include all genetic issues that the breed may have. A temperament test is also necessary.

As the owner of the stud, you may be required to board the bitch for breeding. Often when two dogs are kept for breeding, they both will cry, howl and bark day and night.

Do you know how to handle the problem bitch who does not want to be bred or the male who has not been bred before and needs help?

Are you qualified to judge a five-generation pedigree to determine if the bitch is a good match with your stud dog?

If the owner of the bitch is not experienced, are you qualified to advise the owner about whelping, raising puppies and selling them?

Do you know at what point in the bitch’s season is the correct time to breed them and how often?

What kind of guarantee will you give to the owner of the bitch? If the breeding doesn’t take, will you provide your stud in six months for a re-breeding?

Are you prepared, if the owner of the bitch cannot cope with the litter, to take the litter and be responsible for caring for and selling the puppies? It has happened where the owner of the litter dumps the entire litter on the owner of the stud.

In conclusion for both male and female dog owners. Keep in mind that there are only so many people willing to own a dog. The shelters are loaded with dogs and cats that people have given up for many reasons. Often because they got tired of caring for the pet, or an elderly family member passed away, and no one wants the pet. Some dogs and cats are put up for adoption because the owners could not deal with the level of energy or could or would not train the pet to be a well-behaved companion. Every breeder or stud dog owner who produces a puppy or kitten, potentially condemns one to death. Therefore, make sure that you have a good reason for breeding. I am not saying that you should not breed, we need different breeds to perform the many jobs that they do for us but be sure that the puppies you produce are the best and worth it.

Breeding Dogs Part Seven

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the seventh part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are like puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Seven

Now that your puppies are ready to sell, are priced according to their quality you are ready to advertise your puppies. If you are lucky and have worked with an ethical breeder, they may be able to refer potential buyers to you. Keep in mind that you are the breeder, the expert in the eyes of your potential clients. This means that as an ethical breeder you must give some sort of guarantee with your puppies. You are the go-to person if your puppy buyers have questions about grooming, training, feeding, housebreaking, and whatever comes up throughout the puppy’s life. Do you have all the paperwork for the puppies in order? This means that you registered the litter at the time of birth so that you have the papers to give with your puppies.

Are you going to have a puppy buyers’ contract that requires that non-breeding quality puppies must be spayed or neutered? How will you enforce this? Will you have nonbreeding stock neutered or spayed before they are sold? Are you willing to take a puppy back at any time in the puppy’s life if the owner cannot keep it? This should be part of the puppy buyer’s contract that you offer.

Breeding Dogs Part 6

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the sixth part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are similar to puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Six

Many people who opt to breed their bitch do not fully grasp the amount of care that a litter of puppies requires. Once the litter is more than two weeks old, the real work starts. First, the litter must be kept in a place in your home that is easy to access and to clean. It is usually a whelping box and then a confined area in the home.

Typically, puppies will dump their food and water. They also eliminate in their area which needs to be cleaned and disinfected continually. If you do not clean the area quickly, the puppies will walk, roll or lay in their messes. If that happens then you will have to clean the puppies as well as their area. If their area is not disinfected the area and possibly your house will start to have an unpleasant odor and be unhealthy for the puppies. Even if you have an exercise pen outside to put the puppies for an hour or so, that area must be cleaned as well.

The breeder must be home for the puppies most of the day. Young, weaned puppies must be fed four times a day.

By the time the puppies are six weeks old they will need a veterinarian visit to check for worms and get their first shots. Remember, this cost will be times the number of puppies in the litter.

When the puppies are eight weeks old it is time to bring the litter to the breeder that is your mentor for evaluation. You need to do this so that you can price your puppies fairly. Not all puppies in a litter are show quality or working quality. A male puppy may only have one testicle descended; another puppy may not have the correct structure or have an improper bite. Another may have a bad topline or is cow hocked, and the rest may not be bad but are not outstanding either. If you are lucky, one puppy in the litter may be show quality.

Breeding dogs (and cats)

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The following is the first part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to dogs, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are similar to puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Dempsey

Part One: The Bitch

First it must be said that only the best bitches and males should be bred. The only reason to breed is to better the breed.

Often in my career I have had clients tell me that they wanted to breed their pet dog. In most cases, they have no idea what is involved. It is much more than simply introducing a male and female.

Here are some of the reasons why they feel they want to breed their dog.

  1. To make a lot of money. Often people will pay a substantial amount of money for a puppy. They feel that if they breed their bitch, they will earn eight to ten times that money.
  • It will be good for the children to watch. Whelping puppies is pretty gory and most children cannot handle what is involved. In some cases, it can traumatize a child and if the child is a girl, make her afraid to have children of her own.

If you still want a child to see this, it is better to find a breeder who will let your child get up in the middle of the night to watch the birthing of a litter.

  • We love our dog so much we want another like him/her.  The chances of reproducing your dog are slim to nothing. Genetics is not an exact science and if breeders could control how a dog turns out there would be many more champions and exceptional dogs.
  • Everyone who meets my dog wants a puppy like him/her.  As soon as the litter is born most people find that all of those friends who said they wanted a puppy have excuses as to why they cannot get one now. Breeders who have dogs that are breeding quality have waiting lists for a reason. A home bred or backyard bred dog has no special qualities to warrant the cost.
  • We really love puppies. Raising a litter of puppies is a lot of work and if done right, is very costly.