The act of dog breeding is a serious responsibility that needs extensive research before breeding any dog. Complications are sure to rise if the beginning breeder does not take the proper precautions. Experienced breeders are concerned about the destruction of the purebred bloodline and serious health concerns that may be caused by not breeding the most eligible dogs.
Defining the Purpose of Breeding
The most important question at hand is, “Why are you breeding your dog? What characteristics are you attempting to improve in the breed?” Most dogs have certain abilities like obedience, tracking, agility, or performance. These unique abilities or lack of ability will help separate the wrong mates from the right ones.
The purpose of dog breeding is to make the breed stronger and healthier for the following generation, not to make money or to have a bunch of cute puppies running around. An experienced and respected dog breeder and prominent dog show judge, Richard G. Beauchamp, who has been involved in breeding, training, and showing of purebred dogs all of his life, clearly refers to the overpopulation issue of dogs in his 2002 book Breeding Dogs for Dummies. “Attempts are being made everywhere to control the number of dogs…If you think that there’s no reason for these controls…visit your local humane society or animal shelter.
The elimination process that goes along with the selection of the most eligible stud dog for the female is a long and strenuous process that takes a considerable amount of time and commitment. Generally, most people just take the first available stud or the cheapest to breed with their female. Not doing extensive research on the medical history of the other dog can cause medical problems that become genetic in that breed. For example, hip dysplasia is a known problem in larger breeds of dogs like labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and german shepards. This common problem among the larger breeds can be prevented by checking the medical histories of both animals for any discrepancies prior to breeding.
Preparing to be a Good Breeder
The first step to breeding dogs is gaining the proper knowledge of what exactly the procedures are and how to become aware of what to expect. Once the breeder has determined which specific breed to concentrate on improving, that breeder will then need to begin researching that particular breed. The breeder needs to become aware of what possible health problems their breed may be prone to.
The American Kennel Club is a good place to look for meeting others with breeds like yours. Observing the interaction of other dogs of your breed will help you evaluate your own dog’s characteristics and credentials in breeding.
After Your Female is in Season
Once the female is in season to mate and the proper stud dog has been chosen, the mating takes place. The mating of the two dogs should be in a controlled environment, because unfamiliar dogs sometimes have personality conflicts. Some breeders just enclose the animals together and leave the room, assuming the dogs know what to do. On several occasions, the personalities of the dogs collide and the attempt to breed is useless and sometimes painful for the dogs.
If personalities of the dogs agree, the chance of breeding is increased. After this takes place, the male and the female will need to be separated from each other. The point is to keep the female away from as much stress as possible so that the possibility of pregnancy increases.
If for any reason, the dogs do not show interest in each other or if one dog begins to dominate or bite the other, immediately separate the two dogs. The female will not allow herself to be bred if she does not want to be. In addition, if the dogs are not interested in each other then the interaction between the two could lead to stitches in the local Animal Emergency Clinic, due to a fight.
Monitor for Signs of Pregnancy
If the mating was successful approximately two weeks after the breeding session the female will show signs of pregnancy, which include an increase in her appetite, weight, and nipple size. The best method is to have a veterinarian take radiographs of the female’s abdomen about 28 days after the date of her breeding to document her pregnancy. This process and investment of a small amount of money can help prevent many complications, such as a false pregnancy, puppies that would be too large to be born naturally, and informs the breeders of how many puppies that the female is carrying.
Once she has been Pronounced Pregnant
Once the female is pregnant, her diet must have extra nutrition for her to remain healthy and for the puppies to be born healthy. Some breeders do not consider this and feed their pregnant female as they normally do, at a minimal to prevent the animal from becoming overweight. This is a common mistake because the small amount of nutrition that the dog’s regular diet contains is not nearly enough for the pregnant female or her unborn puppies.
The female will need to ingest one and a half more servings than what she would normally eat. The extra nutrition feedings need to be offered as soon as she is pronounced pregnant. The feedings will need to be cut back at a slow rate after her puppies have stopped nursing. It is very important for the female to have a proper intake of nutrition, because it assists her during the pregnancy and it assists in developing healthy breast milk for her puppies once they are born.
Gestation period and Signs to Look for
The gestation period for a full term pregnancy in a healthy dog is approximately 63 days from the point of conception. Around this time, it is very important to monitor your female for signs of labor. Keep in close contact with your veterinarian around the females expected due date for delivery. That way you and your Veterinarian can be prepared for any complications.
Often breeders do not count the days and assume that the pregnant female knows what to do. Dr. Lyn Johnson, DVM, of Texas A&M; College of Veterinary Medicine, includes in her article How to be a Responsible Breeder, the importance of being present with the labored female. “The female should be carefully monitored and kept in a clean, quiet environment for the birth of her puppies. Someone should be present during delivery to ensure there are no complications or to immediately seek veterinary help should problems arise. She should not be left to give birth outdoors or in a kennel in the middle of the night without supervision.” If a female is left unattended and goes into an unproductive labor, this could lead to the death of her and her unborn puppies.
If a puppy is breeched, in which the puppy’s tail comes out before its head, and the female is unable to push the puppy out, this will stop the labor process. If the puppy is stuck in the womb for too long then its oxygen supply is cut off and its chances of living are threatened.
There are several breeds that are known for complications with their pregnancies, like Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Pugs, and Boston Terriers. These breeds are born with rather large heads that sometimes cause problems during the natural birth method. The common result to these problems is a Caesarian section at the Veterinary Hospital: a rather pricey surgery that is well worth the life of the female and puppies.
$
Once the Puppies are Born
Once the puppies are born, the mother sometimes needs help nursing her litter. Human assistance is critical because the colostrums that the mother’s breast milk contains help the puppies fight infections during the first few weeks of life. If the mother abandons a puppy, and some mothers do, the puppy must be hand fed every two hours with special puppy formula. If the breeder does not recognize that a puppy is not getting the correct amount of nutrition they are sure to die.
It is also important to ensure that the puppies are in a warm place. A whooping box is often a place the breeder provides for the female and her puppies. It must be large enough for the female and all her puppies, but small enough to keep the puppies warm. Several breeders use large dog crates, plastic child sized swimming pools, or short-gated areas in a room that the mother can easily gain access in and out of.
Registration with the American Kennel Club
One of the most important parts of breeding that so many breeders neglect to participate in is the registration of the litter with the American Kennel Club (AKC). This is a very important process that helps give a clear historical timeline of pure breed dogs. It is documented that the mother had a litter of puppies.
Once the puppies find good, loving homes, their new owners will need to notify the AKC as to the purchase and registration of their new puppy. The information that the AKC gives to the owner of the female who had the litter of puppies will be very important to keep in a safe place. In order for the new owners of the puppies to register, they will need information from the breeder concerning the mother of the puppy. It is then up to the owner to make sure that, all information about the puppy is accurate and up to date.
The hardest part of the breeding process is the departure of the puppies into their new homes. The act of finding good and loving homes is as important as finding a proper mate for the female. The American Humane Society reports that well over 15 million healthy and friendly dogs were euthanized in 2005. Mostly these dogs were of mixed bloodlines and breeds, but many were purebreds that landed into the hands of irresponsible disappointed owners. If the possible owners do not offer a good permanent home then the entire process of selective breeding is a waste of time.
