I was wondering how someone gets started breeding dogs. I know you have to have purebred dogs with good health lines. I really don't want the "Don't do it leave it to the pros" answer because that isn't answering my question. I don't want to be a BYB. Right now I don't even have a purebred dog. This will be something for in the future. I just wanted to know what are the steps and procedures I would have to go through to be one of the top notch certified breeders. Do you go to school for some kind of vet? Would you need Vet assistance? I know I'm going to have good, clean, large kennels and a large space for them to roam and be safe, and I know I'm going to need lots and lots of money to care for them. If you have any info that can actually help me please share! Thanks!!
2013-08-05T14:35:53Z
Well a few answers like I said I didn't want but also some good ones that I will go by. And Jesse Pinkman: you don't have to be a negative *** about something. I love dogs and this IS something I would want to do because I DO love them. Jesse Pinkman I also adopted a dog from a shelter and she is a great dog. If you are so concerned go adopt them all. If not you can kindly shut up. I don't have time for children like you.
Anonymous2013-08-05T14:53:29Z
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First, figure out which breed you'd like to own (making sure it fits in with your lifestyle and abilities). Then decide whether your interest lies in conformation (dog shows) or some other area. Depending on the breed, it could be field trials, lure coursing, Schutzhund, Agility, etc. You might decide later to compete in more than one event, but start out with one.
Second, join the national breed club of the breed you've chosen. If there are any local clubs for it, join that too. Usually there is at least one breed magazine, and you can subscribe to that. Also look for books and of course online information.
Third, start attending dog shows/trials/events. Learn as much as you can. Meet a few people with the same interests. Offer to help hold dogs at ringside, or help load/unload crates, whatever. Lots of ways to be useful (and appreciated) at doggy events. Be aware that not everyone is going to be entirely honest with you--some of them aren't even honest with themselves about their dogs!--so take everything with a polite grain of salt until you've learned enough to figure out who to trust. Try to attend a Breed Specialty at some point, where you will likely see hundreds of the breed you're interested in. Sit at ringside with a catalog, and mark down the things you like/don't like about the dogs that are entered.
Fourth, get the very best female you can. If you've done your homework, you should already have a pretty good idea about the lines you like best. Probably won't be local, and expect it to cost big bucks. Get in touch with those breeders and find out what litters they have planned. Or, it's possible they might have a young adult show/breeding prospect that didn't quite turn out to be what the breeder wanted, that *might* give you a jump-start. With an adult you know exactly what you're getting, whereas puppies are always a bit of a gamble. And keep in mind that in 2 or 3 years you'll have a whole litter of your own to choose from, and be able to raise one from a newborn. So keep your options open. Hopefully either the breeder of your puppy or some experienced person you met at the shows will be your breed mentor. That's the person you'll rely on to help you make the best decisions for breeding your dog.
Fifth, when you get your show dog, get it into handling classes (or classes for whatever activity you're interested in). Then put a title on it. If you can, put more than one title on it (maybe conformation and obedience, etc.).
When the dog is 2, get the hips and elbows X-rayed (can't be OFA'd before 24 months), also get the eyes CERF'd, do other health tests for your breed (could be thyroid, heart, etc.) If the dog fails one of the tests, contact its breeder. The remedy SHOULD be in the written contract you signed (if it isn't, then don't sign the contract). A responsible breeder guarantees show stock against defects which will cause the dog either not to attain its title, or be unfit for breeding. And while they should breed from dogs tested clear of as many health issues as possible, not everything can be tested for.
At this point you'll be ready to breed your first litter. No doubt you'll have pondered for months or even years about the best stud to complement your female, and discussed it with your breed mentor and other friends in the breed. So you breed your female to the very best stud for HER (don't use local studs simply because they are handy--you'll spend a lot less in the long run by using the best). And you've begun your own line.
All sorts of great articles about breeding and other topics at this site: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/articles.html
EDIT: "There's WAY TOO MANY unwanted dogs in shelters now...Why bring more into the world?"
Because some of us want a purebred from HEALTH-TESTED stock. You don't get that in shelters. Nor would you get a show-quality dog (responsible breeders take back dogs that don't work out to re-home them ourselves, so our dogs almost never end up in shelters). Plus the dog would have to be neutered/spayed. You can't show or breed those. End Of.
And if some of us didn't breed quality purebreds (health, temperament, adherence to the breed standard), by the time all the shelters were empty, there would be no decent purebreds left to carry on. All that would be left is unhealthy garbage mass-produced by puppy mills and BYBs. Sorry, I'm not letting that happen to the breed I love.
And some of us don't care what narrow-minded purebred-haters think about us. I will never understand why the anger is almost never directed at the puppy millers and BYBers--it is their dogs that populate shelters....
Your breeder should be in touch wih you throughout this process.
People at these shows will ask to breed with your dog/***** when the time is right.
Ask your breeder.
If they say its ok, get health tests done.
If the health tests come back (very) good, then find a mate that will help better the breed by giving the best possible chance to reduce and/or have less of the faults of the parents. The parents should contrast each other in a way. Ask your breeder for help. You will turn people away.
Follow the normal process for the breeding itself.
How to start breeding? Research, research, research. Not on YA's! Responsible, reliable breeders do YEARS of research on their chosen breed and the breeding of before they even buy their first dog or b*tch. After you have done your years of research you find a breeding mentor. That is a breeder that has "done it right" for a long time and will share their knowledge & experience with you. Then you look for the best of the breed you can find. That will NOT be from a backyard breeder or puppy mill. It will be from the afore mentioned responsible, reliable breeder that can show you the results of their breeding stock's genetic testing. They can show you the titles their breeding stock has won in either work or show to prove they are up to breed standards. (Pure breed, AKC does NOT guarantee breeding quality.) They can show you their breeding stocks linage back at least 5 generations. When you pick your dog, b*tch or both, they need to be two years old so you can have their genetic testing done and have them earn their titles. From all your research and your breeding mentor you should have a notebook filled with notes you have taken on all the really important stuff. You need a reliable vet and a pretty good bank account. When you have done all this you are ready to start breeding to better the breed.
If you really want to do it - then do the following, but people think breeding would be easy, from all the breeders I've spoken to, it's not the easiest job in the world OR the cheapest, you have you spend a lot.
RIGHT - so, make sure you buy two dogs - or more, but ALL from different litters. Do NOT inbreed related dogs, this can lead to health problems. Most people do this to prolong a certain look or standard in certain lines that they like - of course, they look beautiful BUT they do go on to inherit health problems from this.
Make sure you buy a male and a female, first a foremost. Make sure they are the same breed and make sure they are Kennel Club registered. This is key if you want the dog to go to a good home. People are less willing to buy cheap puppies because it suggests they're poorly bred and of very low quality, this will include temperament, health and much more. People that are willing to pay more for a Kennel Club registered dog, are proving that they have the money to take care of the dog, therefore they're less likely to re-home it or give it away.
Make sure both dogs you buy have excellent temperaments. If you see ANY signs of aggression or bad/obsessive behaviors in any of the dogs you buy to breed - do NOT breed them. Whether you believe it or not, bad behaviors and temperaments can be passed down through the genes. Make sure the dogs you breed are the healthiest they could be... If they're not - don't breed them at all.
You've got to make sure you're not just doing this for money - you HAVE to really, truly and fully care about the dog and most specifically the breed you're going to be breeding. You have to show compassion and love, and mostly knowledge towards the breed because many people buying will want to know your knowledge and ask you questions.
Price the puppies well, make sure you ask the potential buyers questions - you need to be 100% sure the puppies will go to an excellent FOREVER home. Also offer the option, that if they do need to return a puppy/dog, to bring it straight back to you instead of selling it on.
It's very important you register EVERY little of puppies that you breed with the Kennel Club - the higher quality, more champions, sales, good feedback, health and temperament - the more likely you'll be registered a 'reputable' breeder.
You will also have to register with a vet as a breeder. They will be the ones doing the health checks on the puppies and the mother after the puppies are born. It's best to get them their first vaccinations before you sell them and also a microchip, which WILL cost you - but that's what breeding is all about.
You make sure your dogs are of breeding quality, purebred doesn't mean well bred and many pet quality dogs are in good heath, They need testing for hips, eyes, elbows and other genetic problems associated with that breed You contact a breed club, go to some meetings,. Find a breeder willing to take y ou under their wing and help you. You read read read all about your breed, how and when to breed , how to whelp, and most important, genetics. Then you go with your breeding/snow mentor to dog shows, and find out all that entails. (the cost, the procedure etc) Breeding is not profitable, the cost of food, vet care, (eg c-sections can go up to $1500).puppy shots, deworming, licencing costs, outfitting a kennel. Then you start showing your dogs, (if they are of show quality).