To Breed or Not To Breed?
This is the question – my apologies to Mr.
Shakespeare…
By: Karen Peak
West Wind Dog Training
I am not even going to start hounding you on the millions of animals
euthanized each year in shelters or that die on the streets. No one ever thinks
this could happen to a litter they breed. I am going to tell you what makes a
responsible breeder and the major effort that goes into ensuring the best,
healthiest critters possible. Breeding is not just putting two cute dogs
together and sixty-three days later you have cuddly pups. Responsible breeding
requires work. It is not to be jumped into headfirst.
What a responsible breeder does:
Knows the breed standard. Each dog has a standard
accepted by a kennel club that states what the ideal specimen of that breed
should look like. It covers fur to teeth, color to structure. A dog not fitting
the standard will not be considered for breeding. Also, they get out and show
the dogs. Just because you think the dog may fit the standard, does not mean it
is a good breed representative. Only by having the dog evaluated many times can
you truly get a feeling your dog is breeding material – this goes for males
and females (what a dog show does as well as other competitions such a
Schutzhund – I highly regard a dog who has achieved a SchIII – field trials,
lure coursing, etc.). Even if a dog is top notch physically, meets the standard
well, but has temperament issues (shy, aggressive), it will not be bred. Many
breeders also want to prove their dogs have brains to match the beauty. There
are various sports that test a dog’s working ability. A dog should have both
form and function.
Know the pedigrees. Just because two dogs are great
specimens does not mean they are compatible. Not all hereditary problems are a
simple Dominant/Recessive gene thing. Some require a combination of multiple
gene sequences before being expressed. So, two dogs could have parts of these
sequences and if bred, the problem could be expressed though there is no sign in
either dog’s background of the problem. Two great dogs also may not produce
great puppies. A responsible breeder will research pedigrees and talk to other
breeders to find the best possible matches. This can be a big undertaking. And
just because a dog is winning all over the country does not mean he is the best.
It may just mean he (or she) is being shown loads; chances are by a well-known
handler, and everyone wants to breed to him (or get a pup from her). This dog
may not be the best – just the most popular at the time. Do not be blinded by
wins.
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You also must know color inheritances. Some colors, like merles (blue or
sable/red) should not be bred together. The merle gene, if doubled, can cause
problems. Merle to merle breeding can be very bad… |
Knows the dog. A responsible breeder will test dogs
for things like hips, thyroid, eye problems (eye should be tested yearly on
breeding stock) and whatever problems are common to your specific breed. If
something is suspected, the dog is not bred. They also require testing for the
dog they intend to breed to. There are also diseases such as brucellosis that
can cause fetal abortion (miscarriage) in pregnant females – it is sexually
transmitted – your dog must be clear of. Brucellosis does not always have
outward symptoms, your dog could carry it and you never know. Your dog also must
be current on all inoculations.
Accepts the risks. Breeding is not all happy. If you
own a female, you must be willing to wait until she is physically mature to
breed (about two years old). To breed too soon is like a teenage human having a
child. They are not physically ready or emotionally. To breed to old is like a
woman having her first child later in life. Males also must be at least two. You
cannot get hips certified until they are two years old at least. Dogs of both
genders must be fully mature and in top shape before breeding.
You must be willing to be in close contact with your vet from the moment
of mating. There is so much that can happen and that you should know. There are
nutrition concerns – pregnancy and nursing is taxing on the female body. There
are risk factors – some breeds are prone to birth complications and almost
always require medical intervention. I remember hearing an English Bulldog
breeder state 99.9% of all English Bulldogs litters are born by
C-section due to
the physiology of the breed. Even in a breed not prone to birth complications,
they can arise and be costly! Many breeders will have their vet x-ray
(radiograph) a pregnant female to get an idea of how many pups, their placement,
etc. A big pup could get stuck in the birth canal. A retained pup (not born for
some reason) can die and cause massive infection as it decays. A female may die
during delivery. Are you willing to hand rear a litter of pups? This is NOT easy
and very tiring. What if your female has poor mothering instincts? Will you take
over? Are you willing to accept that you could lose your dog and her puppies?
What if one is born deformed or has a problem show up weeks down the road –
then what? Are you willing to have you children see the miracle of death? I have
only scratched the tip of the iceberg…
If you own a stud dog, you will have someone’s dog in your care for
seven to ten days. You must ensure her safety, ensure another dog does not breed
her, and that any of her needs are attended to. What if she will not breed
naturally? Can you Artificially Inseminate?
Accepts responsibility for puppies. Puppies need to
be with Mom for 8 weeks – in some areas it is illegal to sell or give away an
animal younger. This means eight weeks of poop, piddle, and then the fun of a
litter of pups playing with food as they grow. They will require vet exams and
at least one set of shots before going to homes. Vet costs, feeding, time to
socialize and clean up after, postnatal care of them and Mom all can be
expensive. What if down the road your dog develops a problem, say starts having
seizures. Are you willing to call everyone who bought a puppy from you and
inform them? What if someone calls you down the road and cannot keep the puppy
– now dog – what will you do? What health guarantee will you offer? What if
someone’s puppy proves deaf, dysplastic, epileptic, what will you do? You
brought the pups into the world; therefore, you are responsible.
I have only touched on responsible breeding. There volumes devoted
to responsible breeding. Whether you own a male or female, you must act
responsibly. Do not breed haphazardly. Do not breed to get a dog "just like
Scruffy" – it won’t happen. Do not breed if you cannot devote the time
and money to do it responsibly. If you cannot ensure good, loving homes for pups
(they do not go to pet stores or get dumped at shelters or given to just
anyone), do not breed.
I hope I have given you a bit of food for thought…
