How to Breed Dogs - Deciding to Breed

Breeding dogs is not a casual undertaking. It can be very fulfilling and wonderful if you understand the responsibilities. Before you decide to start raising puppies, there are some decisions you need to make. You also need to consider the responsibilities and preparations.

1. Do your research. Before you can decide if you are ready and fit to breed, you need to do research. This will help you know what the process means and what you will have to do. Read books by reputable breeders or veterinarians. Talk to your veterinarian about the pros and cons. Talk to other reputable breeders about the realities of breeding.
- Look for books written by veterinarians. Consider titles such as Canine Reproduction: A Breeder’s Guide, 3rd edition by Dr. Phyllis A. Holst or The Complete Book of Dog Breeding by Dr. Dan Rice.

2. Have the right reasons. The only responsible reason to breed is based on previous experience and research. If you have spent the last two or more years training, working and competing your dog, you are a good candidate for breeding dogs. Bringing high quality, healthy puppies into the world requires work and research.
- You shouldn't breed dogs to sell them as pets. This is not a profitable or responsible way to breed. This reason creates a market, which unfortunately drives the many puppy farms found across the United States. Please be responsible and do not be someone who contributes to the pet overpopulation problem.
- Breeding dogs properly and responsibly takes a lot of time and investment.

3. Examine your situation. Make sure you determine that you have an exceptional example of your breed. You do so with the help of experts. You want to improve the breed, so you need to have evidence that your dog is within the top 10% of the specific breed. You want your dog to contribute positively to the genetic pool.
- Your dog should be healthy and talented. Your dog should also have a symmetrical physical appearance that matches up to the breed standards. Your dog should also have an exceptional temperament.[1]
- You need to be prepared to live with the puppies for a minimum of 8 weeks before they leave your house for new homes. You need to know what time of the year the breeding may happen. This can help you figure out how it will affect you and your family.
- Be prepared to keep all the puppies. You are responsible for their health and happiness. If for some reason you cannot get them all homes, you may have to keep them all.[2]

4. Learn what dogs are good to breed. There are a few types of dogs that are good candidates for breeding. There are also hereditary traits that can be valuable to pass down to new puppies as well. You can breed working dogs. Their talents are based on the dog's ability to retrieve and herd livestock or track prey. You can also breed show dogs, which are judged based on their physical appearance and behavior.
- In working dogs, the tendency for a dog to be good at those jobs can be hereditary. The dam and sire dogs need to have proven track records out in the field. There are competitions to prove a dog is able to perform.
- Your show dogs need to follow conformation. This is the standard of physical appearance for every dog breed. Every breed has a breed standard set by the American Kennel Club for the United States. Dogs bred to meet these standards are judged in a show ring against others to determine which dog best represents the breed’s standards.[3]
- Other countries have their own breeding standards. If you plan to show is other countries, look for the conformation standards in the area.