THE
FACTS: It is extremely important to learn the
facts and possible consequences in advance if you are
contemplating breeding your dog. In today’s overcrowded
world, we-the wardens of our domestic pets – must
make responsible decisions for them and for ourselves.
Please review the following points carefully.
QUALITY:
SV registration is Not an indication of quality. Most
dogs, even purebred, should not be bred. Many dogs,
though wonderful pets, have defects of structure, personality
or health that should not be perpetuated. Breeding animals
should be proven free of these defects BEFORE starting
on a reproductive career. Breeding should only be done
with the goal of IMPROVEMENT – an honest attempt
to create puppies better than the sound, wonderful parents
they come from. ignorance is NO excuse! Once you have
created a life, you can’t take it back - even
if it’s blind, crippled or a canine psychopath!
COST: Dog
breeding is NOT a money making proposition, if done
correctly. Health care and shots, diagnosis of problems
and advance genetic testing to determine quality and
breedability, extra food, proper facilities, stud fees,
advertising, etc. are all costly and must be paid BEFORE
you sell any pups. An unexpected Caesarean or emergency
intensive care for a sick pup, or even a litter of sick
pups as often happens with parvo, will make break –
even litter become a BIG liability.
SALES: First-time
breeders have no reputation and no referrals to help
them find buyers. Previous promises of “I want
adog just like yours” evaporate. Consider the
time and expense of caring for pups that may not sell
until 4 month, 8 months, or longer…what WOULD
you do? Send them to the pound? Dump them in the country?
Sell them cheap to a dog broker who may resell them
to research labs or other unsavory buyers? Veteran breeders
with a good reputation often don’t even think
about breeding unless they have people waiting for the
puppies, with cash deposits in advance for an average-sized
litter.
JOY OF BIRTH:
If you’re doing it for the children’s education,
remember the whelpling may be at 3 AM, or at the vet’s
on the surgery table. Even if the kids are present,
they may get the chance to see the birth of a monster
or a mummy, or watch the dog they love scream and bite
you as you attempt to deliver a pup that is half out
and too large some bitches are not natural mothers,
and either ignore or savage their whelps. Bitches can
have severe delivery problems, or even die in whelp.
Pups can be born dead, or with gross deformities that
require euthanasia. Of course there can be joy, but
if you can’t deal with the possibility of tragedy,
don’t breed.
TIME: Veteran
breeders of quality dogs state they spend well over
two hours a day, every day, for months, to raise an
average litter. The bitch CANNOT be left alone while
whelping, and only for short periods for the first few
day after. Be prepared for days off work and sleepless
nights. Even after delivery, mom needs care and feeding,
pups need daily checking, weighing, socialization, and
later grooming and training, and the whelping box needs
lots and lots of cleaning. More hours are spent with
paperwork, pedigrees and interviewing buyers. If you
have any abnormal conditions such as sick puppies or
a bitch who can’t or won’t care for her
babies, count on double the time. If you can’t
provide the time, you will either have dead pups or
poor ones that are bad tempered, antisocial, antisocial,
dirty and/or sickly – hardly a buyer’s delight.
HUMANE RESPONSIBILLITIES:
It’s midnight…do you know where you puppies
are? There are more than FIVE MILLION unwanted dogs
put to death in pounds in this country EACH year, with
million more dying homeless and unwanted of starvation,
disease, from automobiles, abuse, etc. A quarter or
more of the victims of this unspeakably tragicstuation
are purebred dogs “with papers. “ The breeder
who creates a life is responsible for the life. Will
you carefully screen potential buyers? OR will you say
“yes” and not think about that little puppy
you held and loved now having a litter every time she
comes in heat, which fills the pounds with MORE statistics
– YOUR grandpups? Would you be prepared to take
back a grown puppy if the owners could no longer care
for it? Or can you live with the thought that the baby
YOU caused to be brought into this world will be destroyed
at the pound?
CONCLUSIONS:
Because of these
facts, dog breeding is best left to the PROFESSIONAL
BREEDER!
WHAT
MAKES A BREEDER PROFESSIONAL?
- A professional breeder is one who has made a lifetime
commitment to the well-being and IMPROVEMENT of one,
possibly two, breeds.
- A Professional has studied and researched his breed
and knows, intimately, its history and Standard, its
strong points and drawbacks.
- A professional has spent time, effort and MONEY
researching and proving the qualities and health of
her potential breeding stock. Those that do not prove
out are NOT bred. She plans a litter only with the
goal of puppies better than the parents, not for profit
or vanity.
- A professional considers his dog’s health
and well-being far more important than their ability
to reproduce.
- A Professional has both the time and mental fortitude
to BE THERE for her breeding dogs and her puppies.
She evaluates her litters and makes every effort to
match puppy to buyer in temperament, attitude, and
energy level.
- A professional is, first and foremost, selling
only to responsible, loving homes. While some exceptional
pups may be saved for special show homes, the professional
does not force entangling contracts or arrangements
for “puppies back” on people who are only
interested in a pet.
- A professional keeps in periodic contact with the
owners of puppies he’s sold, not only to see
the development of his breeding program, but also
because he cares about them.
- A professional does NOT have so many dogs that
she has no time for individual attention, play and
grooming, or has to skimp on food quality, space,
preventive medicine and health care.
- A professional assumes responsibility for the life
he creates – carefully screening buyers, helping
find new homes, making a comfortable life for his
retirees and yes, being able to make the decision
to enthanize when a puppy born with a mental or physical
problem has no chance for a quality life.
- A professional builds a good reputation slowly,
based on dedication and consistent quality, not on
volume, advertising, or from a casual or self-glorifying
attitude.
- A professional goes further and assumes some responsibility
for the problems of her breed as a whole – she
belongs to an organization for the breed, she continues
to read about new developments, and she works to reduce
the number of her breed that are carelessly bred,
ill cared for, or discarded.
- A professional can look at a bigger picture than
dog show wins or puppy sales, and contributes in some
way to the betterment of dogs as a whole.
Educated owners want to buy from such professionals.
If you want to join the professional ranks, involve
yourself in a club for your breed, and take advantage
of the knowledge and experience you will find in your
fellow members. Begin the months and years of research
that will be necessary for you to know your breed thoroughly
before you think about breeding a litter. If you feel
this is MORE obligation than you care to take on, choose
the RESPONSIBLE alternative – have your pet spayed
or neutered!
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