TO BREED
(OR NOT) TO
BREED
By John Mandeville, AKC Vice President
Few things on earth are more
adorable than a pile of puppies. So naturally it can be very tempting to dream
about breeding your dog. But before you decide to breed, the American Kennel Club
cautions you to stop and think long and hard. Then think a second and third
time, even longer and harder. We believe the decision to breed dogs should
never be made lightly. Often, people breed for all the wrong reasons, and you
don’t want to make the same mistake. Carefully consider every consequence of
bringing more dogs into this world, and if you do decide to breed, commit
yourself to being a responsible dog owner every step of the way.
What does it mean to be a responsible dog owner? It means you will not breed unless you are sure you
can produce healthy dogs with sound temperaments, and can see to it that every
single puppy is place in a home where it will receive proper care throughout
its life. You don’t want your puppy to wind up in a shelter. Securing good
homes for puppies takes a huge amount of energy ----- more than one might
think.
One of the first points to consider before you breed a
dog is whether it is healthy. It
should be sound genetically and structurally and in tip-top shape ----- free of
all diseases, parasites, skin conditions and infections of any type. Not
surprisingly, too many dogs today are like us and eat too much and don’t get
enough exercise. You’re especially asking for trouble if you breed a fat, unfit
female.
Dogs that look healthy may
have genetic defects they would pass onto offspring. Awful problems can show up
later in puppies even if the parents don’t look like they have the problem when
they are bred. Ask your vet about having your dog tested for some genetic problems
that exist in your breed.
There are special checkups
you can get to reveal hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia,
which cripples, and progressive retinal atrophy, which leads to blindness. The
financial investment up front with testing will save you and your puppy-buyers
from much heartache and larger health-care bills later in the dog’s life.
The owner of a bitch has the
additional responsibility of making sure the potential stud dog also has been
checked and certified free of hereditary disease. But stud dog owners have every bit as much responsibility as the
bitch owners, even though they will not have the same ongoing responsibility
during pregnancy, whelping and raising of the new pups. Too often owners of
potential studs think, “Why not?” when friends ask to use their dog for stud
service. But unless you’re prepared to do all the necessary health checks on
your dog and be certain the owner of the bitch has done the same, go no
further. Also, keep in mind that a dog used at stud, even once, can be more of
a challenge to control afterwards.
Temperament is every bit as important in deciding
whether to breed. The basic
personality of each purebred has been determined by years of careful, selective
breeding. That explains why Pointers point, Retrievers retrieve, Sheepdogs
herd, Bloodhounds trail, and so on. Unless you are sure that your dog and its
prospective mate have sound and correct temperaments to pass on to their
offspring, they should not be bred.
Another breeding
consideration is quality. Serious dog fanciers breed only show-quality animals
--- those that closely conform to their breed standard. Even if this is to be
your first litter, your goal should be no different. Certain defects that
narrow a dog’s breeding potential will be obvious to you, such as an incorrect
coat color or pattern. Others are more subtle. If you are new to the world of
purebred dogs, all of this is likely to be both mystifying and overwhelming.
Our advice is to talk to an experienced breeder; the easiest way to find one is
through an AKC dog club in your area. For information about the club nearest
you, please contact the American Kennel Club’s customer service department
(919) 233-9767.
Perhaps the worst reason to breed dogs is to
try and recoup your purchase price. Your plan is almost certain to fail once
you add up your veterinary costs and the price of your time
Another misguided reason is to provide sex education
for your own children ---- there are
many better ways to teach your kids about reproduction.
If you decide not to breed your dog, we recommend
having it neutered. There are several
advantages besides birth control. Spaying puts an end to messy and unpleasant
heat periods in bitches, and it also has definite health benefits concerning
certain types of tumors and infections. Castrated dogs are likely to be less
aggressive and are less given to roaming.
So what is the bottom line?
Should you breed or shouldn’t you? The choice is up to you. The American Kennel
Club is a firm believer that breeding dogs can be a wonderful experience ---
but it must be done for all the right reasons. First, you must recognize the
range of responsibility implied by breeding, not just for the sire and dam, but
for all of their puppies. If you do decide to breed your dog, you’ll be
entering an exciting world. And who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be the proud
producer of an AKC Best in Show winner.
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