How to Breed Dogs

Breeding dogs is an exciting endeavor that brings joy, as long as you're aware of the responsibilities and risks that come with it. Watching a bunch of puppies frolicking around your home is undeniably cute and fun, but it takes a lot of effort! If you're interested in dog breeding, make sure you're fully prepared for the job.

Do your research. To determine whether you're ready and suitable for dog breeding, the first step is to research. Understanding the process and knowing what needs to be done is crucial. Read books written by reputable breeders or veterinarians. Discuss the pros and cons with your vet. Talk to experienced breeders about their practices in dog breeding.

• Look for books written by veterinarians. Consider titles like Canine Reproduction: A Breeder’s Guide, 3rd Edition by Phyllis A. Holst, or The Complete Dog Breeder by Dan Rice.

Have a good reason. The only valid reason to breed dogs relies on the experience and knowledge you’ve acquired. If you've spent two or more years training and working with dogs, you're in the right position to breed them. To bring healthy, high-quality puppies into the world, you need to put in the work and research necessary.

Consider your situation. Ensure that the dog you're breeding is of superior quality compared to others of its breed, or seek an expert's opinion on its quality. You should aim to improve the breed, which means providing evidence that your dog is among the top 10% of that specific breed. Generally, your dog should make a positive contribution to the gene pool.

• The dog should be healthy and energetic. Its appearance should be well-proportioned and meet breed standards. The dog's temperament should also be particularly good.
• You need to be prepared to care for the litter of puppies for at least 8 weeks before they go to their new homes. Knowing when breeding season occurs will help you understand how it impacts you and your family.
• Be ready to care for all the puppies. You are responsible for their health and well-being. If, for any reason, you're unable to find new homes for them all, you’ll have to care for them yourself.

Know which breeds are suitable for breeding. Some dog breeds are excellent candidates for breeding. They have valuable genetic traits to pass on to future generations. You can breed working dogs, which are capable of herding or tracking prey, or you can breed show dogs, which are judged based on appearance and behavior.

• For working dogs, good performance in tasks is often passed down to future generations. Both the sire and dam should have documented performance records in real-world situations. Competitions are often held to prove whether a dog can successfully perform the tasks required.
• Show dogs need to meet specific physical standards. Each breed has a standard set by the American Kennel Club. Dogs are bred to meet these standards and are judged in competitions against other dogs to see which best fits the criteria.
• Other countries may have their own breeding standards. If you plan to compete in other countries, research the specific standards there.

Choose the dogs. You need to select a breeding pair from your dogs. This means selecting a fertile female and a male to mate with her. Make sure they meet the discussed characteristics.

• You can also look for a male dog from another breeder if you don’t have one. Renting a male dog or purchasing semen may incur additional costs. Sometimes, contracts allow the male dog's owner to take puppies from the litter. Make sure all agreements are put in writing and signed, to formalize the contract involving the puppies.

Determine the dog's genetics. It's essential to research the genetic background of the breed. Assess the dog's lineage to ensure it has favorable traits within its bloodline. For purebred dogs, you can request a pedigree from the American Kennel Club or other registration bodies. Also, make sure the breeding pair is not closely related to avoid genetic defects caused by inbreeding.

• It’s recommended to test both your dog and the intended mate for any genetic issues related to their breed. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) maintains a database of dogs and their results for inherited diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, patellar luxation, and heart issues. Avoid breeding dogs with conditions that could be passed down to future generations.

Observe their temperament. Watch the behavior of the pair to evaluate their temperament. Consider how they behave with each other and with other dogs. Breeding friendly and well-balanced dogs typically results in puppies with similar dispositions. Avoid breeding aggressive or overly fearful dogs, as they can pose significant risks.

Check the dog's age. Ensure the dog is within the appropriate reproductive age. Dogs usually start breeding at around 2 years old. Many genetic issues become apparent before the dog reaches 24 months. These problems can be detected in specific tests. For example, OFA will not accept X-rays of dogs under 24 months to assess and grade hip dysplasia. For successful breeding, both parent dogs must have permanent identification, like a microchip or tattoo, to submit test data to OFA and other organizations. This helps ensure the authenticity of the results.

• Female dogs typically enter heat between 6 and 9 months of age. They will go into heat again every 5-11 months after the first cycle. Breeders usually wait until a female is at least 2 years old and has experienced 3 to 4 heat cycles before breeding. This is when she has fully matured and is physically ready for pregnancy and childbirth.

Take the dog to the vet. Before breeding, it’s necessary to bring the dog to a veterinarian for a health check and ensure it is up-to-date on vaccinations. Antibodies from the mother will be passed on to the puppies through her milk, providing protection from illnesses.

Understand the dog's medical history. If the dog has underlying medical conditions, it could impact your breeding plans. Small dog breeds may have genetic issues you should be aware of before mating. Puppies may face similar or even worse problems. These could include dental issues like misaligned teeth, causing upper and lower jaws not to meet properly. They may be prone to patellar dislocation, hip or elbow dysplasia, spinal problems such as disc ruptures, allergies that lead to skin and ear infections, heart conditions, eye problems, or behavioral issues.

• Ensure your dog is regularly dewormed. Roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms can be transmitted from mother to puppy.

Check reproductive health. It is important to assess your dog's health to ensure they are fit for breeding. For male dogs, sperm analysis can be done. These tests can detect genetic issues as well as infectious diseases like Brucellosis. It is recommended to test for Brucellosis before breeding both male and female dogs to prevent passing the infection to offspring.

Wait for the female dog to go into heat. The female dog needs to be in heat before mating. The timing isn't fixed, so you must observe when she goes into heat. During this period, her genital area swells, and she will discharge blood. If a male dog is nearby, he will likely be very excited.

• The female won't accept the male until she's ready for mating. She may even bite the male to drive him away if she's not prepared. Avoid any injury. Keep a close watch when introducing the two dogs.
• Typically, the female will accept the male 9-11 days into her heat cycle and allow mating to occur.
• If you're having trouble getting the female to mate, consult a vet for a Progesterone test. This test will show when the heat cycle begins and when the female's body is ready for sperm reception. Progesterone levels rise 1-2 days before ovulation. Some females experience very subtle heat cycles, making it hard to detect, but the Progesterone test can pinpoint ovulation timing.

Consider artificial insemination. Artificial insemination can assist in breeding your dog if no male dog is available. Frozen dog semen in liquid nitrogen can be shipped globally. The semen is thawed, and insemination is carried out with the female. You may need to explore this option if the pair you’ve selected seems unable to mate naturally.

• This method can be complex, as there are concerns regarding potential reproductive health issues in future generations.
• In special cases, a vet may perform an insemination procedure by placing semen directly into the female's uterus while she's under anesthesia. These procedures will certainly increase costs for each pregnancy and each puppy born.

Maintain the health of the female dog. Once you're sure the female dog has been successfully mated, you can separate her from the male. Provide a well-balanced diet, which may include vitamin and calcium supplements, as recommended by your vet.

• It's important to continue this diet throughout her pregnancy, which lasts between 58 and 68 days.
• Ensure the kennel is clean and free from parasites like fleas. Regularly clean the kennel, provide plenty of fresh water, and use clean bedding.

Observe changes in the female dog. Her nipples and mammary glands will undergo noticeable changes during pregnancy. By the end of her term, the mammary glands will begin to produce milk. During the final three weeks of pregnancy, she will require more nutrition. Consult your vet for the right dietary plan.

• Typically, pregnant dogs are fed puppy food in the last three weeks. This food provides enough calories and nutrients for the growing puppies and prepares the mother to nurse.

Prepare the whelping box. The whelping box is where the female will give birth. You should use a box that is about 15 cm longer than the length of the mother when lying down, and about 30 cm wider. The box should have rails to prevent the mother from accidentally lying on and crushing the puppies after delivery.

• Line the bottom of the box with alternating layers of plastic cloth and newspaper. This helps to keep the box clean after it gets dirty. You can simply remove one layer of newspaper and one layer of plastic cloth, leaving the rest clean. Add clean towels or other washable materials that are easy to clean.

Pay close attention. You need to be aware of the signs that the female dog is about to give birth and understand the stages of labor. When labor begins, monitor her closely for strong contractions lasting over 30-45 minutes without delivering a puppy. This could indicate a complication during labor.

• Taking an X-ray around the 45th day of pregnancy can help the vet count how many puppy skeletons are in the mother’s womb. The X-ray can also reveal if any puppies are unusually large, which may cause problems during delivery. This information allows you and the vet to prepare for a potential C-section and anticipate how many puppies will be born.

Keep the puppies warm. It's essential to keep newborn puppies warm while ensuring that all of them can nurse properly. Check for any birth defects such as cleft palates. A puppy’s palate should be intact with no signs of separation in the oral tissue. The mother will groom and position the puppies for nursing.

• If a puppy has a cleft palate, milk will flow from the mouth into the nasal passage. If the defect is severe, it’s best to euthanize the puppy, as it will not survive.

Record breeding data. Make sure to record the birth date, the total number of puppies, and how many males and females there are. If you plan to register this litter with organizations like the AKC, you can do so online. You will need the registration numbers of the sire and dam to fill out the form.

Monitor the puppies. Watch the puppies closely during the first few weeks, ensuring they stay clean, warm, and well-fed. Weigh them daily using a scale with gram divisions to make sure they are gaining weight steadily. Healthy puppies should be clean, active, and have rounded bellies. They should gain about 10% of their body weight each day during the first two weeks.

• At around four weeks old, the puppies will become very active. The whelping box will no longer be spacious enough for them, so you should provide a larger box with walls to ensure their safety. At this stage, the mother will typically leave the box for longer periods, and you can start weaning the puppies by introducing small, moistened kibble.

Take the puppies to the vet. Take the puppies to the vet when they are 7-8 weeks old. They will receive their first vaccinations, which include shots for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and the virus that causes Canine Influenza (Parainfluenza), also known as DHPP. The puppies will also be treated for worms. You should discuss flea and heartworm prevention with your vet.

• Ask the vet to check for any other health or genetic issues. Responsible breeders will provide this information to the new puppy owners so they can complete the required vaccinations within the recommended time frame.

Screen the new dog owner. This process must be carried out carefully. You should only sell the dog to a family capable of providing a good living environment for it. The new owner must be responsible, willing to invest time, effort, and money into caring for the newly purchased dog.

• Consider checking the new owner's home. Be prepared to refuse if they are not suitable to raise a puppy.

Draft a contract. Once you've found the right owner, you should sign a contract with them. Make sure to include clauses about health guarantees and specify the limits of these guarantees. You should also state that they must return the puppy if they are unable to care for it at any point during the dog's life.

• Additionally, you should specify whether the puppy is being sold as a pet or for breeding purposes in the future, and if there are any requirements regarding spaying/neutering once the dog reaches a certain age.