What do you consider.....?

Question

....to be the absolute, rock bottom MINIMUM that someone should know before breeding their dogs?

Every day we see many questions posted here by people who obviously don't have the first clue what they are doing, yet are breeding their pets. I mean basic stuff, like how long the dog will be pregnant for. Or when they need to call the vet. Many b*tches and their puppies suffer and die needlessly because of this ignorance.

So even though in an ideal world people would know about selection, health, history, purpose, pedigrees etc before even thinking about breeding their dogs, we know that there are people out there that are determined to breed Fluffy to the most convenient stud and treat themselves to "the miracle of birth", come hell or high water.

So what is the absolute minimum that pet owners should know BEFORE they put Fluffy with Buster and hope for the best?

Answer 1

how long a dog is pregnant for should be a minimum.

and what should i be looking for when lab our is about to start.

even then there are so many questions tat i don't think a minimum amount of knowledge would help.

i have 4 dogs all neutered and know some things about breeding but would not know enough now to breed my dogs even though i cant because there neutered but if i wanted to go into dog breeding I'm just not knowledge enough

Answer 2

OMG! What a great question! I have to admit- 5 years ago I started looking for a great agility poodle. I talked to hundreds of breeders- and all just said, "My dogs can do it" (Not that they had)- so I decided that if/when I found a breeder who had true agility/obedience dogs, I wanted my dog left intact so that if he excelled, I could keep the working poodle going. I was lucky enough to find a like-minded breeder that I respected, that understood where I was coming from. We formed a bond, and I have my dog. He does excel, and is a great conformation dog.



As I started doing research into breeding, it began to scare the HELL out of me! (And, I have the MALE!)-- Every little thing he does, I wonder "What if..." He has a full brother that had a seizure, and I began to think "what if?" I started doing pedigree research, and I was even more astonished at what I found! He's 5 years old, and has not be bred. And, probably will not.



We co-own our 11 month old puppy- and I watch every thing he does, wondering, waiting, looking for everything that he could pass on.



All that to say that, I don't think that, until you really start looking, and really WANTING to learn, do you see what all is really involved! I think if most of these people would spend an hour doing some serious research, they would turn around and run screaming into the streets! Instead, they ask YA for answers!



As for the bare minimum- you should at least know that it's a heat cycle, NOT a period. Gestational length. How to tell if the B1tch is pregnant. How to tell when birth is close. The vet's number AND the emergency vet's number. When the pups should be weaned.



Also, like someone else pointed out, they should know that PUPS and B1TCHES DO DIE!



OF course, this only scratches the surface of what they SHOULD know- and the must know, in my opinion, is only the mechanics-

Answer 3

I really don't know where to put a minimum. You're doing nothing short of playing midwife for your dog and the pups she'll have. I mean, they have written whole books on the subject and if I were going to breed I'd think it of the utmost importance to know everything, A to Z. And puppy care, I'd want to know all that also. Where do you pick what's ok to not know when it seems to me it's all important to know?



How about knowing you might want to have some cash (a LOT) set aside so the dam and pups get proper vetting for everything and anything that comes along? How about knowing nature certainly does take it's course and not always what you had in mind? That would be a START.



*** BTW I'm not even a breeder, never bred a litter in my life. Maybe because I knew just enough was the reason why I choose not to. Some things are better off left to other people and the rest of us should just appreciate the efforts and enjoy our pets. There's nothing wrong with that at all.

Answer 4

They should know at the VERY least how to talk to their mentor and learn what they are doing... if they don't have one and don't know anything about their breed except that it is 'perfect in every way', then they shouldn't be making puppies. Your question is an attempt to find out some answer to saying it is okay for people to breed stupidly, irresponsibly and basically dear, that just isn't going to be. If someone is making puppies without knowing as much as possible about their breed, about whelping a litter and caring for a *****, about selecting a suitable mate for their dog, about how to properly screen homes and place puppies in the proper home for them, then they should not be making puppies... the evidence is in the body piles and shelters and to somehow 'okay' a minimum/rock bottom is allowing those animals to suffer and die without reason or concern...



The absolute rock bottom minimum someone should know before breeding their dogs is that they shouldn't be breeding their dogs... they need to know and be capable of telling anyone and everyone the VALID reason for allowing those puppies to be produced.



add: it may sound all well and good to 'license' breeders but basically what that does is not in the best interest of any breed or dogs. The countries that do that STILL have dogs in shelters and dying out on the streets - they simply are not 'recognized' by the parent clubs to participate in their activities or to be 'papered' by their organizations. Absolute power (such as mandated minimums and licensing of breeders) corrupts absolutely and that is often seen in these countries. They ignore that there are 'unrecognized' dogs out there dying... no different.. people are not different the world throughout y'all ... licensing doesn't ensure minimal knowledge it ensures that knowledge will REMAIN minimal. Sounds good in theory but so did communism...

Answer 5

Some of the people, who have answered, have obviously misunderstood your question. They think that you are about to become a BSB.



I have had dogs for over forty years. Usually at least two at the same time. I have read dozens of books on animal behavior, I use homeopathy for emergencies and I am always keen on investigating animal health issues and nutrition. I have done this for

years.

I have competed successfully in agility; I also do obedience and heelwork to music. My dogs have always had a happy life, most of them have been German Shepherds with wonderful temperaments, they love other dogs and kids.

All my animals have been either spayed or castrated and they have slept in my bedroom. I am not wanting to “blow my own trumpet” the above is to illustrate that regardless of my experience with dogs, I would never feel qualified to breed dogs.



You are asking a big big question; unfortunately I don't really know the answer. Like many pet owners, I haven’t a clue.



Obviously a breeder must study genetics, take the dogs to shows to establish her value as a brood *****, know how to choose the right sire. They must also know the right time for their ***** to mate, how long it takes for the ***** to produce puppies. Know how to look after a pregnant ***** and how to help her when she gives birth. They will need to buy a good whelping box, buy special food for the ***** and puppies. Socialize the puppies and be available to look after them 24 hours a day. I am sure that there will also be other aspects that must be considered, I don’t know what they are. After forty years of owning dogs I don't know the answers or enough about breeding to have puppies.



I do know that inexperienced dog breeders expect to sell their puppies for a high price. The fact that their bitches can die is inconsequential. Obviously they don't care if their puppies end up in a rescue home. All that they think about are monitory rewards. Unfortunately they do not find out until after they have puppies that the costs are greater than the rewards. A DEAD ***** DEAD PUPPIES AND NO-ONE WHO WANTS TO BUY THE LIVE PUPPIES. Perhaps some will care enough to call out a vet for a ***** in distress and consider the cost of this in advance. Most of them think that its only a dog, so what.



Edit. Justjan, English is obviously your first language. Where do you live and how can we all adopt the regulations which you have in your part of the world???

Answer 6

I concur to what everyone else has said so far. Also you need money and lots of it should anything happen. You need to have time off work for at least 8 weeks if you do work, these pups need to be checked and looked after.

Also they need to know about selling the pups to the correct people and put endorsements on the AKC papers to prevent further breeding in the wrong hands. Also the dam and sire owners need to take repsonsibility that if at any time during the life of these pups the owners can't care for them that they take them in at any age, to prevent them from ending in rescue...





I have to say a friend of mine surprised me stating that she wanted to mate her dog as she wanted puppies like him. I was horrified and i went through with her everything that she would need to do and the reason for thinking these pups are going to end up like her dog may not actually be the case. She was surprised with what i was telling her and the cost to have all the health checks as well.

I said that if she really wanted another pup then to go back to the breeder and put her name on their list for another pup...





I know a little about breeding, but not enough to start.



Also i thinkg people should be aware of inbreeding, line breeding and outcrossing and what each entails and what would be the best to do to better the breed if your dog is going to be a great ambassador for the breed.

All in all you also need an extra pair of hands to help with some breeds with the whelping...





Further to this i hate the question - how do i know if my dog is pregnant... oh come on this answer should be easy now we have the question all the time - A Vet!!!!

Answer 7

Wow! Fantastic question and you have some great answers already.



I'll add a few things... absolute minimum:



You need to be able to take time off for whelping and to assist pups in the first few weeks. Don't breed if you can't .. unless, of course, dead dam and dead pups don't bother you.



You need to have the funds available for a possible c-section.



You need to know that brucellosis exists and any dog/b *tch being bred needs to be tested before breeding.



You need to know how to make a few markings on a calendar.. things like "she's in heat", "first breeding"...



You need to know how to count to 58 from the first breeding... cuz pups could come any time after that date... and then you need to MARK THAT ON THE CALENDAR. (personally I just number 1,2,3, etc.. ) You could EVEN look online at a perpetual whelping calendar but that will tell you day 62-63 and the pups might come a few days before that.



You need to understand that pre-natal care is IMPORTANT- seeing the vet is crucial and an x-ray on day 57 makes life a WHOLE LOT EASIER.



You need to know the signs and symptoms of imminent whelping. (loss of appetite, restlessness, nesting, drop in temperature)



You need to have some concept of how puppy whelping works- and how to rescusitate a puppy that isn't breathing.



You need to know how you'll dispose of dead puppies... and what you'll have to do if the dam dies.

Answer 8

Well, like you said, many of us know better but for the uninformed who insist their dog should have cute little babies.



MINIMUM:

A vet check and up to date on vaccinations BEFORE breeding.

What to feed the dam when she is pregnant and whelping.

Regular vet checks to see how she's doing are a must.

An x-ray to know how many puppies to expect in case something goes wrong.

A credit card with at LEAST a $3000 limit in case of an c-section and other emergency care.

Signs of labor.

Signs of distress.

What to do if a puppy isn't breathing, slinging etc.

How to cut and care for umbilical cords if necissary.

How to suction out a puppies nose/mouth.

A good emergency vet.

A vet who does tails/dewclaws when applicable.

What to do in case the dam rejects the puppies or isn't producing milk or gets mastitis.

How and when to start puppies on solid food, blending kibble and water into mush etc.

How to socialize puppies and why it is important to start at an early age.

That puppies are messy, noisy and destructive, even as early as 5 weeks.

That they should stay with their mother for at least 10 weeks, 8 weeks MINIMUM.

When to give vaccinations and health checkups.

How to screen good homes so that they don't end up in a shelter.

What to do if the new owners can't keep the dog so that it won't end up in a shelter.

That it is hard, disgusting, tiresome work to have puppies and that they are often lost along with the mother, despite the best conditions and care.



A thousand more things. But that is what *I* consider bare minimum.

Answer 9

The number of times I see the question "how long will my dog be pregnant" is disgraceful. Even I know that and I've never bred a dog. So that's one thing, but the minimum they should know is everything. There's too many risks involved too know nothing about it.

Answer 10

In my country breeders have to have a licence. And they have to prove their knowledge and their accommodation for the animals is checked out before they get it. Before they can sell the litter, the pups have to be vaccinated and chipped.



It's a good law that has done away with most of the cowboys in the industry.



But I don't think you are ever going to get around idiots who are trying to get Fluffy and Buster to make them some money.



If the general public were better educated about where to get their pets, what to insist on (chip / vaccination) and the reasons why most of them would avoid the back yard operators by choice anyway.



It's a real animal rights issue, and maybe you could start lobbying for some legislation. Maybe the SPCA could help.



I love that you care. And by the way, your dog photo is gorgeous.

Answer 11

They should know how many homeless dogs of their chosen breed there are in shelters.



Seriously, they should know what to do if their dog has trouble during the birthing process. How to stimulate a listless newborn and how to clean out their lungs.

They should know what colostrum is and where to get it should the mother not be able to feed the newborns.

They should know what a gestation period is and how long it is.

Answer 12

well, you should make sure that both dogs breeding are healthy and dont have any medical issues, otherwise you are complicating the mother and the puppies~ you dont want littel puppies to grow and have complications because that is torture~ so health for One! 2:exactly what kind of breeds are your actually breeding together! and all you have to do is go online and do a little dog searching, there are millions of web-sites that offer plenty of information for anybody to do anything! consult a vet too they will be able to tell you everything, you dont even have to go, just pick up the phone and ask the person on the other end for some info!

Answer 13

-Definately gestation period, and length in days of the average heat cycle.



-What happens when dogs tie...lots of people ask questions about why their dogs are locked together



-Basic whelping, and care for dam.



-What to do in an emergency



With all that being bare minimum, it distresses me that a lot of people breeding their dogs don't even know that much.



Of course, ideally, they should show, confirm, perform genetic screening, ect.....

Answer 14

The minimum? How about the hips/eyes/etc checks and certifications that are necessary.....the breed ring, obedience and agility titles that the dog should have, and a complete knowledge of the list here:

http://learntobreed.com/questions.html

Answer 15

Just Jan, where are you from :)



It would be great to adapt those kinds of laws for the United States



Breeding should be a privilege not a RIGHT as so many people seem to think.

Answer 16

I think the bare minimum should be their Veterinarian's phone number.A Vet is the one with a lot of the answers to their questions.

Answer 17

if your not a serious breeder and are just being lazy . dont breed! dont you know how many dogs get killed every year because of over population! your just being selfish witnesing the miracle of birth when there are dogs out their probably wishing they were never born!