|
Are you thinking of Breeding your
Dog?
For People who Want to Breed Dogs
Factors to Consider
- Will your dog contribute excellent health, temperament,
working ability or conformity to the breed standard?
- Do you understand that spaying and neutering will prevent some
health problems that you risk by keeping your dog intact?
- Are you aware of any and all health and temperament problems
in your dog's pedigree?
- Are you willing to search for the best dog to breed your dog
to, even if you have to travel out of state?
- Do you have carefully screened buyers and deposits for all the
puppies you may produce?
- Do you have money set aside in case the dam or puppies need
emergency care?
- Can you or another responsible adult be present 24 hours a day
for the first 3 weeks in case hand feeding is needed?
- Have you read about what to prepare and expect for canine
pregnancy, whelping and puppy rearing? (rec source: Canine
Reproduction: A Breeder's Guide 2nd Edition, Phyllis Holst)
- Are you willing to keep and properly socialize all the puppies
until good homes are found?
- Are you willing to take back any or all puppies any time in
their lives that they may no longer be wanted?
- Are you willing to serve as a lifetime resource for the buyers
of your puppies?
Pre-Breeding Procedures
- Annual CERF eye certification.
- Wait until 2 years of age before breeding, then have OFA hip
and elbow certification performed.
- Have all breed-specific health clearances performed - check
with veterinarian and national breed club (may include heart,
thyroid, genetic testing, many others).
- Have Brucella canis test performed 1 month in advance.
- Have a complete physical examination performed on your dog
prior to breeding.
- This should include a digital vaginal exam to check for
vaginal band/stricture.
by Joni L. Freshman DVM, MS, DACVIM
Permission to copy with original attribution
Copyright 2003 - 2004 by the Veterinary Information Network, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Godiva Labradors has an excellent page on Breeding. What to
expect, Questions asked and answered and a story from a well known
breeder. The page is well exampled , well written and eye
opening. http://www.godivalabs.com/bitch.html
"Which is more important to you, the dog that you now
have or the puppies? I know that your answer is your lovely lady.
The next question is: If you knew ahead of time that your dog
would die due to complications, would you still breed? I am sure
your answer is no!!!!! Believe me it happens far more often than
most people think. MANY, MANY, things can go wrong during
pregnancy and whelping."
|
