Puppies are one of the greatest joys in life- so let’s face it, a job where you’re surrounded by fluffy bundles of joy every day is pretty much the dream. If you’re passionate about animals, it might have crossed your mind at one time or another as to whether you could become a breeder. It gives you the potential to look after gorgeous puppies and earn money in the process- what could be better?
However, there’s a lot more that goes into breeding puppies than you might think. For a start, there are a lot of ethical concerns when it comes to breeding pups. These are living creatures, dogs shouldn’t be seen as money making machines.
Their needs and best interests should be the main concern at all times. Already far too many people breed purely with the intention of earning a lot of money with no concern for the health of the dogs, or where they will end up. Shelters are fit to burst, and puppies are born every day with serious health problems making their short life painful and miserable. If you do want to become a breeder, it has to be done right. Here are a few things to take into consideration.
Do Your Research on The Breed
As a breeder, your first major choice is what kind of dogs you want to breed. Ideally, you will have owned the breed before and already be knowledgeable, but if not it’s important to do your research. How big will they grow? How big is the average litter? Are there any particular health concerns to keep an eye on? And importantly, how in demand are these dogs? Certain types of dogs have been bred massively, these are often the breeds you see in the overflowing kennels. Choose a breed that’s popular yet has a good level of demand and interest, that means that you won’t struggle to find good homes for them when the time comes. Sites like Puppy System can give you a helping hand if you’re struggling, and are guaranteed to find homes in one to two weeks. However ensuring you have a breed people are interested in in the first place is key.
Start With Two Incredible Dogs
To produce the best puppies, you need two great dogs from the breed to begin with. They should be kennel club registered, and have the relevant vet testing done beforehand such as hip and eye scoring to ensure they’re suitable for breeding. You should make sure that the male and female dog are unrelated (this may mean purchasing them from different areas as puppies) so that they’re not being interbred. Having KC registered dogs to start off with means you can register the litter when they’re born. Many responsible owners will only purchase Kennel Club registered dogs, as it ensures they are full pedigree and from a responsible breeder. So it’s important to go about it the right way.
Be Prepared For Hard Work and Learning
When it comes to something as complex and miraculous as birth, there can be complications along the way. It’s not always a simple formula of two dogs equals a healthy litter of pups. Sometimes puppies can get stuck, causing harm or even death to the mother dog. It’s important to have an on-call vets number on hand in case any emergencies happen. Sometimes pups can be ‘born sleeping’ which can be incredibly difficult to deal with. As a breeder, you will experience loss at times, so make sure this is something you’re cut out for. Once they’re born, you then have a litter of puppies to take care of for the next eight weeks. Once they start becoming more mobile you have your work cut out for you! Since some breeds can have twelve or more puppies, make sure you go into the situation prepared and with your eyes open.