Dog breeding is not an ordinary maintenance activity. This can be very satisfying and enjoyable if you understand your responsibilities. Before you decide to start raising a puppy, there are a few decisions you need to make. You also need to consider your responsibilities and preparation.
Step
Part 1 of 6: Deciding to Breed Dogs
Step 1. Before you can decide if you are ready to breed your dog, you need to do some research
This will help you to know what this process is all about and what you are going to do about it. Read books written by expert breeders or veterinarians. Talk to your vet about the pros and cons. And talk to other expert breeders about breeding matters.
Look for books written by veterinarians. Consider titles like Canine Reproduction: A Breeder's Guide, third edition by Dr. Phyllis A. Holst or The Complete Book of Dog Breeding by Dr Dan Rice
Step 2. Have a good reason
The only reason responsible for breeding dogs is based on previous experience and research. If you've spent two years or more training, grooming and participating in a race, you're a good aspiring dog breeder. Bringing a quality, healthy puppy into the world takes effort and research.
- You should not breed your dog to sell it as a pet. This is not a profitable or responsible way to breed them. This reasoning can create a market, which will unfortunately drive the many dog farms found throughout the United States. Please be more responsible and not be someone who contributes to the problem of overpopulation of pets.
- Proper and responsible breeding takes a lot of time and investment.
Step 3. Check your situation
Make sure you have a special breed of dog in your dog breed. You also do this with the help of experts. You want to improve the breeding process, so you must have proof that your dog has a 10% advantage over a particular breed. You want your dog to make a positive contribution in terms of genetics (inheritance).
- Your dog must be healthy and talented. Your dog should also have a symmetrical physical appearance that conforms to breeding standards. Your dog should also have an extraordinary temperament.
- You must be prepared to live with the puppies for at least 8 weeks before they leave your home for a new home. You need to know at any time of the year breeding may occur. This can help you to know how it will affect you and your family.
- Be prepared to take care of all the puppies. You are responsible for their health and happiness. If for some reason you can't get them all a new home, you may have to keep them all.
Step 4. Learn what kind of Dogs are good for breeding
There are several types of dogs that are suitable for breeding. There are also inherited traits that can be passed on to newborn puppies. You can breed working Dogs. Their talent is based on their ability to find and herd livestock or track prey. You can also breed Snow Dogs, which are judged on their physical appearance and demeanor.
- In working dogs, the dog's tendency to do a good job can be inherited. Both female and male dogs need to have proven experience in the field. There are many races to prove a dog can work well.
- Your dog that will appear must follow the conformation. This is the standard of physical appearance for every breed of dog. Each breed has a breed standard set by the American Kennel Club for the United States. Dogs bred to meet these standards are assessed in shows against other dogs to determine which dogs set the standard for good breeds.
- Other countries have their own breeding standards. If you're planning to perform in another country, look for conformation standards in that area.
Part 2 of 6: Choosing Dogs to Breed
Step 1. Choose your dog
You need to choose your Dog which you will mate. You need to choose a female dog, which is a female dog capable of giving birth to puppies. You will also need a male dog, which is a male dog that you want to mate with a female dog. You have to make sure they have the characteristics that have been discussed earlier.
You can also get a male dog from another breeder if you don't have one. Renting a male dog or buying dog sperm costs money. Sometimes the agreement allows the owner of the male dog to take the born puppy. Make sure that the agreement is written and signed so that there is a contract between all parties involved with the puppy
Step 2. Determine the hereditary nature of the dogs
You have to look at the background of the hereditary nature of the dog. Check the lineage of your dog to make sure they have good qualities for their breed. For purebred dogs (which are modern breeds), you can obtain their breed from the American Kennel Club or other registration authority. You should also make sure the pair of dogs are not related by blood to prevent genetic defects from inbreeding.
You should take your dog and the dog you want to mate with your dog for testing to see genetic problems associated with their breeding. The Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) maintains a database of dogs and their test results for genetic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia, eye conditions, patellar luxation, and heart problems. You definitely don't want to breed a dog with health problems that can be passed on to the next generation
Step 3. Observe their attitude
Pay attention to the behavior of the dog you want to breed. This should also be done with other dogs. Breeding friendly and stable Dogs tends to increase the chances of puppies having the same attitude. Aggressive and overly timid dogs should not be bred. They are dangerous.
Step 4. Check the dog's age
You need to be sure that your dog is of breeding age. Most dogs need about 2 years. Many genetic problems will arise when the dog reaches 24 months of age. You can take it to be seen in certain tests. For example, OFA will not receive an x-ray of the dog until he is 24 months old to evaluate for dysplasia and hip elevation. For successful breeding, your dog will need to be permanently identified in the form of a microchip or tattoo in order to submit test data for evaluation by OFA and other entities. They wanted to make sure there would be no way to falsify test results.
Female dogs begin the heat phase, or estrus cycle, between 6 and 9 months. They experience a phase of lust every 5-11 months after their first cycle. Most breeders don't breed their female dogs until the dogs are 2 years old and have gone through 3 or 4 cycles. This is the point at which the female dog is fully mature. Female dogs are also physically able to withstand the stress of conceiving and giving birth to puppies
Part 3 of 6: Getting Your Dog Checked
Step 1. Take your dog to the vet
Before you breed your dog, you should take your dog for a veterinarian examination. Make sure that your dog is regularly vaccinated. The antibodies from the mother dog will be passed on to the puppies through their milk. These antibodies protect the puppies from disease.
Step 2. Know your dog's medical history
If your dog has an unknown medical problem then this will change your dog's breeding plans. Small dogs have genetic conditions that you'll want to know about before breeding. Puppies are likely to have the same problem, or worse. These problems can include dental problems such as malocclusion, a condition in which the upper and lower jaws do not meet together properly. They can be prone to dislocation of the kneecap, hip or elbow dysplasia, and abnormalities of their spine such as disc rupture. They may also have allergies that cause skin and ear infections, heart failure, eye problems, or behavioral problems.
Make sure that your dog is on a deworming program. Roundworms, hookworms and heartworms can be passed from mother dogs to puppies
Step 3. Perform a healthy breeding test
You should have your animals checked to make sure they are capable of breeding. This may include an analysis of your male dog's sperm. For example, this test can find genetic problems as well as infectious diseases such as Brucellosis. Before mating a male or female dog, Brucellosis testing is recommended to make sure the dog is not a carrier of the disease and can spread it to other dogs.
Part 4 of 6: Starting the Breeding Process
Step 1. Wait until the female dog is in heat
Your female dog will need to go through a heat phase before she can be bred. The time is unknown, so keep an eye on your female dog to find out when the heat is happening. The female dog's genitals will begin to swell and may bleed. If you have a male dog in a nearby kennel, he will be aroused and attracted to the female dog.
- A female dog will not accept a male dog until he is ready to breed. The female dog may even yell at the male dog to walk away until he is ready. Don't let your dog get hurt. Keep an eye on them when they are together.
- Typically, the female will have about a 9-11 day heat cycle and will finally allow the male to mount and mate.
- If you have difficulty finding your female dog ready to breed, your veterinarian can perform a Progesterone test. This helps to know when she is in her estrus cycle and her body is ready to receive male sperm. Progesterone levels will rise 1-2 days before ovulation. Some females will have quiet oestrus cycles which make estrus cycles difficult to detect and Progesterone testing will help pinpoint the timing of ovulation.
Step 2. Consider artificial insemination
Artificial insemination can help you breed your dog if you don't have a stud. Frozen dog semen can be shipped worldwide by being stored in liquid nitrogen. Specific steps are taken to thaw and inseminate it in female dogs. You may want to consider this if your chosen dog mate is not able to breed naturally.
- This can be problematic because it raises questions about potential problems in the next generation of breeding.
- In exceptional cases, semen may be surgically implanted into the female's uterus by a veterinarian with the female under anaesthesia. Of course, this additional procedure increases the cost of each pregnancy and every puppy born.
Step 3. Keep your female dog healthy
When you are sure the female dog has bred, you can separate her from the male. You need to feed him a balanced diet. You can also give him additional vitamins, such as calcium. This is usually recommended by veterinarians.
- This should be done during pregnancy. The gestation period for dogs is 58-68 days.
- Keep the female dog's kennel free from infestations such as fleas. Clean the cage regularly and provide plenty of water and clean blankets.
Step 4. Watch for changes in your female dog
Nipples and mammary glands undergo changes during pregnancy. Towards the end of pregnancy, the mammary glands will begin to fill with milk. During the last three weeks of pregnancy, the dog will need extra nutrition. Discuss proper nutrition with your veterinarian.
Typically, pregnant female dogs eat dog food during the last three weeks of pregnancy. This provides it with sufficient calories and nutrients for the growing fetus and helps prepare it for breastfeeding
Part 5 of 6: Handling Childbirth
Step 1. Prepare the box for delivery
A birthing box is something that will be used to give birth to puppies. This box should be about 15.2 cm longer than the female dog when she is prone, and 30.48 cm or wider. It should have room to prevent the female from lying on top of the puppies after they are born.
Place a layer of plastic sheeting and newspaper under the box. This helps keep it clean when the bottom gets dirty. You just need to pull out a layer of paper and a sheet of plastic, and replace it with a clean one there. Includes clean towels or other bedding that can be easily washed
Step 2. Beware
You must realize when the time to give birth is near. Educate yourself at this level. Once your female pup begins to give birth to puppies, monitor her when even after vigorous contractions for more than 30-45 minutes do not produce puppies. This may indicate complications during delivery.
Taking an x-ray at 45 days of pregnancy will allow your veterinarian to calculate how many fetal skeletons are showing up. It also shows if there are any abnormally large puppies that could be causing problems giving birth. This information will prepare you and your veterinarian for a possible c-section and give you an idea of how many puppies are expected to be born
Step 3. Keep the puppy warm
When puppies are born, you need to keep them warm. You also need to make sure that they are all capable of being cared for. Get them checked for possible birth defects like cleft lip. The roof of the puppy's mouth should be complete, with no evidence of separation of the oral tissues. The female dog will clean the puppy and help the puppy get into a grooming position.
If there is a cleft in the palate, the milk will pass from the mouth to the nose. If the situation is severe enough, the puppies should be euthanized (killed) because they will not survive long
Step 4. Record the birth of the dog
Write down the date of birth, the number of puppies, and the number of each sex. If you plan to register your puppy with an organization like the AKC, you can do so online. You will need the registration numbers of the female and male dogs when filling out the form.
Part 6 of 6: Taking Care of Puppies
Step 1. Monitor the puppies
Watch the puppies carefully for the first few weeks, making sure they are kept clean and warm. Also make sure they are getting enough breast milk. Weigh puppies on a gram scale daily to ensure that they are gaining weight. A healthy puppy should be completely clean, active, and have a filled tummy. Puppies should gain about 10% of their body weight per day for the first 2 weeks of life.
Around 4 weeks, they will start to be very active. The birthing box will no longer fit. Give them a bigger box, a safe cage to explore. Female dogs will likely leave them alone for a considerable amount of time. You can start bathing your puppy with a bucket for puppies at this point
Step 2. Take them to the vet
Take puppies to the vet when they are 7 to 8 weeks old. The vet will give them their first vaccination. These include the Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and Para influenza or DHPP vaccinations. They are also given treatment for worm problems. Lice and heartworm prevention should be discussed.
Check with your vet to check for health problems or other hereditary problems as well. A responsible breeder will provide this information to the new owner of the puppies so that the new family can properly complete the puppy vaccination series during the recommended timeframe
Step 3. Screen the new puppy owners
This process needs to be done with care. You want to make sure that you send the puppy to a suitable home. The new family must be responsible and ready to devote time, energy and resources to this new dog.
Consider a home inspection. Be prepared to reject the family if they are not a good fit for one of your puppies
Step 4. Create a contract
When you find the right dog owner, you have to make a contract with them. Be sure to include any health coverage you provide and any possible limitations of that coverage. Include that the family must return the puppy to you if they are unable to maintain care at all times during the pet's life.
