Dog Breeding Can Be Rewarding If Operated Well
Dog breeding is similar to any other trade you get back what you put into it. If you produce high-quality dogs that are at the top of their breed, then you will be rewarded financially as well as becoming a world-renowned breeder. However, becoming a reputable breeder is no easy feat and there are many pitfalls that are easy to fall in to try to save money and earn a profit faster. But if this is the mindset you are taking, in the end, you will be at a loss with a bad name in the breeding community and a litter of poorly bred pups that may not be able to be homed costing you more in the long run.
That it is why it is vital to create a good breeding program initially and stick to it, even if there is a temptation to cut corners on food or vet visits. In the long run, it will be worth as you will slowly build up a name as a reputable breeder with well-cared-for animals. Breeding is not just finding two dogs of the same breed and allowing them to mate; it is a science. You will need to be available to research bloodlines for generations back, looking for things like genetic health issues, temperament flaws, and whether or not the line of females had been able to give birth naturally or had C-sections. Once you find the correct dogs to breed and have had them checked by a vet and have built up your knowledge about their genetic pool, you will be ready to breed them. The mating may not happen the first time and on occasion can take weeks or months until it results in a successful breeding and pregnancy.
After the mating and the birth, the fun starts as you will now have a litter of puppies to look after as well as your own dogs and bitch. To become a reputable breeder and to be rewarded for it, it is vital to put each individual dog first, as this, in turn, will put their bloodline first and improve their breed in the long run. This is the goal of any reputable breeder. Yet, this is no easy task as once the puppies arrive, they will need to be health checked, wormed, declawed etc and many puppies need to be bottle fed which can be very time-consuming especially if you are only breeding part-time. The puppies will then need to be trained and socialized so that they can be placed in loving owners home who you should interview and research thoroughly so that you know that will be going to responsible dog owners such as yourself.
If you do breed in this responsible manner, soon you will begin to make a name for yourself in the breeding community as producing well-cared for healthy and happy dogs. Such dogs at the highest standard of their bloodline will eventually earn you a profit. As you can see, this generally does not happen quickly! It can be a long process but, as a breeder, it is your job to stand your grounds and build the best kennel name ever by treating your litters right and doing all the health checks possible and then this, in turn, will create a well-earned profit.
Step Four – Choose a Suitable Mate
The first thing to consider when choosing a mating pair is to ensure that both the sire (or male dog) and dam (bitch, or female dog) are AKC registered. If both dam and sire are AKC registered, then the litter is eligible to be registered with the AKC.
When selecting a breeding partner (most likely a sire for your dam), there is a simple principle to bear in mind: mate animals that complement one another. Choose a dog whose bloodlines will strengthen your bitch’s weaknesses and emphasize her good qualities. For example, if your bitch’s coat is not as good as it might be, then find a partner with a good coat, from a line of dogs with good coats. Of course, practicing this common sense maxim can be very complex because you must weigh all the factors that contribute to the dogs’ traits and appearances. This is an area where research and the advice and experience of other breeders are invaluable.
Two vital factors to keep in mind as you make your selection are temperament and health.
Temperament is a hereditary trait in dogs, although it can be influenced by other external factors. Selection over many generations eventually produced breeds with the correct temperament to pull sleds, follow scent on trails, or retrieve game. The inheritance factors of temperament are complex. However, you should never consider breeding a dog with a questionable temperament.
As far as health goes, you should be aware that dogs are subject to many hereditary defects, some of which are potentially crippling or fatal. If you breed, your goal should be to produce dogs that are not affected by the major known hereditary diseases occurring in your breed.
Step Five – Know Your Genetics
To be an effective and responsible dog breeder, you should have a basic understanding of the science of genetics. Everything about your prospective puppies’ health, soundness, looks, and temperament will be determined by the genes passed on by their parents, and by their parents before them. Therefore, the selection of a mating pair should not be made solely on the basis of the dog’s or bitch’s looks (or temperament or soundness, etc.), but should be based on an understanding of how the animal’s genes contributed to its looks and of how those genes are passed on and expressed. That is why it is essential to study the pedigrees of your mating pair. The more knowledge you have as you make your selection, the more likely you are to produce a litter with the qualities you desire.
You should also be well-versed in the genetic problems that affect your breed. Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Some genetic diseases may occur in many breeds; others occur in only one or a few breeds.
Diseases that follow a dominant pattern of inheritance need only one abnormal gene. That is, if only one parent is affected, the condition will show up in each successive generation. Some individuals may be only mildly affected with the condition, making it difficult to detect. In such cases, the condition can mistakenly be thought to skip generations.
Diseases that follow a recessive pattern of inheritance occur in homozygous individuals, meaning dogs with two abnormal genes. Dogs with one mutant and one normal gene are heterozygous, and they are carriers of the condition. They appear normal but can pass the abnormal gene to their offspring. Recessive mutant genes can be passed through many generations before emerging in the offspring of two dogs that carry the same genetic mutation.
Polygenic disorders result from the cumulative action of a number of different genes. The exact number of genes involved and their individual functions are difficult to determine, and the pattern of inheritance tends to vary from family to family. Polygenic inheritance can sometimes mimic either dominant or recessive inheritance, and this feature may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the type of underlying genetic abnormality.
Chromosomal anomalies — defects in chromosome number and structure — can also cause genetic diseases. Dogs normally have 39 pairs of chromosomes on which genes are located. Major abnormalities in chromosome number and structure can produce serious defects.