I am looking for information on breeding, How , when, etc..?

Question

I want to breed my Shepherd (I have friends who want puppies) and am trying to find out all I can about the process. It will be a little bit before I am looking to breed seeing as how my pup is only 10 months old and just in her first heat. Any advice anyone has or information would be most apreciated.

Answer 1

I would find books in your library and look online. Make sure all sources you look at, whether it be online or books, be updated within a few years. Personally, I wouldn't trust a lot of information that is coming from people in message boards unless they could prove they have been breeders for quite a while. There are many bad breeding problems that are going around.

That being said...I can't let my personal beliefs be quieted...please only breed her once and then spay her. We have too many animals in shelters.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Tell your friends to adopt a puppy from a shelter, then get your dog fixed. The cost of breeding a dog can get very expensive if there are complications. Plus an unfixed dog in heat can be miserable to live with, from what I hear; constant whining and howling, trying yo get out, not to mention the "dribbling" (and if you don't know what I mean, your in for a nasty suprise on your rug).
Look at it this way: even though you say you have friends who want your dogs hypothetical puppies, if you don't breed your dog, those friends will adopt another dog, hopefully from a shelter, and save a life.
I have worked at an animal shelter. It is devistating to go in the back at the end of the month and see all those great potential pets of all breeds and sizes dead in a pile by the incenerator just because there are not enough homes.
If we could stop all the "casual" breeding (which would be cases like yours, breeding house pets because "puppies are cute") soooo many more of those dogs would find homes.
Please, please, please consider what I have said seriously before you continue with this plan. Thank you.

Answer 3

Listen, lots of people on here will give you a multitude of reasons not to breed and tell you that you need to have your dog proven in the show ring etc. Personally, I agree with all of these people. However, you're probably going to do what you want regardless of what we all say. So, please please please, IF you do this, at the VERY least, have your dogs hips certified by the OFA (orthapedic foundation for animals) (http://www.offa.org/) and if they aren't good or excellent, don't breed. Yes this involves a fee and waiting until your dog is two years old. But, you shouldn't breed before that time anyway and a fee is worth paying to know whether your dog is at an increased risk of hip dysplasia so you can be prepared and if you're going to willingly bring puppies into this world, the least you can do is as much as you can to ensure you won't be breeding puppies pre-disposed to hip dysplasia.

Then, only breed to a male who has also had his hips tested and has scored at least a good or excellent. Be sure to meet the dog several times and interact with him to get a feel for his temperament. To be safe, either do artificial insemination or take your dog and the male to a vet to have them bred. The last thing you want is to get hurt or have your dog hurt during the process since they are big dogs.

Next, as others have said do LOTs of reading, talk to your vet, vet techs and others who have experience breeding dogs. Be prepared. Be prepared to step in and help your dog during the process if need be and be prepared to spend some money on x-rays, good quality food for your dog and her puppies, vaccinations, de-worming, possible emergency trips to the vet, a good whelping box with pig rails, extra towels, blankets, toys, paper, play pens etc.

Answer 4

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

1.Not all dogs are built to be bred.

Most pets, although lovable, are not of breeding quality because they have genetic defects and other problems that should not be perpetuated. People who breed dogs for a living are very careful about choosing which dogs they will breed together based on physical characteristics and behavior. Some people decide that it would be fun to breed and just start looking for a dog that has the proper equipment and is willing. This can be a huge mistake.

2. There are already too many dogs in the world.

Breeding your pet is a serious endeavor and should not be taken lightly. There are far too many pets that end up in shelters without good homes. If your breed of dog has large litters, what will you do if you are unable to sell the puppies? Do you really want to contribute to the massive problem of pet overpopulation?

3. Dogs that aren’t neutered face serious health risks.

Consider your dog’s own health. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to be hit by cars, because unaltered males have a very strong urge to roam and find a fertile female. Male dogs will go over or under fences, through doors and windows, and will pull leashes out of unsuspecting hands in quest of a mate.

Additionally, neutering greatly reduces the incidence of prostatic disease and eliminates testicular cancer in males, and cuts down on breast cancer in females. The possibility of uterine infections is also eliminated by spaying.

4. Female dogs used for breeding may have unwelcome visitors.

If you spay your dog, you will not have to chase persistent male dogs out of your yard. Also, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up messy heat cycles.

5. Be prepared to work like a dog when your pet goes into labor.

Many people do not realize just how much work and expense is involved with letting dogs have puppies. Getting the mother through pregnancy is the easy part, but labor is truly laborious for dog and owner alike. Dogs usually decide to have their puppies at the most inconvenient times, like 2:00 in the morning when veterinary hospitals are closed.

If your pet develops a problem during delivery, it means at least the expense of an emergency call. If the complications are life threatening, you must be prepared, especially if you have a breed of dog that has a broad head like a pug, to pay for an emergency C-section. It is very distressing to have to leave home in the middle of the night, worry about your pet, get a large veterinary bill and then try to explain to your boss why you cannot possibly come to work the next day.

6. It can be devastating when the puppies die.

There is always the prospect of the loss of some or all of the puppies. A neonatal mortality rate of 10 to 30 percent is considered normal. And, it’s easy to lose a puppy if you don’t have the experience or knowledge to care for newborns. Because puppies are not able to regulate their own body temperature initially, you may need to supplement their environment with heat.

7. Not all dogs make the best mothers.

If your female doesn’t have enough milk to feed all its puppies, or decides that feeding her offspring is not her cup of tea, it will be your responsibility to provide them with nutrition every three to four hours, round the clock. And how many mouths are there to feed?

Another aspect of puppy care that you can look forward to if your dog wants nothing to do with her brood is the manual stimulation of urination and defecation. Until puppies are three weeks old they will only void if directly stimulated. If mom isn’t doing this, you will need to take a moistened cotton ball and gently rub the urogenital area until the babes begin to urinate and pass stool. Failure to do this can result in some pretty unhappy puppies.

8. Good luck seeing a profit!

Your last responsibility before they go to a new home is to have them dewormed, vaccinated, and examined by a veterinarian. You will want to make sure that you have budgeted a sufficient amount for this purpose. Needless to say, if you decide to breed mixed breed puppies, you have no opportunity to recoup this expense.

Puppies are a lot of fun and it can be very exciting when they are born, but more often than not, owners find themselves in over their heads when they decide to endeavor into breeding.

Article republished here with permission from VetCentric.com
Copyright(c) 2000 by VetCentric.com

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

It depends on whether or not you want a purebred. Females can have puppies at any time after they are considered fully grown. You should do research on it, because there are dangers in breeding. If a dog is bred too much, it will have problems with the uterus and possibly develop diseases. You also need to make sure she is bred with a healthy male and know where the male came from to get healthy puppies, and the mother will get no transmitted illnesses.

Answer 6

responsable breder spend many years researching the bred and selecting the best dogs to breed to. The hips are certified the eyes are checked and certified. Dogs are not bred just for the fun of it. Is you dog in perfect health and has he or she had the hips certified what is the rating do you want to pass on defects to the pups???

Answer 7

People will always tell you that they want your theoretical puppies. Once those puppies become a reality, things change real quick. There's this or that reason why we can't have a puppy right now etc etc etc. If you have friends who really want German Shepherd puppies, please direct them to http://www.petfinder.com and tell them to find a GSD who needs rescued in your area.

And spay your dog.

Answer 8

yea DONT BREED. u put the pup n her puppies in danger. GET BOOKS is ma advice.....i haf bred my doggie but i didnt regret but alotta ppl do....so watch wat u do