Breeding dogs... what's your experience?

Question

I'd like to hear some experiences from people out there who breed their dogs. I've been considering getting into it for a while, but most articles come at it with a doomsday perspective. I figure if so many people are doing it... there must be some positive side.

Let's be clear... I'm not currently breeding dogs. I'm trying to be responsible about this. I'm interested in hearing experiences, not preaching on why it's such a bad thing to do this that or another thing.

Answer 1

I personally considered showing and breeding, but upon researching a bit, I decided it was not a good idea. The only real positive involved is bettering, and maintaining, your breed of choice. Otherwise, responsible breeders lose much more than they gain.

It's a 24 hour a day job. First, years of showing, studying and mentoring. Then, once you've actually started to breed, it's 24 hour care for dam and pups. Of course, you have to pay for genetic testing on sire and dam, hip/elbow clearances, and have a vet on call in case complications with labor and delivery arise. Plus the expense of caring for sire and dam (food, shelter, vaccinations, regular check ups) and the wormings, tests, vaccines and check ups for the pups.

But the responsibility doesn't stop there. Most reputable breeders include a clause in their contract that requires the owner of a sold pup to return the pup to the breeder should they not be able to keep it. Every puppy that leaves may be back.....you never know. And, you have to ensure that the dogs go to responsible, good homes. A few breeders I know do home visits, and require references...In addition to everything else, you have to take the time to screen potential owners.

I have a lot of experience with my breed, but even I don't have the time, patience, or money to breed.

Answer 2

Well I can tell you it is A LOT of work! And unless you have Champions you really won't make much money. If you do it do it because you love dogs not for cash. We had two litters that consisted of 11 pups and between blood test, vet visits, puppy pads, food, docking, dew claw removal, 1 cherry eye repair, toys, and other misc expenses that I am sure I am forgetting we cleared maybe 150.00. And I can't even begin to tell you how many hours of hard work it was that was well worth more than the 150.00. All in all I would say it was a positive experience. We were able to find good homes for each of them it took more time than we thought it would though. However, I would say that we got lucky. All of our pups were healthy the moms took very good care of them so there was no threat of losing a pup which would have crushed me emotionally. I didn't have to get up every couple of hours to foster any pups. Neither mom needed an emergeny c-section or anything like that.
Like I said it was for us a positive experience overall. With that said I would never do it again. So we took the 150.00 that we cleared and had our male neutered and will spay the girls shortly. I guess I became aware of how attatched you get to the pups and how it drains you emotionally to have to give them up in the end. I realize there are so many pups that are in the shelters that will be euthanized and the reality is that at least one in 10 pups will be euthanized that means that one of our pups will statistically be put down and by raising them and loving them that is not a statistic I am willing to contribute to again. Another statistic is one in every four dogs will be killed due to cruelty or being hit by say a car. THat means that nearly three more of our pups will likely die violently. Again a tragedy that I could have prevented by having my pups spay/neutered in the first place.
If I ever feel the need to breed again I will instead volunteer at a shelter maybe even foster a pregnant dam and her litter but never again will I breed because I think I am offering the world precious gifts. The world has many gifts already born that I can help raise. HOpe this helps!

Answer 3

I have raised three litters with mostly positive results. I raise and train racing sled dogs and only breed when I need to replace older dogs that are ready to retire from the team. One time I spent $1500 for a stud fee and the litter was only three puppies. Last year I bred two of my own dogs and she had a litter of nine. I had planned to keep three and sell the rest but none of the puppies sold. I did get some calls from interested people but I turned them down. Now I have the work and expense of 16 dogs when I would rather have 10-12. All but one of that litter are good sled dogs but one is not going to make the team. Now I have to find her a home as a house pet. I have learned that it is less expensive to buy dogs than to raise your own. I have some excellent bloodlines on my kennel so I don't regret any breeding that I have done but because of the work and expense I don't have any plans to do It again. Of the 20 puppies born here 19 have turned out to be very good working dogs and all 20 have wonderful personalities.

Answer 4

Most good (responsible/reputable) breeders start out with a pet that they decide to train and show, then they catch the bug. Odds are they first dog wasn't really show quality so they end up doing tons of research and learning about "their" breed. Hopefully along the way they find a mentor to help them. Then they get a dog who is show quality they train it and compete with it. They do the health checks and assuming everything is going as planned they start thinking about breeding because they and others honestly feel that their dog has something to offer the breed. They understand the risks of breeding (potential death of their female and/or the pups), they understand the work involved (staying up all night to whelp the litter and/or care for puppies), they understand that their breed isn't right for everyone and carefully screen their puppy buyers, they understand that no matter how careful they are sometimes placement don't work out (ago I had one puppy buyer call and want to return his almost 5 yr old dog who he'd had since she was 9 wks old because his new girlfriend didn't like her...the dog came back to me and the new girlfriend was gone 2 months later) and they are prepared to take back any puppy they breed and give it a home for life. If they break even they consider themselves as doing well and even if they don't they weren't doing this for money anyway.

The biggest upside to all of this is that you normally make friends with your puppy buyers for life. It is wonderful to get emails with photos of the "pups" and their families and hear about how wonderfully everyone is doing.

Answer 5

My experience is that people that become interested in breeding dogs first instead of developing a reason to breed first never last very long. They breed a couple of litters and decide that it is just to much work to bother with.
Almost without exception long time breeders never started out to be breeders. They had some other interest, hunting, herding, field trials, whatever, and then started breeding in an effort to come up with dogs that were better at what they wanted them to do.

Answer 6

Well, BYBs generally say:
"I love puppies!!!!"
"Dogs deserve to feel the joy of babies."
"Do we run around fixing homeless people? No! Then why do it to the dog?"
"I'm trying to teach my children the miracle of life."
OK, so those are the only "benefits" of a BYB breeding his/her dog.

Benefits for a REPUTABLE breeder breeding:
1) Improves the breed.
2) Brings healthy, sound pups into the world.
3) Improves the dog population in general.
4) Gives champion bitches and studs chances to pass on excellent bloodlines to future generations.

Answer 7

I looked into this also.
The thing that I found out was that you need a lot of money to start up this business and don't get much in return.
Medical, housing, food, etc.
You need to be able to give 100% of your time in this business.
It will take a few years to become a reputable breeder.
I thought that this was going to be a great business to get into, but heard too many downfalls on it.
We love animals, but with us vactioning a lot and then knowing we would have to hire people to take care of the business while we are gone, it soon became not worth it, because you don't get back what you put in it.
Oh, and if you don't sell the puppies, now you have to care for them and as they get older, the chances of you selling them is slim.
:-)

Answer 8

I personally don't breed, but your first step should you decide to do so is to find a mentor in your breed of choice. Contact the club for your breed. Read ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you can possibly read about your breed, breeding, whelping, anatomy, genetics, etc. From what I have heard, the reputable breeders research for YEARS before they even purchase their breeding stock.

Answer 9

I have been raising Australian Cattle Dogs for 5 years now & I can tell you it's very time consuming & expensive with LOTS of heartbreak.

First is health testing which is extremely important. I spend on average around $700cad on each dog/***** for hip, eye & ear testing & DOG forbid they don't pass the test or don't turn out for another reason & you have to start all over (I find them great homes don't worry!!)

I spend an average of $3000 a litter & considering I only have 1 sometimes 2 litters a year, I never break even & don't really care to. There's puppy food for the pregnant momma & then for momma & the pups for 8 weeks. Plus shots, micro-chips, registration, puppy packages, I also test the pups' eyes & ears since ACD's are prone to PRA(blindness) & deafness, newspaper, deworming etc. Don't forget to add in the normal vaccinations & other normal things you spend on the parents as well as showing them. I also breed only when I have enough SERIOUS & deserving people on a waiting list but sometimes things happen & I end up advertising. I am never in a rush as I want to find perfect homes but you would have to be prepared if you have to hang onto a couple pups for extra months. Also, I have a lifetime puppy return as I believe every breeder should take care of their own. Would you be prepared to take care of a couple extra dogs if for certain circumstances, pups come back?

I'm also in the whelping box (yes IN) when the pups are born & I sleep in the same room until they're 4 weeks old until I bring them into the living room permantly & then I sleep on the couch for another 4 weeks. I can tell you my house is a disaster area when I do have a litter & you have to not mind dirt, fur, mud etc.

I stick close to the working ability of ACD's so if you want to breed your chosen breed you have to think whether you want to try to use their heritage. I am always trying to imporve my dogs as well & you have to prepared to shell out for the best. I am in the process of importing a pup to Canada out of some amazing lines in Oz & the pup is going to cost me $1500 & then the shipping cost on top of that.

Speaking of shipping you would have to decide whether you would ship pups or wouldn't. I really don't like shipping & I haven't shipped a pup of mine yet. If I could import my ACD pup from OZ another way I would but it's hard to drive across the ocean. If someone wants one of my pups I usually drive the pup to them if they can't make it to the farm. I have driven 48hrs straight to bring a pup to it;s new home & if I drive to the new owner & I don't like what I see, I WILL turn around & come home. Money isn't everything.

I started to breed because I fell in love with our very first ACD & was disappointed with what I saw around me for pups being produced. No health testing, losing their working ability or bad examples of the breed etc. I researched for a year, got every book I could find on breeding as well as my breed & talked to other ACD breeders as well as any vets.

It's scary. There's so many things that can go wrong with the ***** when she's pregnant or when she does go into labour & the first three weeks after the pups are born I'm extremely paranoid.

The positive side is that I get to enjoy my grandpups as they grow & I get to meet many like minded people at shows & as my puppy owners. I am also happy that when people are looking at an ACD they can come to me for a great dog instead of a puppy miller or BYB & if I do not have pups or my waiting lists are full I will send them to another reputable breeder. There's nothing like puppy breath & soft bodies in your lap lol.

I'm glad you are being responsible but just make sure you do it for the right reasons & start out with the best you can, do all the health testing you can, show if you can & if you are doing everything right, NEVER expect to make a profit!!.

Answer 10

I have no experiance but aren't you paying attention to "NO PUPPY MILLS", "STOP BREEDING DOGS", "ALMOST 75% OF DOGS HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY ABANDON BRED AND HURT". I wasn't trying to yell at you, thats just how they are said or written in things. There is a good side, you get dogs or if you sell them you get money. But you have to pay for food and water for them for a while. And you have to watch them all day fo r a while.