What to Know About Dog Breeding for Beginners (Pasadena, MD)

Breeding your dog can be very exciting, and having puppies in your home can be a delight. There are some things that every dog owner should know before breeding their dog, however. You will be better prepared if you know what to expect when you breed your dog, and the puppies and mother will benefit from your increased knowledge.

Be aware that breeding is time-consuming and can be heartbreaking. Sometimes puppies pass away, and there is always added risk to the mother during pregnancy. Be prepared for these possible complications before you choose to breed your dog. You will want to be realistic about these factors before you take on the job of breeding and raising a litter of puppies.

What Beginner Dog Breeders Need to Know

If you are reading to learn some more about dog breeding for beginners, you need to read on!

1.      Research

The first thing that you need to do is research the breeding process and look at various dogs that you might want to breed too. You will need to be sure that you can register the puppies if that is your goal, and you will want to be positive that you are not going to be breeding to a dog with lots of recessive traits. Researching the right breeding dog to pair with your female dog is critical to the health and personality of the litter that you will create.

You can reach out to various breeders about their dogs, attend dog shows, and ask to come to meet stud dogs before you breed your female dog. You will want to feel confident that you are going to have the best chance of creating a healthy litter of puppies that can easily be placed in homes and succeed in life. Breeding blindly based on your first choice is almost never a good idea.

2.      Consider Your Time

Raising puppies is a lot of work. If you have a full-time job, you will likely not have time to care for a litter of puppies. You will need to be sure that someone can take care of the puppies for you if you cannot. Your female dog will need lots of supervision and care to be sure she is eating and drinking enough, and the puppies will need to be cared for as well. Puppies are very rewarding to raise, but they do take a lot of time and energy.

As the puppies grow, they will need more space to move around in, and you will need to wean them from their mother. You will then have a lot more dogs to care for, and you need to be sure that you have the space and time for these older puppies until they find homes. Making sure that you have time for a litter of puppies is one of the most critical steps that must be taken before committing to taking this task on.

3.      Perform Breeding Health Checks

Many people are not aware that the stud dog and the bitch will need to be checked for good health before breeding should take place. There are many things that can be overlooked if this is not done, and uterine health issues or overall poor health can lead to an abortion of the litter. The stud dog will also need to be certified to be free of illnesses and diseases that could impact the health and survival of the litter. You will want to be sure that you and the breeder agree that these steps are taken before any breeding contract is arranged.

Taking care of the health of your breeding dog means making sure that you and the breeder that owns the stud dog are responsible for the health of the parents before the breeding ever takes place. This is a critical step that must not be missed if you want a good chance for a healthy litter.

4.      Provide the Right Food for Your Dog

Pregnant dogs need to be fed differently than dogs that are not going to be having babies. You will need to feed your bitch more as her weight increases. This increased feeding plan should start about five weeks before she whelps. She will need this extra food to provide for her puppies before and after they are born.

Work with your veterinarian to create a feeding plan if you have never cared for a bitch near her whelping time. You might need to change to a different kibble and add evaporated milk, eggs, liver, or other meats. The supplements that you do add should never account for more than 10% of her daily diet, however. You will also need to plan to feed your bitch additional food while she is nursing her puppies so that she will not run out of milk.

Breeding Dogs Can be Very Rewarding

Breeding dogs can be a very rewarding thing to do. You will get the joy of creating puppies that you can get started in life and then share with others, and you might choose to keep some of the puppies for yourself. Breeding needs to be done carefully and with attention to detail, however, so that there is no risk to the health of the litter or the bitch. Make sure as well that you do your research before you select a breeding male to pair with your dog.

Caring for puppies can be a lot of work, so you will need to be sure that you are prepared for this job and have the time to take care of the litter. You will need to have the space necessary to house this many animals until the puppies find homes as well. If you believe that you are prepared for the process of breeding your dog and raising puppies, you will be embarking on a journey that is very enjoyable. Breeding dogs can create lasting memories that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.

To partner with the veterinarians at Lake Shore Pet Hospital for reproductive services call (410) 317-2028 or book an appointment online.