Considerations Prior to Breeding

Breeding a litter should begin with knowledge and passion. Without true passion and the desire to do what is right, the breeder will not have a desire to learn their chosen trade.  Without accurate knowledge,  a breeder isn't much of a breeder.  Responsible breeders devote an enormous amount of time  learning as much as they can about their breed/s, (they don’t just take someone else’s word for it) about the health issues that can occur with their chosen breed/s  and try to adhere to the  breed standard of their chosen animals.  Many breeders are judged based upon their knowledge of their chosen trade, and if a breeder is going to be taken seriously in their chosen trade, they should become as knowledgeable as possible in all aspects of breeding.  There is more to breeding than just pairing up 2 dogs together.   A breeder must have many elements to bring to the table if they are going to be respected as a breeder and taken seriously in their chosen trade.   Breeding can be very  expensive and time consuming, as well as  heartbreaking.  So, only those truly  dedicated to their animals should attempt breeding. Breeding is NOT about making money or showing little Johnny or Sara the facts of life.  There is an enormous amount of responsibility to the animals that are bred.  If you don't have the time, funds, experience or desire…Don't breed.

Responsible breeders do not live off of the dogs they produce. At least the majority of them do not.  Some do (especially if they have no other source of income and many dogs to breed and sell each year).  It's pretty easy to tell who lives off of their dogs and who does not.  Many people have their assumptions backwards when it comes to breeders who profit and breeders who breed for hobby. The majority of breeders (the respectable ones breeding for the right reasons) lose more money than they earn just based on the enormous expenses that come about from breeding and caring for their animals. 

Responsible breeders do not breed their dogs  just to produce cute little babies.  They know that each of those cute babies will require many hours of care, and must be eventually  placed with a responsible owner who will continue that care even when the cuteness is over.  That does NOT mean that responsible breeders should not be paid to help reimburse them for  their expenses and costs of providing quality dogs to those who seek them. Breeding is an actual trade.   Breeders have every right to receive compensation, however small,  for all the time, hard work and  effort put forth (including appropriate health testing). It is inconceivable for anyone to believe they have a right to obtain a pet from a breeder and the breeder  not be paid a fee for all their hard work. Those who seek pets would never be able to afford a pet from a breeder  if the breeder charged them an actual "wage" plus the price of the pet. Many people focus on what a breeder charges for their puppy but fail to forget what the breeder may have already invested before their litter was ready to be sold.

Responsible breeders do not breed unless they are convinced that  their knowledge, experience, and devotion to their favorite breed will result in a mating that will produce a quality litter others can enjoy,   with qualities that are as near as possible to the ideal for that specific breed. Good breeders  breed to preserve and to enhance the characteristics that make their breed unique.  In short, good breeders breed  to provide quality pets to quality homes who seek them, and potential breeding stock to further the breed.  Good breeders have a basic concept of canine genetics, understanding the concept of basic genetics and learn from the litters they create.  Each litter is a learning experience.  [And no one ever knows it all, no matter how long they have been breeding or how many litters they have had.]

A responsible breeder will examine their created  animal carefully, recognize its flaws and, if they decide to continue with the breeding process,  look for a mate that will eliminate or balance those flaws. A responsible breeder always strives to improve their chosen breed. This is not an over-night process.  Learning about a chosen breed can take years.   A responsible breeder is well aware of the enormous task they have taken on and know  that there is always room for improvement.

Responsible breeders know that raising animals is a full-time job, and that  at birth the breeder becomes  the surrogate mother/father. During the first  couple of weeks the female normally takes care of the babies' needs,  but complications, such as the mother being  unable to feed or perhaps she may have a  lack of nurturing, may require the breeder to step up and be a full time surrogate . If you thought being tired from caring for an infant was alot to go through,  try caring for a litter of 9 or more puppies every couple of hours, around the clock.  Yes! This can and does happen on occasion to breeders.  Bottle feeding each puppy may become a necessity until they learn how to eat solid foods on their own.  It is the breeder's responsibility to provide a safe, warm, clean, dry place for the babies they create as well as provide proper food, care  and water for the mother.

Responsible breeders recognize that once weaning begins, they then become even more of a challenge for the breeder.  There is deworming, vaccinating,  extra feeding, cleanup, grooming, potty training, and veterinary care that takes up every ounce of energy the breeder has.  Let's not forget that all of the above requires money.  It is NOT cheap to care for a litter of puppies.   A litter's needs add up to a lot of hours, which leave very little  free time for the breeder. If you are not up for this sort of challenge, don't take on this type  of responsibility.

Responsible breeders know that their personal lives may be placed on hold when they have puppies that need cared for. That means, less time for personal friend, no vacations, and no long distance trips (unless you are taking your pups with you).

Another factor that a responsible breeder has to consider  is the financial burden that comes with  breeding.  Breeding is not a profit making activity.  However, the reality is that some breeders are commercial breeders, unloading the entire litter, without any concern or well being for their animal, to a pet store for a fraction of what they would get if they took the time to keep the litter and sell them individually to families.  A commercial breeder cuts costs as much as possible. 

Genetic screening (if available),  health testing  before breeding if necessary,  the extra food, supplies, and medical care required after the babies are born… the costs of birth and raising babies can be very high, especially if  complications arise. These costs are rarely, if ever, recouped by the sale of a puppy if breeding is done properly and for the right reasons.   Responsible breeders also consider the fact they may have puppies stay with them longer than expected for a variety of reasons, which will further increase out of pocket expenses and costs.

Select a Breeding Pair:  A good breeder will have a basic concept of canine genetics.  Selecting only healthy dogs and understanding/recognizing any potential health issues previously displayed in within the lines for breeding is of utmost importance.  Some breeders believe that testing the parent dogs will prevent their offspring from having genetic issues.  However, despite the best of intentions, screening parent dogs does not always prevent offspring from developing a genetic issue or inherited malady sometime during their life.  Having each individual offspring screened and tested is the only proven method of knowing whether or not the individual dog itself has issues.   If it were true that parent dogs who were evaluated and tested prior to breeding would prevent offspring from ever having a health issue,  our world would be full of perfect dogs.   The truth is, genetic testing still has many, many years before breakthroughs can help us as a canine owner and breeder.  Many people believe the parent dogs are responsible for issues that occur with the offspring when in fact, even with humans, offspring can inherit traits that may have occurred generations before them.  Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Genetic  diseases can occur with all breeds.  We never fully know why some dogs become ill at a young age with a serious health issue when others do not.  However, nurture plays just as important a role as nature.  

A responsible breeder will take the time to understand any and  all possible genetic defects of the potential breeding stock and their ancestors. Finding out what genetic issues ancestors had can be very difficult, but is not impossible with thorough and diligent research.  A responsible breeder is also aware that genetic testing will NOT prevent created offspring from having genetic issues and do not use such testing as a tactic to sell their puppies.  While a breeder may take all the appropriate steps possible, sometimes issues with offspring can still occur.

Responsible breeders recognize that just because an animal has become fertile, it does not mean that they have reached sexual maturity. A  responsible breeder will research their breed to find out when it is  the right time to consider breeding and consult with their veterinarian to see if their animal is a good candidate for breeding before a litter is produced. Dogs and bitches can and should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases prior to breeding, dependent on the circumstances.

After Breeding.   Once pregnancy is confirmed, the responsible breeder  will talk with their vet about special feeding requirements and about what to expect  during pregnancy, labor, and after birth responsibilities.  The inexperienced breeder will want to  be briefed on how to  recognize and respond to an emergency should one arise.  A basic concept in first aide is a must.  A good breeder will take a course in first aide.  This can usually be done by contacting the Red Cross Society.  For a small fee,  a breeder can learn basic first aide.  While training is for humans,  you would be surprised at how this type of training can save the life of your dog.  Unless your vet lives around the block or next door,  time is of essence during an emergency!  Having some training in basic first aide can keep your dog alive while it is enroute to your vet during an emergency situation.   A responsible breeder will  never attempt to provide complicated  medical care to an animal if their animal is in need of immediate  professional vet care.  Minor issues can be taken care of by the breeder just as a parent would their child.

A responsible breeder will feed their animals raw/BARF or premium pet food, not just during times of pregnancy but throughout the life of the animal. If you have been feeding your female a well-balanced, high-quality diet, you should not need to add anything during her pregnancy. However, some breeders advocate supplementation with a protein source such as evaporated milk, eggs or meat.

Birth.  A responsible breeder will help the female give birth and make sure  that all of the placental membranes are accounted for and the puppies come into a warm clean environment. If the female neglects to remove a placental membrane or sever an umbilical cord, the breeder will step in and do what is necessary including rubbing the puppies down  with a towel for stimulation. A responsible breeder knows that they may have to provide CPR on a newborn puppy and will take the time learning this procedure.  Some puppies may require the breeder to actually step in and clean fluid from its nostrils and mouth with a small suction device.  Having all of  the necessary tools of your trade is essential before you get started. Start up fees can be very costly.

A responsible breeder will help the puppies  learn to suckle,   including  attaching them to the nipple immediately after birth. The mother’s colostrum contains maternal antibodies which are produced in the mammary glands just after birth. Colostrum helps the newborn puppy fight infection in their early days, while their own immune systems mature. A responsible breeder knows they may have to provide bottle feedings and sleep next to their newly created litter if the need arises.  Be prepared for many nights without sleep.

A responsible breeder will watch their puppies  and check up on them at least once every two hours for a 48 hour period during their first few days of life. The responsible breeder recognizes the requirement that their vet be contacted if there are:

Indications of extreme pain

Strong contractions lasting for more than 45 minutes without delivery of a puppy

More than three hours elapsing between babies with or without contractions

Trembling, shivering, or collapse

Passing a dark green or bloody fluid before the birth of the first baby (after the first baby, this is normal)

No signs of labor by the time the puppies  are past due

A responsible breeder brings the mother and the newborns for a veterinary check should the need arise, while a check within 24 hours (to ensure there are not retained puppies or placentas) is recommended.

A responsible breeder knows that puppies cannot moderate and maintain their own body temperature for the first four weeks and is attentive to the immediate environmental temperature so as to not compromise the health of the puppies.  Chilling will stress the baby and predispose it to infectious disease; overheating can kill it. The environmental temperature can be controlled with a well-insulated electric heating

pad or a heat lamp. A responsible breeder knows they may have to provide round the clock heating or cooling which  will increase their costs and expenses.

Responsible breeders will hand feed puppies if their mother is either unable or unwilling to nurse them and knows the best quality replacement milk (either commercially or homemade, or natural sources for replacement milk).

A responsible breeder knows that steady weight gain and well-formed feces are the best evidence of satisfactory progress. If diarrhea develops, a breeder will immediately

reduce the baby’s intake to half the amount previously fed, then gradually increase it again to the recommended level. Diarrhea in newborns can be very dangerous, so consult a veterinarian for advice.  If diarrhea occurs, a supplement like pedialyte (or something similar) can be helpful to stave off dehydration.

A responsible breeder never prepares more formula than is required for any one day, because milk is a medium for bacterial growth. A breeder will maintain sanitary conditions at all times. Before feeding a responsible breeder will warm the formula to about 100 degrees or near body temperature and hold the bottle at an angle to prevent air bubbles. A responsible breeder will consult a veterinarian if the puppies are not nursing well or any condition for concern remains for more than 12 hours.

If the mother is either unwilling or unable, a responsible breeder will stimulate the newborn to defecate and urinate after each feeding. Ordinarily the mother's licking provides this stimulation, but orphaned (or compromised) puppies will need human intervention. Gentle body massage is also beneficial for any hand-reared newborn. The best time for a massage seems to be when the newborns are waking up, while you're

waiting for the formula to get warm.

Finding Homes

A responsible breeder tries their best to  makes sure that every single puppy  goes to an owner who will provide it with the same love and devotion for the  life of the dog. While we do not live with a crystal ball, a responsible breeder will implement a canine application as a way to learn something about the prospective dog owner. A canine application is a good way to make a  careful screening and evaluation of each person or family interested in getting a puppy.  A good breeder  ensures  such families completes  a puppy application for review as well as sends in a deposit or payment for one of the puppies.

A responsible breeder knows the dangers of allowing people to handle their newborn puppies and know NOT to place their puppies at risk from canine communicable diseases by allowing the general public to handle each puppy before they are ready to go to their new home.   A responsible breeder will do as much as they possibly can by protecting their new litters from canine communicable diseases.

A responsible breeder  learns everything they  can about their chosen  breed and profession, and they should know the pros and cons of owning the dogs they create. It's important to share this information to prospective buyers, including the negative and positive aspects of canine ownership or with the breed. You should be ready to explain why a pet requiring a lot of  coat care or training is not the best match for someone who does not have alot of time on their hands,  or why a tiny pet may not be appropriate for a family with small, active children. A good breeder is  absolutely committed to  placing their puppies only in homes they believe will provide excellent care to the purchased pet.  A responsible breeder does not allow people to have contact with their young puppies just so they can watch them play or to see if they are "allergic" or to handle them just because they are "cute".

A good breeder  has the responsibility to encourage each buyer at having their puppy vet checked.  A good breeder will offer a heath care guarantee of at least one year for genetic defects.  A responsible breeder registers their litter so that the owners can have proof of ownership for their purchased pet.  A good breeder will not provide the registration papers to the buyer until the buyer has shown that their purchased pet has been spayed or neutered, unless the pet has been purchased specifically for breeding.  If the pet has been purchased specifically for breeding,  a responsible breeder will ensure that the buyer is an experienced breeder or one who has demonstrated a knowledge of or willingness to learn all they can about the breed they have purchased.  A good breeder will also  provide the new owners with vaccination/health records, feeding instructions,  copies of any health or genetic tests completed (if any were completed)  on the purchased pet  as well as a copy of the sales/purchase  agreement and spay/neuter contract.  A responsible breeder always has important documents to provide to the new owners of one of their puppies at the time the puppy is ready to go.

Commit Yourself to the dogs you create.

Responsible breeders know that their responsibility doesn't end when their puppies leave with new owners. While they make sure the families know they can turn to them with any questions or problems that arise throughout the pet’s lives, the breeder  may NOT always have  a solution or answer for every single possible issue that may arise at sometime during the life of the purchased pet.   A responsible breeder should, however, be able to point them in the right direction to help the family find their solution.  Buyers must take full responsibility for their purchased pet once it leaves the breeder. While many people believe that a breeder is responsible for every issue that may pop up in the life of a buyers'  purchased pet, it is not even reasonable to assume this notion.

As a breeder, you will be gratified by phone calls, emails and letters describing your puppy's  first teeth, birthday parties, and other milestones. You'll be thrilled to receive photos of  the puppy  fitting in his/her new homes. As a breeder, you also need to be prepared for the bad news. Not every buyer will take full responsibility for their purchased pet. Not every buyer will follow your recommended advice.  Some buyers just can't be assisted no matter how hard you try.  Some buyers are very unreasonable in their demands or opinions as to what a breeder should or should not do for them. All breeders, at some point in their profession of breeding will receive occasional bad news regarding a dog they have created. There is no such thing as a perfect breeder, regardless of how hard the breeder might try to be.  A RESPONSIBLE breeder requires the buyer to provide to them  important documentation to include x-rays, testing information and all lab work for a second opinion from their personal vet should they contact the breeder for bad news on a related  health issue.  Not all health issues occur from a genetic standpoint. Sometimes the buyer themselves has caused a health issue to occur either knowingly or unknowingly.   A responsible breeder is NOT responsible to owners who do not comply with this requirement, nor are they responsible to assist unreasonable buyers.

As a breeder, you should try to  be there with advice and support for a variety of  situations if at all possible.  You must  try to answer questions and  try to provide resources to your buyers, if possible.  Breeders do not always have all of the answers even though many believe they should.

A responsible breeder NEVER sells their litters to a pet store or pet shop or to a commercial breeder. Responsible breeders are private breeders, not commercial breeders who sells their litters to pet shops. Ensuring each puppy's quality of life is a good breeders' main concern, from the moment they decide to breed to the day the puppy dies - ideally of  old age, after a long, happy, fulfilling life.

Let's discuss what a responsible breeder IS NOT responsible for:

A responsible breeder IS NOT responsible to a customer who  HAS NOT followed the breeder's contractual agreement, their purchase  policy, or to those who do not follow the breeder's  guidelines. Just as there are bad breeders,  there are bad dog  owners. Just as there are neglectful breeders,  there are neglectful dog owners.  Just as there are irresponsible breeders,  there are irresponsible dog/puppy owners.  Just as there are uneducated breeders,  there are uneducated puppy/dog owners. Just as there are breeders who are out to rip off a customer,  there are customers out to rip off a breeder.

While some people become disgruntled and turn on a breeder when a breeder's policy  is NOT favorable to the owner,  a responsible breeder does not change their policy and beliefs just to win favoritism in the eyes of the general public or the buyer. A good breeder will have a policy in place and will enforce their policy without prejudice and with complete conviction.

Some people believe that a responsible breeder is responsible for every aspect of their puppy or dog's life and a responsible breeder IS NOT responsible for every aspect of a customers' puppy or dog's life.

A responsible breeder must make many important decisions through-out their profession  of breeding.  A responsible breeder can NOT make decisions based on public polls of what the public  believes  is correct or incorrect. A responsible breeder does  NOT change his or her belief system to win over radical dog owners or buyers.   A responsible breeder must make important decisions that allows them to continue doing what it is they believe in doing.  A responsible breeder BELIEVES in doing  the best job they can  and they believe in the importance of their job.  A responsible breeder SHOULD NOT change their beliefs  based on the public's idea of what a breeder ought or ought not do. A responsible breeder has hard working values and they are dedicated to their puppies and dogs first.

A responsible breeder knows that their puppies and dogs come first and their customer comes second, with the general public coming in third.   A responsible breeder knows that they can not make everyone happy all of the time and while some of their decisions may be unfavorable to the general public or some of their customers,  they do know their decisions are the correct ones to make and they stand by the decisions made.  A responsible breeder does not change their policy based on what the general public believes is correct or incorrect.  A responsible breeder upholds their promises made to their customers.

A responsible and professional  breeder is aware they may have enemies among their profession due to jealousy, envy or spiteful behavior amongst their peers or disgruntled customers,    A responsible breeder and professional breeder knows how hard their profession is and know that they are not always seen in the brightest of light.

A responsible breeder would NEVER USE A CANINE FORUM AS A METHOD of bad mouthing their fellow breeders or as a method of making a profit by bad mouthing their fellow breeders.  A professional breeder does NOT allow this sort of behavior to occur if they operate a forum regarding the breed they are creating.  A responsible and professional breeder will discourage such behavior inside of their forums and DO NOT tolerate this sort of behavior.  A responsible breeder DOES NOT OPERATE THEIR FORUM as a sort of KANGEROO COURT ROOM.

And what I believe to be most important:  A responsible breeder will be honest, moral and ethical in EVERYTHING having to do with their dogs and breeding program and truthful in presenting the breed for what it is and isn't.  A responsible breeder does not do things to receive accolades and recognition from anyone.