Want to Become A Dog Breeder?

Do you have a special place in your heart for 1 particular dog breed? If so, you may want to devote yourself to improving that breed. Many times, this involves working with dogs from a particular bloodline to produce specific traits that will be passed down through future generations. This, of course, means becoming a dog breeder.

Requirements for Dog Breeding

There are just a few requirements for becoming a dog breeder. You will need to own an un-neutered female dog or 2 -- dogs with no major flaws. In most states, you do not even need to register your kennel if you only have 2 or 3 adult dogs. However, being a good dog breeder is more complicated.

Showing Dogs Before Breeding

Some breeders will show their dogs to try to win a championship before breeding them. This not only raises the value of the dog's future puppies, it also lets you network with people who know the most about the breed.

Even if your dog does not get a championship, a few lesser wins will make dog exhibitors take you more seriously. This is important, because if 1 of these exhibitors has a dog with traits that would balance out any of your dogs flaws, you have a good chance of breeding the 2 dogs to make show-quality puppies.

Naming Your Kennel

If you are going to breed dogs for many years, you may want to choose a kennel name. You should register your kennel name with the American Kennel Club. Most breeders with a kennel name require any of the puppies they produce to carry this kennel name, since this is an excellent form of promotion for that kennel.

Even if your state does not require it for 1 or 2 dogs, you may want to get a kennel permit. After all, you will want to keep a few puppies to continue your bloodline, and eventually you will need a permit. Since 1 neighbor's objection can cause the state to refuse you the permit, it is better to get the permit before you become attached to your puppies, rather than afterwards.

Choosing A Male For Breeding

When you breed your dog for the first time, you should look for a male dog that belongs to an experienced dog breeder. Not all dogs fall in love at first sight, and you only have a few days to successfully breed your dog before she goes out of heat. An experienced breeder knows how to introduce the dogs to each other and how to help them breed successfully.

Pre-Natal Care

Once your dog has been bred, you will need to take her to the veterinarian for at least 1 pre-natal visit. Your vet will let you know if she needs to be seen again. If you want to know how many puppies to expect, the vet can make a guess by feeling your dog's belly, or you can find out exactly with an x-ray or ultrasound.

Be sure to ask your vet ahead of time how you should prepare for the birthing process. Some breeds must deliver by C-section, while others rarely have problems. Don't forget to buy pre-natal vitamins to keep your dog healthy.

To-Do List

When the delivery day grows near, prepare a quiet spot for your dog to deliver. You will want to have a whelping box, clean rags, a heating pad and the vet's emergency number on hand. You can buy a whelping box, but it is easy to make 1 of your own. The important thing is to be sure you put a small ledge in the box a few inches from the bottom to avoid having your dog accidentally crush the babies between her body and the box sides.

Once you see those adorable puppies crawling around, you will realize that the hard part is still to come -- sending these little fuzz balls off to new homes.

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