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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BREEDING YOUR DOG

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-by the Sacramento (CA) Council of Dog Clubs . FACTS: We think it is extremely important to learn the facts  and possible consequences in advance if you are contemplating breeding your dog.  In today's overcrowded world, we, the  wardens of our domestic pets, must make responsible decisions for them and for ourselves. The following points should be  reviewed carefully:  . QUALITY - AKC registration is NOT an indication of quality.  The AKC (AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB) is the only American registry that is recognized around the world, don't be fooled by  pieces of paper saying the dog is registered. Most dogs, even  purebred, should not be bred.  Many dogs. though wonderful  pets, have defects of structure, personality or health that should not be perpetuated. Breeding animals should be proven free of  these defects BEFORE starting on a reproductive career.  Breeding only should be done with the goal of IMPROVEMENT  an honest attempt to create puppies better than their parents.  Ignorance is no excuse - once you have created a life, you can't take it back, even if blind, crippled or a canine psychopath!  . COST - Dog breeding is NOT a money-making proposition, if  done correctly.  Health care and shots, diagnosis of problems  and proof of quality, extra food, facilities, stud fees, advertising,  etc. are all costly and must be paid BEFORE the pups can be  sold. An unexpected Cesarean or emergency intensive care for a sick pup, will make a break-even litter become a big liability. And this is IF you can sell the pups.  . SALES - First-time breeders have no reputation and no referrals  to help them find Buyers. Previous promises of "I want a dog  just like yours" evaporate.  Consider the time and expense or caring for pups that may not sell until four months, eight  months or more! What WOULD you do if your pups did not sell! Send them to the pound! Dump them in the country!  Sell them cheaply to a dog broker who may resell them to labs  or other unsavory buyers?  Veteran breeders WITH a good reputation often don't consider a breeding unless they have cash  deposits in advance of an average-sized litter.  . JOY OF BIRTH - If you're doing it for the children's education,  remember the whelping may be at 3:00 A.M. or at the vet's on the surgery table. Even if the kiddies are present, they may get  a chance to see the birth of a monster or a mummy, or watch  the bitch scream and bite you as you attempt to deliver a pup that is half out and too large.  Some bitches are not natural mothers and either ignore or savage their whelps. Bitches can  have severe delivery problems or even die in whelp. Pups cans be born dead or with gross deformities that require euthanasia.  Of course, there can be joy, but if you can't deal with the possibility of tragedy, don't start.  . TIME - Veteran breeders of quality dogs state they spend well  over 130 hours of labor in raising an average litter. That is over  two hours per day, every day! The bitch CANNOT be left alone  while whelping and only for short periods for the first few days  after.  Be prepared for days off work and sleepless nights. Even after delivery, mom needs care and feeding. puppies need daily checking, weighing, socialization, and later grooming and training, and the whelping box, needs lots and lots of cleaning. More hours are spent doing paper work, pedigrees and interviewing  buyers.  If you have any abnormal conditions, such as sick  puppies or a bitch who can't or won't care for her babes, count  on double the time. If you can't provide the time, you will either have dead pups or poor ones that are bad-tempered, antisocial,  dirty and/or sickly - hardly a buyer's delight.  . HUMANE RESPONSIBILITIES - It's midnight - do you know  where your puppies are! There are THREE AND A HALF  MIILION unwanted dogs put to death in the pounds in this  country each year,  with millions more dying homeless and  unwanted through  starvation, disease, automobiles, abuse, etc.  Nearly a quarter of the victims of this unspeakable tragedy are pure bred dogs "with papers." The breeder who creates a life is  responsible,  for that life. Will you carefully screen potential  buyers! Or will you just take the money and not worry if the puppy is chained in a junkyard all its life or runs in the street to  be killed!  Will you turn down a sale to irresponsible owners?  Or will you say "yes" and not think about that puppy you held  and loved now having a litter of mongrels every time she comes in heat which fills the pounds with more statistics - your grand-pups! Would you be prepared to take back a grown  puppy if the owners can no longer care for it!  Or can you live with the thought that the baby you helped bring into the world will be destroyed at the pound!  . CONCLUSIONS - Because of these facts, we believe that dog breeding is best left to the "professional" breeder. What makes  a breeder professional?  .         · A professional breeder is one who has made a lifetime  commitment to the well-being and IMPROVEMENT of one, or, possibly, two breeds.  .         · A professional has studied and researched his breed and  knows, intimately, its history and Standard, its strong points  and drawbacks.  .         · A professional has spent time, effort and MONEY researching and proving the qualities and health of his or her breeding stock.  Those that do not prove out are NOT bred. He/She·plans a litter  only with the goal of puppies better than the parents. not for profit  or vanity.  .         · A professional considers his/her dogs' health and well-being far more important than their ability to reproduce. .         · A professional has both the time and mental fortitude to  be THERE for his/her bitches and puppies. They evaluate their  litters and make every effort to match puppy to Buyer in  temperament, attitude and energy level as well as physical qualities. .         · A professional is, first and foremost, selling to responsible loving homes. While some exceptional pups may be saved for  special show homes, the professional does not force entangling  contract or arrangements for "puppies back" on people who  are only interested in a pet. .         · A professional does NOT have so many dogs that there is no  time for individual attention, play and grooming. or so that he/she has to skimp on food quality, space, preventive medicine and health care.  .         · A professional assumes responsibility for the life he/she  creates- carefully screening buyers, helping find new homes,  making a comfortable life for the retirees, and yes, being able to  make the decision to euthanize when a puppy born with a mental  or physical problem has no chance for a quality life. .         · A professional builds a Good reputation slowly, based on  education and consistent quality, not on volume, advertising or  from casual or self-glorifying attitude. .         · A professional goes further and assumes some responsibility for the problems of his/her breed as a whole they belong to an  organization for the breed, they continue to read about new  developments and they work to reduce the number of their breed  that are carelessly bred, ill cared for and discarded. .         · A professional can look at a bigger picture than dog show  wins or puppy sales and contributes in some way to the betterment of dogs as a whole.  Given a choice, educated owners much prefer  to buy from these professionals. . If you want to join the professional ranks. we'll enjoy working  with you as you learn. If you feel this is more obligation than you  care to take on, choose the responsible alternative of having your  pet neutered.  ...

 

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