So you have decided to become a breeder?
This is Nellie, she is a Kennel Club registered miniature dachshund and I am not looking to be a full on breeder but more of a hobby breeder - where do I start?
Firstly it is not all about the money but hopefully you will cover your costs and have profit to be able to invest in your next breeding program or if it was a one off then spoil your clever girl for bringing beautiful pups into the world but.....your main goal as a breeder should be to improve the breed.
What you need to consider first.
Can you afford it?
- Cost of any genetic tests
- Cost of any progesterone test to detect ovulation
- Cost of scans
- Cost of caesarean if the need should arise and your dam is having difficulty whelping the litter
- Cost of any emergency vet treatment
- Cost of any whelping equipment
- Cost of vet checks for the puppies
- Cost of puppy food
- Cost of worming
- Cost of microchip
- Cost of final vet check
- Cost of vaccinations
- Cost of registering the puppies i.e. Kennel Club
- Cost of advertising
Is the dam fit, healthy and does she have a good temperament?
It is important to make sure that any dog that you are considering breeding from is a good example of the breed, both in terms of their conformation and appearance, and their temperament and core traits as a lot of these traits are apt to be shared with her pups, either through genetic heredity, or because puppies learn from observing the behaviour of their dam.
Do you know enough to help the bitch during the whelping, if necessary?
An extremely good starting point and my real go to was the Book of The Bitch - it really is full of critical information and will help you decide whether breeding is for you.
Could you cope with a very large litter of, say, 10 or 12 puppies?
When they are born of course they will be a manageable size but if they are a larger breed dog they will grow very quickly, 12 puppies with limited mobility is normally manageable but when mobile and growing they need space and food.
Do you have sufficient knowledge to rear the litter correctly, including worming, vaccinations and socialisation?
Research is key here and using any resources available to educate yourself is key too. If you understand your responsibilities then you'll be fine.
Do you have the time to devote to a litter until the puppies are old enough to go to their new homes, which is usually around 8 weeks?
This is a biggie. You'll need to give your dam and her pups round the clock attention for the critical first two weeks. Reacting to any squeaks, checking all pups are feeding, checking that the dam is not crushing her pups and maintaining litter logs to include weight charts and any Local Authority checklists.
Are you knowledgeable enough to advise new owners about caring for their puppies, including rearing, diet, training and health problems?
A puppy pack is imperative for new owners as this may be the first time they have owned a dog. They are looking to you as an experienced dog owner to inform them.
Would you be able to find good homes for the puppies?
When potential new puppy owners make enquiries have a checklist of things to ask them, a new owner questionnaire is a good starting idea too. Do they have a garden, do they have time to exercise the dog, do they have young children and are they aware of how fragile a new pup can be?
Are you in a position to take back or rehome any puppies if it becomes necessary?
A good breeder will put in their contract that they will take the puppy back if the new owners need to rehome it any stage. This ensures that the welfare of the puppy is always a priority.
If you have not been able to say yes to the questions above, then breeding may not be for you.
If you decide not to breed from your bitch, then you may wish to consider having her spayed to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies.
If you decide to breed from your dam then download the Furrypeeps puppy app - it's an app designed to log every last detail about her journey through pregnancy from first mate through to when the puppies leave.
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