Still thinking of
breeding? Here are
some words of advice...
(There are also quite a
few links at the bottom of this page)
First, start
with the best possible dogs...
Contact
the national breed club for a list of breeders. The national breed
club can send you a list of breeders. The list is not an endorsement.
You still have to check everything. It is just a place to start.
Virtually all countries have their own kennel clubs, a good many of
them are now on the internet.
There
are breed registries other than the AKC. One is the United Kennel
Club (UKC). Also look at the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). Others are
breed specific. You will usually find them in the process of
researching your breed. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if they are
legitimate. There are many out there that are not, so be careful.
Make sure the breeder gives the actual name of the registry, not just
the initials.
Contact
local breed clubs. You can contact them through the AKC web site, or
United Kennel Club or do a search on the internet or subscribe to
some magazines. Make sure you know how to spell your breed's name.
You would be amazed at how many people handicap their research
because they spell the breed name incorrectly.
Talk
to other people who have the breed you are interested in. Where did
they get their dog? Are they happy with the breeder?
Attend
dog events. Good breeders are active in the dog world. That is how
they keep in touch with important information. The AKC web site can
point you an events calendar. There are also web sites for a variety
of dog sports that will also have events calendars. Be sure to check
places other than AKC since there are a lot of competitions that
don't involve AKC. If you are interested in a dog that does a
particular activity, say sledding, then try the sledding web sites
for organizations that put on events and have an activities calendar.
Be
wary of mistaking "reputable" for "responsible".
Some big show winners love their dogs, and some big show winners love
their wins. Just because someone is successful in the show ring does
not mean that they produce healthy dogs with good temperaments.
Go
to any place where people with dogs gather - dog parks, grooming
shops, training centers, veterinarians, pet supply stores. Talk to
people. Don't forget the performance and non-AKC events. To find them
explore the activities links looking for websites that maintain
activities calendars.
It is well
worth the time and trouble to visit the breeder's kennel. If you are
purchasing from a distant breeder, then be sure to interview others
who have purchased dogs from the same breeder, and ask them about the conditions.
The breeder
should be able to provide references of satisfied buyers. Be sure to
follow up on them, and question the references about any difficulties
or second thoughts they may have had. Ask about the quality of
follow-up care.
Don't
breed unless...
You
have learned about the risks. Decide whether your goals are worth
risking the life or health of your dog.
Your
bitch is over two years old. Mere physical ability to bear puppies
is not enough. The dog needs to be completely physically and mentally mature.
You
have had your bitch's hips, elbows and heart evaluated by an
organization such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and eyes
certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.
Consider testing for von Willebrand's Disease and Thyroid function as well.
Your
bitch has a good pedigree with many titleholders who are also sound
of mind, body, health and longevity. She has tested clear of
inherited problems and is herself sound of mind, body and health. She
has correct conformation with no major or disqualifying faults and is
outstanding in at least a couple of conformation traits.
You
obtain an objective evaluation of the health and fitness of your dog
by testing it in a manner appropriate to the breed, in some activity,
e.g. obedience, agility, herding, tracking, conformation, flyball . .
. The goal is to increase the probability that the dogs you bring
into this world will make good companions. You do this by
demonstrating skills taking intelligence, problem solving ability,
dedication or persistence, bidability or desire to please, stability
of temperament among other things, and showing soundness and physical fitness.
You
wish to improve the breed and select a stud that is her equal or
better in all of the above listed traits and who does not share any
common faults with your bitch.
You
have a better than good chance to place each pup in the home that is
right for it.
You
have the funds to properly care for and raise the litter and to
handle any unforeseen emergencies that may arise.
You
have the facilities and finances to properly house and care for a
bitch and a large litter even if the puppies are still residents at 6
months of age.
You
have the knowledge and integrity to properly evaluate your litter
and will stand behind every sale with some type of health and
temperament guarantee.
You
are not only willing, but insist in writing in the contract, that
if, for any reason the pup cannot be kept (at whatever age) you will
take it back or assist in finding the right home.
Make
sure you know the laws and rules that may affect you. Check to see
whether a Puppy Lemon Law , local regulations and ordinances or the
rules of your breed registry will affect you.
You
are willing to take at least a week off of work when the pups are
born and commit the next eight weeks to properly rearing and
socializing your puppies.
1.
Don't make use of indiscriminate outcrosses. A judicious
outcross can be of great value; an
injudicious one can produce an aggregation of every imaginable
fault of the breed.
2.
Don't line breed just for the sake of breeding. Line breeding
with complimentary types can bring
great rewards; with unsuitable ones it will lead to immediate disaster.
3.
Don't take advice from people who have been unsuccessful
breeders. If their opinions were
worth having they would have proved it by their successes.
4.
Don't believe the popular cliche about the brother or sister of
the great champion being just as good
to breed from. For everyone that is
hundreds are not. It depends on the animal concerned.
5.
Don't credit your own dogs with virtues they don't possess.
Self deceit is a stepping stone to failure.
6.
Don't breed from mediocrities. The absence of a fault does not
in any way signify the presence of
a corresponding virtue.
7.
Don't try to line breed to two dogs at the same time; you will end
up line breeding to neither.
8.
Don't assess the worth of a stud dog by his inferior progeny.
All stud dogs sire rubbish at times.
What matters is how good their best efforts are.
9.
Don't allow personal feelings to influence your choice of a stud
dog. The right dog for your bitch
is the right dog whoever owns it.
10.
Don't allow admiration of a stud dog to blind you to his
faults. If you do, you will soon be the
victim of autointoxication.
11.
Don't mate together animals which share the same fault. You
are asking for trouble if you do.
12.
Don't forget that it is the whole dog that counts. If you
forget one virtue while searching for
another, you will pay for it.
13.
Don't search for the perfect dog as a mate for your bitch.
The perfect dog (or even bitch) doesn't
exist - never has, never will.
14.
Don't be frightened of breeding from animals that have obvious
faults, so long as they have
compensating virtues. A lack of virtues is by far
the greatest fault of all.
15.
Don't mate together non-complimentary types. An ability to
recognize type at a glance is a
breeder's greatest gift. Ask the successful breeders to
explain this subject - there's no other way of
learning (I'd define non-complimentary types as ones which have
the same faults and lack
the same virtues).
16.
Don't forget the necessity to preserve head quality. It will
vanish like a dream if you do.
17.
Don't forget that substance plus quality should be one of your
aims. Any fool can breed one
without the other.
18.
Don't forget that a great head plus soundness should be one of
your aims. Many people can
never breed either.
19.
Don't ever try to decry a great Rottweiler. A thing
of beauty is not only a joy forever but a great
Rottweiler should be a source of aesthetic pride and pleasure
to all true lovers of the breed.
20.
Don't be satisfied with anything but the best. Second best is
never good enough.
Set
Standards for the well-being of your pups...
Care
about each dog you bring into this world. Treat it as part of your
extended family when you place it in a new home.
Make
sure that the dogs you produce are capable of a full and happy life,
sound in mind, body and temperament. Recognize that good physical
health is not enough; the dogs should be raised to be great
companions too.
Interview
interested parties to ensure they are a suitable match for the dogs
you will be placing. Verify the information you were given.
Be
honest about the qualities of the dogs you are placing. Explain the
good points, and the not so good.
Make
sure that you have homes for the puppies before the sire and dam
ever meet.
Promise
to take in, or help place, dogs or puppies you have caused to be
created, no matter how old they are.
Take
positive steps to make sure the dogs you create will never land in a
shelter or in rescue. Do what you can to make sure your dogs don't
end up dead before their time.
Remain
available to serve as a resource, advise and support for typical
problems encountered in raising, training and caring for your dogs.
Never
place a pup without a written contract. Make sure the contract is
clear to both of you. Make sure the contract is fair to both of you.
Think about it from both sides - the seller and the buyer, and always
keep in mind the best interests of the dogs.
