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What is a Reputable Breeder?
(Or.... I want to breed my dog, am I a reputable breeder?)

If you have considered breeding your dog at some point, or now, firstly you may want to read a bit about what makes a breeder, a RESPONSIBLE breeder.

· A reputable hobby breeder is one who has made a lifetime commitment to the well-being and IMPROVEMENT of one breed.

· A reputable hobby breeder has studied and researched his breed and knows its history and standard, its strong points and its drawbacks.

· A reputable hobby breeder has spent time, effort and MONEY researching and proving the qualities and health of their potential breeding stock. They plan a litter only with the goal of puppies better than the parents.

· A reputable hobby breeder considers their dogs’ health and well-being far more important than their ability to reproduce. Spaying or neutering if need.

· A reputable hobby breeder has both the time and mental fortitude to BE THERE for their bitches and puppies. They evaluate the litters and make every effort to match puppy to buyer in temperament, attitude, and energy level, as well as physical qualities.

· A reputable hobby breeder is first and foremost, selling to responsible loving homes. While some exceptional pups may be saved for special show homes, the reputable hobby breeder does not force entangling contracts or agreements for 'puppies back' on people who are only interested in a pet.

· A reputable hobby breeder often keeps in periodic contact with the owners of puppies he's sold, not only to see the development of his breeding program but also because he/she cares about their well-being.

· A reputable hobby breeder makes sure that they can give individual attention, play and grooming; also they make sure that they have the means to take care of
food, quality, space, preventive medicine, and health care.

· A reputable hobby breeder assumes responsibility for the life he creates. This includes screening new buyers, helping find new homes, making a comfortable life for his 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 reputable hobby breeder builds a good reputation slowly based on dedication, and consistent quality.

Given a choice, educated owners & prospective buyers much prefer to buy from the above described type of breeder. If you are interested in joining the ranks of reputable breeders, there are many people to contact who would enjoy working with you. If you feel this is more obligation than you would want to take on, choose the responsible alternative of having your pet spayed/neutered.

A few more things to think about.
And to know before deciding to breed your dog.

1. AKC Registration DOES NOT mean quality.

An AKC registration is somewhat like a title to a car.
Even if its SAYS Cadillac, it still may be a Lemon.

Just because your dog is purebred and has papers,
does not mean it is of breeding quality and must be bred.
Many other things must go into consideration...
Health, temperament, and conformation are just a few.
But a good place to start!

2. My vet/friend/trainer said my dog is of show quality, and I want to breed him/her.

Your vet, your dog’s trainer, or your neighbor is NOT the best people to evaluate your dogs’ quality. If you want your dog evaluated, CONTACT A FEW BREEDERS. Vets, trainers, or your friends/neighbors probably do NOT know the breed standard for your breed, and probably have NOT studied each breed. Leave evaluations to a knowledgeable Hobby breeder.

3. Breeding is NOT a moneymaking proposition.

Anything can, and sometimes does go wrong.

Not counting the cost of quality health care, food, vaccinations, and routine medical bills, many other expected and unexpected expenses pop up. Tail docking/dewclaws in some breeds, puppy formula, a possible emergency C-section, or other emergency care can make a 'break-even' litter end up costing a small fortune... and that is IF you can sell the pups.

4. What would you do with the pups that do not sell?

First time breeders often have no reputation and no referrals to help them find buyers. Consider what you will do if the pups don’t sell, until say, 4 months? 6 months? 8 months?

5. I want my kids to see "The Joy of Birth".

If you are considering breeding so the kids can see, 'the joy of birth' remembers that things can go very wrong. Would you want your children seeing a pup that was born dead?
On the other hand, one that is born with gross deformities? What about the chance that your female could have severe complications and possible die during delivery? Can your family accept the chance that your beloved family pet could die? If you cannot deal with the possibility of tragedy, do not breed in the first place. There is also the chance that your female will change how she feels about the family while she is with her new puppies. Not always nice.

6. MYTH: Females should be 'allowed' to have at least one litter, for both health and temperament reasons.

Many people have the misconception that breeding their female at least once has health benefits or will make her a better family pet. This is simply NOT TRUE and can have exactly the opposite effect. A female with pups can be extremely territorial & protective, with both their family and other pets. Often they do not act like themselves. Many complications can arise during pregnancy, whelping, and post-partum. Medical evidence does not support the claim of health benefits.

7. Do you have the time for pups?

Reputable experienced Hobby breeders will tell you how much time they spend in raising an average litter. It is well over 84+ hours a week. Keep in mind this is a HEALTHY litter! If your pups have problems, or the mother will not care for them, they may need supplementing, or, if they are sick, you can tack on MANY additional hours. Some litters end up needing to be COMPLETELY supplemented.
I do not leave the litter alone at all the 1^st week and then the second week I start to get some sleep.

As they get older, the labor gets more intense! Socializing, beginning housebreaking, and interviewing prospective buyers! A LOT of time /labor is involved.
O wait the best for last all the poop cleaning up!

8. Your responsibilities as the breeder.

Will you screen potential buyers? Alternatively, will you just take the money & not worry about how the dog spends the rest of its life? What if the dog is chained to a tree every day, never indoors? What if the dog lives in a junkyard with no human contact? What if the buyers allowed the dog to run loose and gets hits by a car, or gets lost with no food ect:

Would you turn down a possibly irresponsible buyer? Or, will you sell that adorable little girl pup that you raised so lovingly for the first 8 weeks of her life to a person who will tie her out in the back yard, alone constantly, leaving her to have a litter of mongrels each time she comes in season because they don’t want the time or hassle of dealing with her, or are to cheap to have her spayed. Can you live with the idea that one of your pups may be sold to a home where, if unwanted, they will be dumped at a pound, where they may be destroyed?

So many things to think about.... So many responsibilities.

Reputable breeders are prepared to deal with all of the above facts.

We breed for great temperaments 1st ,
Which make great family pets!
Everything else will follow!