Learning how to breed dogs requires careful research, thoughtful planning, and selfless commitment.
Unlike other businesses which can be left at the office each night, breeding dogs is a round-the-clock job that consumes weeks to months of a breeder's life.
It is important that a potential breeder realize this before plunging in.
Renewed public interest in purebred and "designer" canines has led to an increased number of these businesses in the last decade or so.
Much of this interest can be attributed to the media.
Movies which feature a particular type of dog feed into this.
So does the desire to have the same breed of pooch as one's favorite celebrity.
It's easier than ever for anyone to learn how to breed dogs, thanks to the vast amounts of information available and readily accessible on the Internet.
Often, though, the problem with Internet information is that much of what is published does not consider the ethics of breeding dogs.
While a majority of canine breeders are responsible and seek to learn how to breed dogs responsibly, the popularity of pooch ownership has given rise to an alarming number of "puppy mills.
" These facilities are so referred to largely due to their lack of ethics in keeping and producing dogs.
Most of these "puppy mills" are strictly in the business of making a profit at all costs.
They care little for the health or welfare of their animals.
They allow unhealthy, haphazard mating to occur which usually results in puppies that are prone to defects and diseases.
Once these traits are inbred, they are impossible to reverse.
To be sure that you do right by your canines and by the public who will be purchasing your pups, remember these things: 1) Choose to raise pups for the right reasons.
"To make money" is a poor reason to enter into this business.
There is nothing wrong with making money, as long as it's not your sole motivation.
Your main motivation should be the betterment of the breed.
Even if you don't plan to raise pedigreed animals, you should still be committed to good mating practices.
Such practices help to keep a pooch's bloodline free of diseases and defects.
2) Prepare yourself for breeding dogs and raising pups.
If you were having a baby for the first time, you would do a number of things to prepare.
You'd probably read up on infant care.
You would take care of yourself well while pregnant.
You would make sure that your baby had a safe crib to sleep in when he arrives.
Apply this same kind of attention to the business of breeding dogs.
Know what you're getting into.
Read books on how to breed dogs.
Learn what to expect.
Get to know the traits and characteristics of your breed of choice.
Prepare a clean and safe place to keep your canines.
Make sure that you know what kind of nutrition a canine needs to live a healthy life.
3) Treat your pup like a family member.
If you wouldn't do something (or not do something) for a child, you should do the same for your dog.
4) Know your breed.
Every breed has distinctive characteristics.
This includes being prone to certain kinds of behaviors, diseases and habits.
Don't try to invest in a breed whose characteristics are incompatible with your lifestyle.
5) Plan to commit to the entire process.
This means expecting the unexpected.
Things don't always go as planned.
You need to be flexible, patient, and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure a healthy mother and puppies.
How to breed dogs ethically is part knowledge and part common sense.
Learning how to breed dogs and then successfully producing a litter of healthy puppies can produce more rewards than merely financial ones.