So You Want to Breed? (Part 1- Selection)

So you’re thinking of being a dog breeder…talk about a challenge!  In order to become a TOP breeder you will be in this for the long haul… at least fifteen or twenty years.   That’s how long it can take to see how your breeding program and your breeding decisions have resulted in better dogs than you started with.  

Goals of Breeding

Breeder’s goals are to achieve a dog that fits as close as possible the breed’s AKC breed standard. The closer to the breed standard without any disqualifying faults the better!  So far, no one has bred the “Perfect Dog”.  

Is Breeding Right for You?

First you need to think of your motives thoroughly.  Is this something you’ve been considering for a long time or could it be more of a passing interest?  Are you getting involved because you truly enjoy being around animals and really like the responsibility of caring for them?  Or, as many first-time breeders seem to be motivated, do you expect to make money and supplement your income?   If money is your main motive, the odds are that you won’t be in this breeding business a few years from now.  If your primary drive comes from the love of the animal and because you find fulfillment & enjoyment in spending time with your canine friends, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing this for many enjoyable years. 

Breed Selection

Once you are committed be sure that you select a breed that matches best with what you like and what you are able to house long term.  If you live in the city or don’t have a large yard, a small breed would be best for obvious reasons.   If you are living in Florida, you might not select heavy coated breeds such as the Saint Bernard.  If you live on a ranch or have access to acres of private land, sight hounds, retrievers and large breeds may be a good choice.   

Once you have selected the breed you want to be committed to be sure to study all you can about them.  Know the AKC breed standard by heart, and think about every little detail because that is your ultimate goal.  Every breeding decision should be made in the light of answering this question:   “Will breeding this sire and dam produce puppies that will conform even better to the AKC breed standard?” 

Learning about Your Breed

After all of your hard work determining what breed will best suit you it is best to learn all you can about your breed. 

• Go to dog shows and talk to a lot of breeders
• Study pedigrees
• Read the “Dogs For Sale” ads to assess the market in your area. 
• Find some good books on breeding and breed standards
• Spend a lot of time at the dog shows 

You will begin to get a feel for the business of dog breeding and showing.  You will soon identify what people are important in the breed and also discover “what the judges are looking for” in the breed.  This does not mean that you must be a conformist and have to have just one certain line of dogs or certain “look” within that breed.   You decide what is important to you regarding how you think the breed should look, always using the AKC breed standard as your guide.   Write your goals and your own standards down.   Develop a “Kennel Philosophy”; be able to defend your philosophy, and stick with it. 

Please share a comment on your experience or questions with breeding.