Should I Breed my Dog?

Being in dog rescue for several years, I have had the opportunity to speak with a multitude of really nice people out there who would like to breed their dog for various reasons.  Perhaps looking at some myths and facts regarding breeding could help others determine if this is something they really should do.

Myth:  I need to breed my female dog in order for her to be friendly and have nurturing instincts.

Fact:  A dog’s personality mainly comes from his or her ancestors (parents, grand parents, great grand parents etc.).  It is further shaped by positive socialization experiences between the ages of 8-16 weeks, continued socialization, and the ability to burn off excess energy. Having puppies will not make a dog more friendly to people.  In fact, she may even become aggressive around her pups in an effort to protect them. 

Myth: My dog is AKC registered and if I breed with another AKC registered dog, I will have great pups.

Fact:  AKC registration really does nothing to guarantee the quality of puppies.  The club registers hundreds of puppy mill dogs that sell to pet stores.  These breeders breed for looks and money only. Health or behavior issues are not considered when they breed two dogs. Your puppies will only be as healthy and even-tempered as his or her ancestors were. 

Myth:  Since my dog and the dog he is mating with are healthy, the puppies will be healthy. I will even get the vaccines and get them vet checked to prove it. 

Fact:  Vaccines are indeed necessary and it is great that people make that effort.  Unfortunately though, a vet check will only show that the puppy is healthy at that time. Legitimate breeders keep records of their dog’s hip/elbow x-rays, eye exams, hearing tests, and thyroid tests. Most even keep DNA records to assure that health issues are not passed on to a new litter of pups by breeding dogs with real or potential medical issues. A simple vet exam on current puppies will not tell if they will develop cancer, painfully bad hips, or other medical conditions in the near future. The only way to really know if you are breeding a healthy litter is to have a long line of records on their ancestors. 

Myth: I will make sure my puppies will all go to good homes.

Fact: Even with the best of intentions, it is very difficult to screen for good homes.  This requires interviews, vet checks on current dogs, assessments of how other animals in the home will get along with the new puppy, personal reference checks, assessments on how their kids interact with the puppy, and making sure the energy level and size of the puppy will be a good match for the new home. The real challenge is, what if it does not work out even after all of this screening was done? Most people will keep a puppy until it is nearly to full grown before they decide they can’t keep it.  If you are unable to take it back, the dog will run the risk of being re-homed to a less than desirable person or being sent to a shelter where it could be put down. Manatee County is working to become a no-kill community with the goal of releasing 90 percent of the dogs to homes, but it is the only such community-wide effort in the state. Eventhough they don't like to, most shelters will euthanize animals when they become too crowded with abandoned animals. 

Hopefully, these myths and facts has helped to provide the thousands of very good and well-intended people out there with some information that can help you decide if breeding your dog is something you need to do.  There are more than 2 million dogs a year killed in shelters because of dog overpopulation.  Not every person who wants a puppy has the money it takes to care for health issues that may crop up.  Many also don’t have the time for training or the knowledge it takes to raise a well-socialized puppy to prevent behavior problems in the future.  Without the ability to screen carefully or the means to take a dog back into your home that doesn’t work out, at least half of the puppies run the risk of becoming a very sad statistic.