So You Want to Breed your Dog?


Up to 10 million healthy animals are killed in U.S. pounds and shelters every year. The killing could easily be prevented by spaying and neutering.

Euthanasia is the single largest cause of death for dogs in the U.S. Each year 27 million of the animals are born. Five to ten million we classify as "surplus" and kill. That's about one million per month. These numbers do not include the millions of dead dogs whose bodies we scrape off the streets, or the hundreds of thousands of abandoned, severely neglected or abused ones who never make it to our shelters to be counted and killed. The five to ten million figure represents those we "must" kill simply because they are unwanted.

Most of these animals are young and healthy; in fact, it is estimated that a majority are less than one year of age.

The problem is simple: we have too many dogs. Too many for the too few homes available. The solution we have opted for is to kill the extras. This solution has been considered acceptable by default, as though there were no other way to control the crisis. And we spend over $1 billion every year destroying "man's best friend."

Why is this happening in the United States today? The number one biggest contributor to the problem is the backyard breeder not the puppy mills.

This is a name that has become unpopular and no one wants to admit they are a backyard breeder. Many people do not even realize they are part of the problem. This is what I need to address in this post.

The only way to stop the needless killing of dogs is to stop the needless breeding of them.

Every breed of dog recognized by a registry ,i.e. AKC , NKC, ABA, UKC, etc..., has a written standard, a blueprint of what the dog should look like and act like. These standards were written so that all would know what a quality example of the breed is and strive to produce dogs that meet or exceed the standard in health, temperament and appearance. To be sure you are breeding dogs that meet these standards, your dogs must be judged by people who have a lifetime of experience among the breed. Do you know the standard of the American Bulldog? Does your dog meet this standard according to an AKC/NKC/UKC/ABA Judge?

If not, your dog is pet quality. A pet is to be loved, cherished, trained, cared for, spoiled and bragged about, but it is NEVER to be bred. No matter how cute or sweet the dog may be, if it is not up to the standard, you have no business breeding it.

If you have a purebred dog this does not give you the right to breed it.

Most purebred dogs are not breeding quality.

If you breed your pet quality dog, you are a backyard breeder, whether you breed the dog in your backyard, garage, living room or an expensive hotel room, the term is still backyard breeder.

If your pet quality dog has registration papers, that's nice but it doesn't change anything. You still don't have the right to breed it.

If your pet quality dog cost you $500 be glad you had the money to afford it.

You still have no right to breed it.

Do you think you can make your $500 back if you breed your pet dog or if your pet dog is a color or size that isn't in the standard but you just know everyone will want buy a pup if you breed her?

Shame on you!

Now you are a backyard breeder with the purpose of breeding pups for bucks.

If the price for a heartworm check or a routine vaccination seem high to you, what are you going to do when your beloved pet needs an emergency C section.

Will you even be there with her to know if she is in trouble? Would you recognize trouble before it's too late?

And if you still want to breed your pet dog but need to ask who's supposed to vaccinate, de-worm and vet check the pups, ask yourself "What the Hell am I thinking!"

Do you think genetic testing is something they used in the OJ trial but has nothing to do with your dog breeding career? You are a backyard breeder.

Backyard breeders sell pups that aren't up to the standard of the breed.

They do this for many reasons. None are good enough reasons to contribute to the killing of dogs. Period.

Backyard breeders will swear all of their pups went to a good home. They believe this but it's not true. Some may have been lucky enough to go to a good home but more than half of them will end up dead, in a shelter, alone, on a cold table with a needle sticking out of their leg.

Some of those good homes will get tired of the dog and they will just give it away to anyone who is willing to take it. Some of your beloved dog's children will end up living alone in a backyard, barking all night, cold and neglected until the owner gets complaints and then that pup will be dead.

Some will be starved and beaten.

Some will be bred until they die from it.

Some will end up in rescue and I will have to find space for it in my home and I will have to show it that not all humans are bad. I will train it, and feed it the proper food so it can heal. I will take the fleas off of it and I will get rid of the worms. I will give it the shots it should have had but no one remembered to give it. I will do these things because the backyard breeder didn't do it and wouldn't take the dog back when it was 2 years old and full of problems.

I will spay or neuter that pup before I find it a new home so that I will never have to rescue one of it's pups and so I can be sure it will never end up in the hands of another backyard breeder looking to make profit from puppies.

Backyard breeders are not responsible pet owners.

They think they love the dogs but it's not really true because they don't really want to be bothered with doing all that it takes to breed ethically. They love feeling important when they say "I breed American Bulldogs". But breeding pet dogs isn't something to be proud of.

It's a shame on our society. It's the reason for the killing that goes on in shelters.

Why do you want to be part of that?

Do you want to be respected?

Spay or neuter you pet dog. There's really no other way. The kind of homes, you want for your pet pups ,don't want to buy from you. They are looking for responsible, respected breeders who are doing something for the breed as a whole. Most of those who will come running to buy your pups are the kind of people I wouldn't give a dog I didn't like to.

They are the ones who will turn your puppy into a shelter when the novelty wears off. That's a fact.

Want to stop the problem of killing 1 Million dogs a month all over America?

Spay or neuter your pet dog now and tell everyone you know to do the same and leave the breeding to the people who are doing something to better the breed.

Want to be a respected breeder?

Start by finding someone who lives up to all of it and ask them to be your mentor.

Do your research.

Know what you are doing.

Have a savings account ready for all the problems you will encounter.

Buy the best dogs you can find for your breeding program.

Do everything your mentor tells you, he/she has the experience and is not just trying to push you around.

Be sure that everything you do as a breeder meets the standards we have set for responsible breeders.

Or don't breed!

Let's make a difference starting now.

n/m

Gary M,

First ask yourself this..."Are you breeding to improve the breed?" I can certainly understand you wanting to have a pup or pup's from your girl..but really think, Are you ready for the time commitment? I'm not just talking about after the puppies are born, I'm referring to the rest of their lives. As thier "breeder" it is your responsibility to care for these pups, even after they find a new home, If for some reason the people you sell to can't keep the pup/dog it should go back to you.

Have you thought about contracts? AKC registration? The money involved in vet bills, puppy shots, and any emergency that may arise?

Can I ask where you purchased your pup? If from a breeder do you have the right to breed? Is she breeding quality? Is the stud free and clear of all genetic defects? All this and more are things to consider when your "thinking" of breeding.

Your sentence "money would be nice" is what scares me, don't think your going to walk away with loads of cash after all the pups are gone, this is a huge misconception lot's of novice's make. The money involved far outways the money received. There is never a gaurantee that the pups will even make it...sad but true.

In the end if your still serous about breeding please find a mentor first, a long time bulldogger that can give you expert advise. Also find a good bulldog vet in your area. I don't mean to discourage you but please think before you breed, it really is a lifetime commitment, time and money.

Gary,

It worries me that you have come to the internet for information on breeding your girl. If you purchased her from a good breeder, that is the person you should be discussing this with. Your breeder is your mentor and should be ready to answer any of your questions and assist you with your decision.

Reading is a great way to gather information. But theory and application are two entirely different things. Contact your local Bulldog club, they are a huge source of information and they should be willing to advise you.

If you do not have a good relationship with your breeder, how much can you really know about your girls hereditary health? Do you know anything about her parents, grandparents, siblings etc?

Gary, breeding is a tremendous responsibility and I hope your reasons for breeding are with good intentions and not money driven.

Lynn K

Hellen and Sue are the bulldog experts on breeding puppies. I have read many of their posts. They have more experience than anyone I have seen. From what they have said about puppies, you are going to be in for a full time 24/7 job with very little sleep when the puppies arrive. Good luck.

My motive is I would like to see my dog have puppies, plus money would be nice. I do have the papers and know the back groung of her parents and grandparents. I dont know many bulldog owners that is why I came to this sight.