Breeding a litter of puppies can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience and is very worthwhile. As you’re probably aware it is not a task to be taken lightly and requires dedication and a certain amount of time, effort and money. You need to plan well ahead and be fully aware of all the things you will need to do during the care of your bitch and puppies before going ahead.

If you’re serious about breeding it is always worthwhile to seek guidance from the breeder of your bitch who will advise you if your bitch is suitable for breeding and help to answer the many questions you may have.

Although your bitch may be beautiful to look at and has the best of temperaments these attributes alone are not the only consideration. Finding the right stud dog for your bitch is very important and reputable breeders have the knowledge required to be able to help you choose the right one for your bitch.

If you do decide to go ahead please be aware of your responsibility as the breeder to provide help, advice and after care to all your new puppy owners, not just while they are puppies, but for the rest of their lives. On the odd, and hopefully very rare occasion, you should also be prepared to help re-home any dog that you have bred should the need arise.

You will need to invest significant effort and time in the new litter until they are old enough to move to their new home. This is normally an 8-week period by which time you will need to register your puppy and have the relevant documents available for the new owner. These are:

     Kennel Club registration certificates
     Veterinary certificates for identification
     Micro-chipping
     Docking (if applicable)
     Diet sheet for each puppy
     Worming program information

(Free Pedigree puppy packs are available to Breedadog.com members).

Please refer to a veterinary service for more detailed information. You also need to be prepared for any problems arising both during the pregnancy and for problems with any of the litter.

You may sell some of your litter to individuals or families who are new to dog ownership and you’ll need to advise them of their responsibilities of owning a dog. This will encompass information about the financial investment of vet fees, worming, castration or spaying (sterilising), vaccinations and any future problems, and the time required to keep your dog healthy through frequent exercise and a good diet relevant to the specific breed.

So, plan well ahead and make sure you are fully aware of all your responsibilities during the care of your bitch and puppies before embarking on a breeding program.

Further information is available at http://www.doggenetichealth.org/