I want to breed my dog - where do I start?
The short answer - Find a breeding mentor to guide you through the testing, certifications, the actual mating and whelping process, and locating quality homes for the puppies.
The long answer - About once a week, some well meaning dog lover will post a picture of their adorable and beloved dog in an online forum and announce they intend to breed him/her but don't know where to start. Within minutes, they get negative comments from other breeders or adopt don't shop advocates advising them to pack up their dream of breeding their dog and throwing out acronyms like DNA, OFA and AI with no explanation. These comments come from a very good place as most reputable breeders and animal advocates hate nothing more than seeing post after post of sick dogs that result from poor breeding practices and so called backyard breeders who make no effort to improve the breed and are just looking for some quick cash. They also realize that breeding is a much more complicated and expensive endeavor than most people realize.
That being said, every breeder had to start somewhere and as an SPCA Board Member and supporter, I've come to realize that if breeders shame or shut down anyone else with an interest in breeding then we are almost guaranteeing what we're trying to prevent - that people will proceed without the information and resources they need. For that reason, I recommend that everyone considering breeding their dog seek out a qualified breeding mentor.
I'm happy to share my time and energy with those wanting to learn more about breeding or trying to start a breeding program involving Cavaliers or their hybrids. I had two mentors when I first started breeding and I view it as my responsibility to repay that kindness by helping others. I don't feel that others trying to learn more about these breeds are my competitors - I instead consider them my teammates in the effort to improve these breeds and guarantee healthier bloodlines
If you happen to be the person who wants to breed your dog, please consider getting a breeding mentor to help you in this process. Be prepared to answer the following questions before reaching out to a potential mentor:
Do you have the legal right to breed this animal? Please make sure you have full rights to breed the dog. No reputable breeder is going to assist you in violating the contract of another breeder.
Is your dog AKC registered? If you own an unregistered hybrid, please note that most reputable breeders will only assist in breeding an F1b and will not support the breeding of two Cavalier hybrids (F1 bred to another F1, creating an F2).
Has your dog completed at least two heat cycles? Reputable breeders will not assist you in breeding an immature dog that is not old enough to pass required health tests. Based on the breed this age may be even higher.
Are you vet records up to date? Has your vet confirmed that your dog is both medically able and suitable to breed?
Does your dog meet breed standards? If you aren't sure, you can find breed standards on the AKC website. Breed standards are very different than show quality - not every dog that's bred has to be show quality (although some breeders will disagree) as many reputable breeders prefer to breed for health and temperament and are less concerned about perfect coloring.
If the answer to any of these questions is no, you need to do your best to remedy that before attempting to breed your dog. If you can answer yes to all of these questions, then it's time to search for a mentor. Look for the following:
A breeder with an excellent reputation who checks off all of the boxes for responsible breeding.
A breeder who focuses on the type of dog you are hoping to breed.
A breeder that has a male or female dog that you would be interested in using. Breeders are offering their time to you and in exchange you should consider using their stud or offering your dog as a stud in return.
It's no longer necessary that your mentor live in the same area as you. In fact, ,any breeders are more willing to mentor those who won't be selling puppies in their own community. The internet, flight nannies and artificial insemination make long distance mentors easier than ever.
If your dog is too young but you are eager to learn more about breeding, take the time to do the following:
Learn about the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and start your testing after your dog is 1 year of age.
Track your female dog's heat cycles.
Read posts on this and other websites about breed specific testing.
Get a full DNA panel on your dog. We suggest Embark for full DNA panels.
Breeding your dog can be a fun and exciting adventure but it's also a large responsibility and one that should be done only after research and guidance. You can learn more about breeding mentors on these pages:
If we can help you on your journey to breed your dog, please don't hesitate to contact us at LierChonPoo@gmail.com.
This article initially appeared on August 1, 2020 in the Lierchonpoo Blog at https://www.lierchonpoo.com and is being republished here with permission from the author.
