Dog breeding is not as easy as you think. Many pet owners prefer to get purebred dogs these days. Even on the same breeds, breeding lines tend to produce different traits and types of dogs. As you can see, dog breeding is a complex undertaking and without adequate knowledge, you can't be an effective dog breeder.

Dog breeders should be aware of the breed standards. However, dog breeding is often influenced by the personal likes or dislikes of the breeder when it comes to color, sizes, and types. What dog breed do you prefer? Does it possess its true characteristics? Is the appearance of the dog the same as what the books or other information sources say? What about its temperament? Is the breeding line of your pet healthy? You need to answer these questions before you finally choose a particular dog breed. Answering the questions is also vital should you decide to be involved in the breeding business.

There are a lot of considerations in dog breeding. You should be willing to invest time, effort, and money before you can see the fruits of your labor. Try to answer the questions above and if you can't, you will need to dig in deeper. You need to research about the different dog breeds, the traits of different bloodlines, the appearance of the dam and sire, grand-dam, and grand-sire in a particular dog pedigree. Do you want to introduce improvements in the dog breed? Do you want to retain certain traits or qualities in the dog breed?

Breeding methods vary whether you're dealing with inbreeding, out crossing, line breeding, or purebreds. You must be able to gather all the information you need about dog breeding. Keeping yourself well informed will make you a better dog breeder. You can read books on dog breeding or you can do some online research.

Cross breeding is one of the methods of dog breeding. In this method, dogs of different breeds are used. You can't expect to produce the best dog breeds if you use the cross breeding method. If a problem occurs with regards to the traits of the dogs, you can't easily track down where the problem came from.

The next method is out breeding. This is a complicated method and only experienced breeders can perform it. If a certain dog breed has a problem or defect, you can make improvements through out breeding. You must have a mate which posses the particular trait that you want to improve. The breed should possess such trait up to that last 3 generations. After the out breeding, the dogs are bred back to the original breeding line. New breeders are not encouraged to do out breeding because this not a good way to start a breeding program especially if you have plans to produce constant breeds with the same soundness and temperament. Educate yourself thoroughly before you consider out breeding.

Line breeding is another method in dog breeding.  In this method, closely related dogs are bred to produce the same quality traits, size, and temperaments dog breeds. This method should be performed properly to ensure success. Breeders who want to concentrate mainly in one dog breed should be involved in line breeding.

These are the three dog breeding methods that you should know if you have plans of breeding dogs as a form of hobby or even for business.

Dog breeding requires you to pay attention on proper caring for pups. When your puppy is already 3-days old, you will need to decide whether you will dock-a-tail or remove dewclaws. This should be done at exactly 3 days after birth so that it will heal quickly and nicely.

If you're dealing with purebred pups, you should record the birth date of the pups. Try to keep a record book so that you will have a list of all the puppies, including the dead ones. The pups should be registered and so you need to prepare the registration forms. Buyers of the pups will surely look for the registration once they purchase them. The registration form should be submitted as early as possible because the registries are processed in about 6 weeks.

For the first 2 weeks, pups are usually kept clean by the mother dog. But still, you need to ensure the cleanliness of the whelping box. The bedding should be maintained clean at all times and so you need to remove the dirty and messy beddings at least twice daily. On the third week of the puppies, they will already eliminate and so your task will double.

After a month, the pups are already more active and so the space of the box is insufficient. Get a larger pen for them to play on so that you can still ensure their safety. Keeping the pups is vital because in just a matter of hours, pups can devastate a garage or a room.

Weaning food is usually introduced on the fifth month. Since the puppy food is a bit dry, you need to mash it up a bit. Put a little warm water and leave it for 2 hours; then feed it to the pups.

On their sixth month, you need to take the puppies to the vet for their vaccinations and de-worm. The vet will check for hernias, heart murmurs, and testicles of the males, eye problems, and deafness. It is very important that pups are checked for any defects or problems because in a month or so, you will be giving them to the new owners.

Let your pup socialize. Temperament tests are now available and you can subject them to such test. Your pup should not be aggressive because it might frighten potential buyers.

When the pups reach their seventh month, you can now call the individuals with deposits. Get all the necessary paperwork done and sort them out. Contracts like that for the neuter/spays should be prepared as well as the pups' pictures.

As you may have noticed, the seven months seem pretty right? Well, that is, if you don't encounter any problems. For instance, if one of the puppies has a hernia or heart murmur; or if a puppy is deaf. what will you do? What if your puppies have temperament problems? What if the mother dog dies or gets mastitis and other infections? What if the puppies are suffering from fading-puppy or swimmer-puppy syndrome? You should always prepare yourself for the worst.

Caring for pups when you're into dog breeding is also like taking care of a child or baby. The pups require much attention and you need to help the mother dog in taking care of them. If you're prepared, there is no situation that you can't handle, no matter how difficult it is.

Suppose breed x and breed y were mated. Both dogs are purebred and were able to meet with their specific health standards. Do you think that the breeding will result to healthier pups as compared to breeding them with the same breed? In dog breeding, this question is often asked and it needs immediate answers.

When you breed two top-shape and healthy dogs, it will always result to healthy and cute puppies. It doesn't really matter if they come from different breeds (i.e. breed x and breed y). However, you're not considering the recessives. What if both the dog breeds possess and is a carrier of recessive health problems? There is a high chance that the pups will also inherit the recessive problems. If the dog breeds don't have any recessive health-related problem, then the pups won't be suffering from any problem. The 1st generation ?hybrid vigor' explains the situation mentioned earlier.

Keep in mind that when one of the dogs is a carrier of a defective gene, the defect gene is not removed and it will stay with the pups. The next generation pups are likely to exhibit the problem. If both dog breeds are carriers of the defect, then their offspring will obviously demonstrate such defect.

In the case of purebred dogs, diseases are quite common as compared to mixed breeds. As a responsible and experienced breeder, you should always take into consideration the genetic makeup of your dog, whether male or female. Mixed breeds do possess harmful genes just like the purebred ones but it's up to the breeder to do something about it.

Mixed breeds are often not tested and so when they are suffering from any health problem when they age, owners tend to blame it on old age. Most owners of mixed breeds no longer find it necessary to test the dogs to identify hereditary problems.

So what you mate breed x with breed y, variations are already expected to surface. For instance, when you mate toy poodles with cocker spaniels, the pups vary a bit. Some pups look more as poodles and the rest cocker-like. However, all the pups are shaggy, buff-colored, and small-sized dogs. When two cockapoos are mated, the resulting pups have wider variations. Some look like cocker while others like poodles. Hidden genes can surface on the 2nd generation.

Perhaps you're already familiar with out-crossing. Two unrelated dogs are mated. The puppies produced are not uniform in terms of markings, color, coats, sizes, and in other distinct characteristics. The pups are considered heterozygous and so in the future, they might produce extremely different pups. This procedure is often used when breeders want to introduce something to a certain line of dogs such as better colors, front, head, etc.

You must be aware that even if dogs appear to be healthy, they might have genetic problems. Test mating is necessary to identify which dogs are affected. Tests are always required before mating to make sure that the produced pups are the best in order to be saleable.

Genetics can make it more complicated for dog breeders to mate different lines of dogs. It's up to them whether they will conduct in-line breeding, out-crossing, etc. What matters is that only the best pups are produced. Be extra careful when mating dogs of different breeds and check out the genetic make up of the dog's ancestors.

When you're into dog breeding, you should be aware that there will always be potential hereditary problems. Although this is not true all the time, you should be on the look out for such problems because it can be passed on to the puppies. Keep on reading and you will find out what these hereditary problems are.

Firstly, you need to learn as much information as possible about the particular dog breed you're handling. Thorough screening is needed so that you can prevent additional problems in the future. Make sure that you also look into the bloodlines of your dogs. This is necessary to ensure the health and condition of the pups.

Eye problems are the most common dilemmas encountered by most dog breeders. These problems are:

1.) PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy - if this problem is not addressed at an early stage, your dog can suffer from total blindness. Some breeds are affected by PRA once they reach 2-3 years or before the breeding period. In some cases, dogs tend to suffer from PRA when they are already 4-8 years. If you're breeding Irish Setters, you're in luck because there is already a PRA test which is available to those who want to breed them. It is vital that breeders identify if their dog is a carrier of the eye problem. You see, late onset of PRA can affect breeding programs.

2.) CEA or Collie Eye Anomaly - collie breeds can be affected by this eye problem which can include the border, bearded, smooth, rough, and closely related breeds. The condition varies wherein some dogs are hardly affected but others get completely blind. This problem is hereditary. Even if the dogs you're breeding are not suffering from the CEA but serves as a carrier of the problem, it can produce a pup that is severely affected by CEA.

3.) Retinal Dysplasia - eventual blindness is the result of retinal dysplasia. The problem can start as early as the puppy days of the dog but late onset of the problem can make it hard to identify which dogs have it.

4.) Entropion and Ectropion - try to look closely at the eyelids of your dog. This problem refers to the eyelids turning in (entropion) or out (ectropion). This eye problem can cause pain.

5.) Cataracts - you need to identify if your dog has juvenile cataract; if this is the case, find another dog to breed. Cataracts have different causes and they are also in different forms.

Every year, dogs should be checked by a vet certified by the AVCO. Visit the CERF or Canine Eye Registry Foundation if you live in the United States. Dogs registered under this foundation are free from any eye problems. It is vital for dogs to be checked annually to ensure that they are free from eye problems which are considered hereditary. There are times when the problems show up late but if you consult with CERF, you're guaranteed to breed to a dog without potential eye problems.

Dog breeding is serious business. Even if you're only doing it for pleasure or as a hobby, you should ensure that the puppies are in best condition. Who would want to purchase a pup with eye problems? It is your responsibility to make sure that the parents are not carriers of the eye problems or are not presently affected by it.

Hip problems with different dog breeds should be identified at an early stage. If you think that smaller dogs are safe from joint problems, you're wrong. Joint problems can attack any breed of dog at any point in time. Since you can't be too sure if your dog is suffering from joint problems or not, this article can help you in determining if your dog has a problem.

The most common problem with dogs is hip dysplasia. This refers to the deterioration or malformation of the hip joint. The hip joint sits on a socket that secures the femur's head. If the socket is excessively shallow, the condition is called hip dysplasia. This should be addressed immediately because if you leave it unattended, the dog can suffer from extreme pain especially when the cartilage is already destroyed. Asymptomatic dogs are not encouraged to be bred. Larger breeds of dogs are often affected by this problem but certain studies revealed that smaller breeds can also be affected like the Shetland Sheepdogs and Cocker Spaniels.

It's not easy to tell if your dog has hip dysplasia. The dog should be radio graphed. Only experts can give appropriate analysis. The vet can't do this and you will be asked to send the hip x-ray to the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals in the US. The evaluation will be sent back to you after several weeks. If you live anywhere in Britain, Europe, and Canada, equivalent programs are also available but the certification varies depending on the dog's age.

Certain organizations issue certifications for dogs aged one year and above while other organizations entertain only the requests for dogs aged over two years. Find an organization that issues the appropriate certification.

Another joint problem is OCD or Osteochondrosis Dessicans. This problem is concentrated on the elbow. This happens when the flake or bone spur wears out and it brings about stiffness and a lot of pain. In order get the exact evaluation, you will need an x-ray of your dog's elbow joint. Dogs who are currently suffering from hip dysplasia may also be suffering from OCD.

Patellar Luxation is another joint problem. It affects the dog's kneecaps and if you're breeding smaller dogs, beware as they are more prone to this condition as compared to larger dog breeds. When the kneecap slides out of its place, it will lock the dog's leg straight. Don't worry because after accurate diagnosis, your dog can undergo surgery. However, breeding dogs with this particular problem is not a good idea because this condition is hereditary. There is a high chance that the puppies can inherit the condition as well.

If you try to consult an expert, you will know more about the various joint problems among dogs. Aside from the conditions mentioned earlier, dogs can also suffer from hock (a spine problem). There are still many other join problems that you should know about. Before breeding dogs, you should already have adequate knowledge about the dog breed you're handling. Research about their bloodlines and potential joint problems; since most of the conditions are hereditary, you should be extra careful when choosing the dogs you breed.

Being a breeder is not easy. Keep yourself well-informed so that you can be successful in dog breeding. Make sure that your dogs are healthy and in perfect condition.  

There is always a first time in everything. The successful breeders that people know today also once were a beginner like you. Don't be discouraged by the challenges that you're going to face because of you're determined to become a breeder and you have the passion for it, you too can become a successful dog breeder. And who knows, you might become extremely popular in the dog breeding business?

You must admit it... dog breeding is really tough especially for newbies like you. You will need to invest money, time, and effort. Don't plunge into something that you hardly know anything about. So the key here is to research, research, and research. As you can see, you need to do a lot of research about dog breeding. With knowledge comes power but the actual situation is different. Once you're equipped with the right knowledge in dog breeding, you should consult an expert breeder. Visit his place and see how things are doing. By doing so, you can feel the actual dog breeding experience. 

Why don't you get a female dog to start out? It should be two years old because this is the perfect time for breeding since the female is already capable to care for puppies. You need to get a good female. Make sure that the female is registered and the best in her breed. She should not possess any genetic faults and health issues.

After finding your female dog, you need to find a stud. Some studs are for sale while others can be accessed by paying a fee. Reputable and popular dog breeds are expensive but if you want to produce the good looking puppies, you should opt for the experienced studs. Even if your friend has a stud, forget about it. Get only the best. You can check out the kennel club in your area. Look for the certification of the dog and after clear arrangements, you can now bring your female to the stud for mating. This arrangement is much better so that the owner of the stud can assists the mating process. First time females can be very tricky so you need expert help.

If you're going to do it for personal reasons (i.e. to have more puppies at home or you want to give it to relatives), it's a fine hobby. For those who want to engage in business, you need to secure a permit. In some states, the law requires dog breeders to get kennel permits although in some states, they don't. For legal protection, it would be best to have a permit. You see, you can't exactly tell if you're going to encounter problems or not. Of your neighbor complains about the barking of dogs at night, you will be protected if you have a permit but if you don't, you're in trouble.

So you see being a newbie is not as extremely difficult as it seems. Well, it may be hard at first but once you start breeding, it's a rewarding experience. Seeing cute puppies can really make you happy. Nothing beats seeing the happy faces of the new owners of the puppies when they leave your place. Again, learn as much as you can about dog breeding.

With the knowledge you've learned and the help of expert breeders and vet, you will definitely succeed as a breeder.

After your bitch gives birth to puppies, it is now time to care for them. Puppy care is not as easy as it looks. It entails a lot of responsibilities that you need to attend to as a breeder. Dog breeding does not end when your female dog gets pregnant; it is only the beginning.  

For the pre whelping preparation, you should have a proper-sized box that is clean and sturdy. Try to incorporate some sort of ?pig rail' so that the mother dog won't smash or lay on the puppies. The female should be able to move freely from one position to another inside the box but it should not be too big because the puppies might get lost in the box's unused portions. Use a box that is more or less 6 inches longer and a foot wider from the sides of the bitch.

After you've chosen a whelping box, get clean plastic and newspapers. Arrange them in layers. First, put a sheet of plastic and on top, place several sheets of newspaper; place another plastic and several newspapers. Make 4-5 layers of plastic and newspaper. When you're dog is placed inside the whelping box together with her puppies, you will simply roll-off the messy layer of newspaper and plastic. Dispose of it properly and you will instantly have another clean layer of paper and plastic.

Breeders have their own preference when it comes to preparing the whelping box. Some don't like using newspapers and plastic because the puppies get dirty due to the feces and prints. There are those who use synthetic materials and they place it on top of the absorbent materials. Other breeders prefer to use about 6 inches deep of pine shavings. Well, no matter what you put inside the whelping box, you will still need to ensure that everything is clean from time to time. Get rid of any feces you see inside the box.

Newborn pups should always be kept comfortable and warm. You need to ensure that the temperature inside the whelping box is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit; then you need to decrease it about 2 degrees in the succeeding days. If the puppy chilled, don't attempt to feed it. If you see any chilled puppy, keep it warm by tucking it under your shirt or even your armpit; you can also put it in a separate whelping box with a heating pad. Put a towel over the chilled puppy but you need to ensure that the temperature is not too high. Observe at the actions of the pups. When they are cold, they cry and clump together. When it's too hot, the pups separate and try to finds a shade.

If the female gives birth to a lot of puppies, you should prepare supplemental feeding to ensure that all pups survive. You can also arrange shifts for the feeding time of the pups. Purchase a milk supplement for puppies. You can also consult milk recipes and don't forget to get feeding bottles. However, if the pups won't suckle, you need to tube-feed them.

Caring for pups requires time and effort especially of you have a large litter of them. Make sure that you know a lot of information about puppy care so that they can survive the most critical times of their life. Help your bitch in caring for her pups.  

When breeding dogs, you need to have a stud and a bitch. Without them, you can't produce puppies. Since the two dogs will serve as your tool to have puppies, you need to have them regularly checked. Medical checks are extremely important to ensure the health and overall condition of your dogs. If you want to become a full time breeder or you simply want to produce additional dogs for your family, you should know a great deal about dog breeding. If this is your first time, then you still have a lot to learn.

You can't produce healthy puppies if there is sterility problems involved. If one or both parents have sterility problems, the puppies have very little chance of survival. They may be aborted or they can die later on. Are you aware that this condition can be transmitted to humans through feces or urine? This is true and as a dog breeder, you should be aware of it and not only that, you should also be extra careful when handling them. The condition is called brucellosis and it can also be transmitted to other dogs through sexual intercourse or through secretions found in the kennels of the affected dog. Vaccinations are important to ensure that the male dog is in general good health and the female should have the capacity to withstand the rigors and stresses of pregnancy.

Aside from brucellosis, you should also look out for other conditions that can compromise the health and safety of your dogs. Some dogs are deaf. Although it is hard to tell at first, with close observation, you may be able to identify this problem immediately. Have your dog undergo BAER test and if your pet is truly deaf, you should have your dog neutered.

Who says heart conditions are only for humans? Well, dogs can also suffer heart conditions. A very common example of a heart condition is the SAS or Sub aortic Stenosis. Other problems are caused by malformations of the valves or the heart itself.

Other diseases to watch out for are Willebrand's disease, hemophilia, digestive problems, malabsorptive syndromes, epilepsy, allergies, and incorrect temperament.

Dog breeding is not a very easy activity. Whether you're doing it to earn extra income or just a simple past time, you should ensue the health of the stud and bitch, as well as their future puppies. Breeding involves a lot of research work. You should know a lot about the ancestors of your dog breeds. You can conduct an online research or you can read good books on dog breeding. If you can consult an expert breeder, you may do so because you can learn a lot from the pros. You can't get it all the first time but if you're in luck, a litter of healthy and cute puppies are guaranteed. Learn everything and don't hesitate to exert a little effort. If you educate yourself, you will not find it hard to deal with dog problems.

Medical checks and dog breeding go hand in hand. You can't possibly produce healthy puppies if you don't have good male and female dogs. Find a local vet who can help you with the regular check ups of your precious pets. Now that you know the importance of regular check ups, make sure that you include it in your list of priorities.