Safe Breeding Guidelines

For those people who would like to breed their dogs and have their own breeding business, there are several guidelines that they must follow in order to be successful. Some of those guidelines happen to be in place by the AKC or American Kennel Club. Many breeders follow their suggestions and standards because it is not only the way to have higher-priced puppies, but the AKC's guidelines are in place to provide healthy and comfortable puppies for pet owners across the nation. What's more- registering the newborn puppies with the American Kennel Club sends the message that you, in fact, are breeding and raising your pure-bred puppies to be up the AKC's standards.

There are a few common-sense guidelines to follow if you are just starting out breeding dogs. You may have thought about some of these before but have never sought out the answer. Familiarizing yourself, though, with certain guidelines provides the best and safest way to breed and raise young puppies.

Preparing for breeding is one of the most important things that a breeder will want to do first. Getting the necessary supplies, like doggie beds and food dishes, are of utmost importance. Equally important is the fact that they need safe, clean, and comfortable places to sleep. Will it be inside in a large house or will the dogs have their own place to roam around in?

One of the next things that you should do before breeding two dogs is to make sure that they are both in a clean bill of health. From a matter of experience- one of my relatives purchased a male Silky Terrier over the internet with the intention of having him to breed with a female Silky Terrier; however, the male dog was found to have a serious heart problem. Getting your dogs checked out by your veterinarian will assure you that both dogs are fit and healthy enough for breeding.
Another matter that you should consider is when you will breed your dogs and how often. Some amateur or beginner breeders may have little clue as to what the American Kennel Club recognizes as the safest time periods and guidelines to breed dogs. The general rule of thumb is to allow a female dog to breed about four times over the span of her life. This is to be sure that not only she will stay as healthy as possible, but dogs need rest every now and then anyway! Accordingly, the same general guidelines apply to the males also. It is safe to allow a male dog to mate with a female three times per year.

There are other formal guidelines that the AKC suggests for breeders. Many of them can be found on their website along with the ability to register your dogs and litters with the organization. If you want more advice from more experienced breeders, consider joining a breeding support group. Many of them will be willing to share hints and advice from their breeding experience. Getting the know-how, though, before you delve into a serious matter like breeding pure-bred dogs is crucial to the upkeep and success of the animals!