Breeding from your Dog or Bitch
Think long and hard about this as it is not an easy option for making money. You may see the price tag at the end but the process of getting there takes a lot of money and time. If you are lucky you may break even.
Neither female or male dogs need to mate or breed to fulfil their life. They will not be happier to have just done it once. A neutered dog or spayed bitch is just as happy playing in the park and having a cuddle. They don't miss what they have never known. Seriously talk to your vet and reputable breeders if you think you would like to breed from you bitch. Read lots of books and get lots of advice. Trace the pedigrees back and try to talk to the breeders of the dogs in your dogs pedigree to find out if any problems arose in the dogs life.
It is a major commitment for the life of the puppies even after they have gone to their new homes.
Don't ever imagine that breeding will make you money, it won't.
Puppy Farms
Puppy farms only make money because they do not care about the bitches they breed from or the puppy's that are produced. They do not invest the time and money needed to make sure that when the puppy's leave at 8 weeks (usually 6 weeks from a puppy farm) they are socialised and handled, have been fed an excellent diet and that they go to new homes as well adjusted youngsters ready to start their new life. They rarely make sure that the parents have the required health checks or that the pedigrees are compatible and that the pups that are produced are improvements on the parents or even conform to the bred standard. They charge over the top prices for inferior puppies that often have problems all their life. There is no comeback or advice they simply churn them out like in a factory. They often have many different breeds of dog and produce "pure" breeds and "designer" crosses. This is the only way they make money.
They wont remember who you are or which puppy you bought and are not interested in how you are getting on.
Kennel Club Registered/Assured Breeders
Proper breeding is a hobby and a commitment and an expensive one at that. Reputable breeders often have an interest in the Show world and as such are always trying to improve on what animals they have. They will make sure that their animals are free from health problems, especially hereditary ones, they will follow the pedigree lines back through the parentage looking for faults that might show up. They study genetics to improve the breed.
They care about the puppies they produce and where they go. They will provide you with advice, back up and usually a puppy pack full of goodies! for your puppy.
They usually like to hear how the pup is doing and will remember who you and the puppy are.
Using your Bitch to breed a litter
Firstly you must be aware that breeding a litter can be dangerous for you bitch. You must be prepared that you could lose her and/or the puppies if something goes wrong. If she is your family pet, be aware of the heart ache you may get.
You must make sure that you bitch is a worthy example or the breed and come from good lines. She should be free of inherited complaints and be disease free. All the suggested inherited health problems are checked for and that she is in tip top condition. Fit, not under or overweight. Up to date with her vaccination and worming. She should be over 18 months and under 4 to have her first litter.
She must have an excellent temperament.
Financial expenses that you will or may have are as follows:
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Large vet bills are very common when breeding. From needing a caesarean when a puppy is stuck or problems afterwards with mastitis or uterine infections. These bills can run into hundreds if not thousand and will not be covered by any insurance.
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You will need to make sure the room the puppies are born in and spend the first 4-5 weeks in is very warm it should be kept at a constant temperature of about 75 - 85 degrees. Heating bills in the winter will be very large.
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Your Bitch will need larger feeds during her pregnancy and then through the lactating period. She will be having 4 - 5 meals a day or puppy food or special breeding bitch diet.
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You may want an Ultrasound scan of your bitch - this varies from £30 to £60, this is useful to know how many pups you are expecting or it may be necessary if the vet thinks there may be a problem.
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You will need to do all the necessary health test before you mate your dog. These can be very expensive, and some dogs need several different tests.
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As the pups grow you will need to wean them onto good quality food. This can be very expensive if you have a large litter. Nine boxer puppies can get through 14kg of food in less than a week at 6 - 7 weeks of age and at £35 - £40 a bag this adds up.
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You will need to worm the bitch during pregnancy from day 40 every day and the puppies 3 times before they go to their new homes.
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We microchip our puppies. This varies in cost but can work out at approx £35 per pup from some places. We do it to safeguard our puppies if they ever become lost.
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We give our puppies their first vaccination and a full vet examination before they go. This makes sure they start their new life with a little protection and are half way to their full protection and being able to go out for walks. This also makes sure that we send them away with no known problems. This cost between £250 and £350 or even more for an average litter.
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We send our puppies away with a very large puppy packs including food, toys, a collar, harness and lead, a blanket, and lots of useful information in a file and all this goes in a reusable bag.
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Our puppies are all registered with the kennel club this cost £14 per pup.
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You will have a lot of washing, needing detergent, hot water and wear and tear on your machine.
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Lots of Black Sacks and trips to the dump. You will use loads of newspapers.
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You will need to purchase or make a Whelping box and several pieces of Vetbed.
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Your home and garden will be chewed, Peed on and Pooped on!
As you can see, by the time you have paid for all this there is very little profit in it at all if you do it properly and care about your puppies.
Puppies take a lot of time:
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I spent the week before Millie gave birth sleeping with her in case she went into labour in the night.
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I slept with the puppies and Millie for five weeks afterwards to make sure Millie did not lie on any of them and to let Millie out for a wee in the night as they drink a lot when they are feeding.
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The puppies bed needs changing frequently, several times a day or more.
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As they get bigger they need entertaining, socialising and handling. They nails need clipping.
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They need an exercise area, toilet area and sleeping area as they grow.
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The Toilet area will need changing or cleaning every time they wee or poo.
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The bed area will need changing every other day if they just sleep in there and don't soil it but everyday if they do.
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If they go out in your garden, you will need to pick up all their poo promptly. Puppies often have worms and this can present a danger to children.
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You need to spend time making sure that the new homes that they go to are acceptable and that the new owners understand the 10+ year commitment they are taking on. It is your responsibility to ensure as much as you can the future happiness and safety of your pups.
As you can see, puppies take a huge amount of time. It is impossible to spend the time required if you have a job or demanding children.
Remember :
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You will also need to be prepared to keep puppies that do not find homes and accept the return of puppies that people can not cope with or don't get on with, you may even have to accept an older dog back if the new owners can't keep it anymore.
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If you bring them into the world you are responsible for them for their entire life.
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Breeding a litter takes a huge toll on the bitch and you must be prepared to get her back into peek health and fitness after her pups have gone. She will need a lot of your time and love.
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If you lose the bitch or she is unable to feed or care for the puppies, you will have to do this. This involves feeds every 1/2 hour even through the night. Helping them to go to the toilet and generally doing everything that their mum would have done.
It is a major commitment, do not consider it lightly.
Using your Dog at Stud
If you are thinking of using your dog at stud, be sure you know what you are letting yourself in for. Most dogs that are used at Stud are top show dogs. They meet the breed standard and are good examples of the breed. They will need to be free of inherited diseases and infections.
He will need to have all the relevant health test done and above all have an excellent temperament.
Once your dog has mated a bitch he will remember it and want to do it again. He will search out bitches on heat and could be aggressive towards other male dogs if females are around. He may also be embarrassing in the home with female friends as he tries to be amorous with them.
In my opinion Temperament is one of the most important things. We do not want the Boxer to be added to the list of dangerous dogs. Boxers should have a wonderful nature and be totally trustworthy. If you could not say this about your dog or bitch, under no circumstances should you even consider breeding from them. Temperament is hereditary.
