Good puppies start long before breeding ever takes place. Both parents need long-term care-what dog people call conditioning-to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding tests, and regular exercise and good nutrition. Bitches especially should not be overweight and be in good muscle tone before breeding. Additionally, a bitch that is in good mental condition will make a better mother than a bitch that is insecure, snappy, or has an otherwise unstable temperament.

One month before breeding, the bitch should have a thorough pre-breeding physical examination by a veterinarian. Her vaccinations should be current, and she should be tested and treated for parasites.

You may also want to have the bitch tested for brucellosis, an infectious bacterial disease that can cause sterility or spontaneous abortion in affected dogs. Males should also be tested for brucellosis. If a male is used for frequent breedings, a brucellosis test before each mating is probably impractical. In these cases, he should be checked twice yearly and be kept away from pregnant, whelping, or nursing bitches to prevent transmission of the bacteria.

You have performed all necessary health checks, genetic screening, and selected the perfect mate for your bitch. Now it's time to work out the details of the mating.

It is an excellent idea to work out a contract with the owner of the stud dog before breeding takes place. The agreement concerning stud fees should be in writing and clearly state all obligations and circumstances. All parties should sign the contract and each signer should receive a copy.

The stud fee is set by the stud dog's owner. The mode of payment may differ. The stud owner may request a cash fee, "pick of the litter", one or more puppies from the resulting litter, etc. The collection of the stud fee is the stud owner's responsibility. The contract may state that the owner of the sire is not obligated to sign an AKC litter registration application until the stud fee has been paid. Keep in mind that the AKC cannot settle disputes between individuals in regards to contracts and breeding arrangements.

Back to Select the Breeding Pair, Know Your Genetics

Next-Breeding Day

References: Portions of this article were taken from this source

American Kennel Club. Responsible Breeding Steps. http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/index.cfm