Dog Breeder's Checklist

There are great responsibilities that come with breeding a litter of puppies. The practice of breeding dogs can be a very rewarding experience, but only if a person is willing to devote a lot of time and money. People that are contemplating becoming a dog breeder must ensure they:

• have sufficient time to dedicate to a litter of puppies until they are old enough to move into their new homes (usually around eight weeks);
• have enough knowledge to advise new owners about the various aspects of caring for their puppies, including rearing, diet, training and health issues;
• have enough money to pay for the recommended health tests for the bitch prior to mating and, where necessary, her litter;
• possess the skills to help the bitch during the whelping, if necessary;
• can afford to pay for a caesarean in the event of the dam having difficulty whelping the litter;
• can cope with a very large litter of puppies (often between 9-12);
• have sufficient knowledge to rear the litter correctly, i.e. worming, vaccinations and socialisation;
• would be able to find good homes for the puppies to move into;
• are in a suitable position to take back or re-home any puppies, if required.