Some facts about dog breeding

Please share these with anyone you know that is considering breeding their dog...it could save a life!

Breeding your dog and having a litter of puppies seems like a relatively effortless task. You get all the cute puppies, and you can make a few bucks in the process! All you need is a female dog with "papers" and you're in business!

This could not be farther from the truth!

Having just one litter of puppies is seriously risking your dog's health, maybe even her life! Shouldn't you know of the risks involved before doing this with your dog?

"Papers" such as AKC or UKC registration does not mean the dog will get a good home. It means uneducated people may be more apt to want the dog. All they are is a good selling point. Papers do not reflect the quality of a puppy, simply the fact that someone paid money to register the animal.

Many genetic problems that run rampant in breeds are not readily apparent in young mothers and fathers. You could realistically produce very sick puppies, and then it's your responsibility to either spend a LOT of money fixing them, or have them euthanized. Neither option is very fun.

One in four homeless dogs is purebred. Read that statistic again. Then ask yourself why on earth you are breeding your dog. Do we need more purebred dogs with AKC papers to find homes for? Puppies are easy to give away, but once they lose the initial cuteness, they become unpopular. Many die in shelters.

On a similar note, contact a breed rescue representative for the breed of dog you want to "produce," and ask how many purebred, papered dogs they have waiting for homes. The numbers are staggering.

There are ten times as many dogs as there are homes in America. Would you be doing anyone a favor besides yourself?

If altruism, or simply the good of the dogs you are producing, does not make you reconsider, please consider the health risks you are placing your breeding bitch under. Even if you want to just make a buck, you'll still care if your "money-maker" dog lives or dies, or is able to ever reproduce again.

There are plenty of healthy, loving dogs looking for homes; few will find one!
Please don't make more that have to die!