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!
