Laying a good foundation

Pick the right dog for you!

Choosing the Right Puppy for you

When selecting the type of dog you would like to raise, there are a few key factors to consider: (links to each article)

• Which breeds would you like as a pet?
• Which breeds have the least difficulty whelping?
• Which breeds have the least health problems?
• Which breeds have enough puppies in a litter to cover the costs associated with raising dogs?
• Which breeds have the potential to sell for the most?

Avoid purchasing a puppy based on popularity and price tag alone. Before the dog is used for breeding, the dog will be a pet. Choose a puppy based on what you and your family will want to adopt for yourselves. This is a long-term purchase, not simply a trial business venture.

Some markets are oversaturated with certain breeds. Adding another breeder to the mix is fine, but only increases the need for more competitive marketing and might mean you end up with a few puppies at the end that are difficult to find homes for. Doodles, Labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers fall into this category in many places. However, if you have always wanted one of these breeds, then purchase one! Perhaps you may want to purchase a silver Labrador retriever or an English cream golden retriever to make your breeding program just a little more unique.

Try to be aware of what the trends are in the dog world. French bulldogs are on the rise in popularity, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you should run out and buy one. Consider if the French bulldog’s personality is right for your family. French bulldogs also need extra attention and help during whelping than many other breeds. How much are you willing to do during the birthing process?

Instead focus on your family and which type of dog fits into your lifestyle. Most likely there are several different types of breeds that would fit. List your favorite top five breeds and why you like them. After you have your list, look at your local market. There is a local newspaper, website, or other marketing tool for every state. Many local breeders in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming use KSL Classifieds. Breeders in Oregon use The Oregonian. If you are unsure what local breeders use in your state, you can always refer to national marketing chains such as AKC Marketplace or Good Dog. 

Once you have found the local marketing source for breeders in your area, search the favorite dog breeds you wrote on your list. Next to each breed on your list write down two things:

1. The number of breeders currently advertising puppies for sale
2. The average price each puppy is being listed

From these numbers, you will be able to identify the dog breeds that have the least amount of breeders and the highest price tag. Ideally, you want to find a niche where there are not too many breeders to compete against and yet you can still charge enough to make all the work of breeding worthwhile. 

In the end, pick a dog you would want as an additional adopted member of your family that you can also use for breeding and making into a fun side-hobby business. This is a dog that can ideally be included in your home and lifestyle that you will love as a companion. When you breed a dog you love, you are sharing that love with the world and giving other people the opportunity to have that love in their home just like you do. 

Consider buying the female first

Males are usually ready to start mating between 6-8 months old. Females, however, are usually not ready until almost two years old. In fact, when you start breeding a female makes a big difference in her growth and development for the future. Ideally, you want to breed a female after her first heat, and as close to before she turns two as possible. This helps her hips be ready for birth and her maturity to be ready to take on the responsibilities of motherhood. 

Use the two years before breeding the female to prepare her to be a good mother. Give her obedience training, integrate her into a regular routine with your family, and socialize her with everyone and everything you can think of. Here are some easy socializing tips. As a puppy, you should introduce her to all different sounds, textures, and ages of people. Whatever she has interacted with in a positive way as a puppy will be less likely to intimidate her as an adult. 

In addition to obedience classes and socializing, as a responsible breeder you will need to complete some exams. DNA Health screenings are easy to perform and usually under $200. Just a cotton swab of the inside of the cheek is all you need to do and then this is sent to a lab to be analyzed for specific common health concerns your dog may carry. Some good places to have this done is Embark Vet or Wisdom Panel. These tests can be completed at any age, so it is recommended to do them as soon as possible. 

The tests include DNA health screenings as well as physical trait tests. If you have an AKC registered dog, which you should for breeding, the physical trait tests are optional. The genetic health conditions are what you really want to get the results for before starting to breed. You want to confidently know your dog has good genetics with the fewest problems. This test should be done on the stud as well. 

When you have concluded that your dog has good genetics as far as the common health concerns go, then consider other more in-depth exams. Some exams that are very important to consider are Pennhip (can be done before a dog is 2 years old) and OFA for hips (can be done after a dog is 2 years old). Before you start breeding, you will want to complete both the genetic health screening and either the Pennhip or OFA for hips exams. You can read more about these exams here.