How to Breed Dogs

If you plan to breed your bitch, you should first make certain she is healthy. This will help to ensure she has an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. Complications can also be minimized by waiting until your bitch is full grown before breeding her and supplying her with a high quality diet rich with supplements.

It is also important to choose a mate wisely when breeding. Ideally the bitch you have chosen to breed will be free of any flaws you do not wish to pass onto the next generation of puppies. It is important to research the breed carefully and have your bitch evaluated for common problems with the specific breed such as hip, eye or ear problems. You should only breed bitches that have satisfactory ratings and should select a mate who also has a similar health history. You should also seek out a mate who does not have flaws you do not wish to pass onto the puppies. Both the bitch and the dog should be free of genetic flaws, well constructed and of a sound temperament. Additionally, you may wish to evaluate certain skills if you are breeding for a specific purpose such as herding or hunting. In these cases you will want to breed dogs and bitches that possess sound instincts.

Next you should consider whether you plan on inbreeding, line breeding or outcrossing. Inbreeding is the process of breeding dogs which are closely related such as full brother and sister, ½ brother and ½ sister or parent and offspring. Line breeding involves breeding two animals who share one common ancestor but are not otherwise closely related. Outcrossing occurs when the dogs do not share a common ancestor. Inbreeding and line breeding are often practiced to maintain the characteristics of the line while outcrossing is often used to correct flaws in the line by breeding a dog with a flaw to an unrelated dog who does not share this flaw.

Once you select a bitch and dog to mate, you should carefully determine when to put the bitch and the dog together. Most bitches are most likely to become pregnant 10-12 days after they go into heat. You may wish to visit your veterinarian regularly for hormonal tests to indicate when your bitch is ready or you can choose to put the bitch and the stud dog together early and several additional times while she is still in heat.

Once your bitch is pregnant, you should monitor her carefully to ensure she remains safe and healthy. The gestational period for a dog is approximately 60-64 days. During the first three weeks the bitch will not have nutritional needs which are significantly different from her regular needs. However, in the last several weeks, she should be fed puppy food which is typically higher in fat. She should also be fed more and her meals should be divided into smaller frequent meals to help maintain optimal health during the pregnancy. She should be fed puppy food until the puppies are born and weaned. Weaning typically occurs when the puppies are six weeks old.

Once the puppies are born, a responsible breeder should ensure the puppies are placed in excellent homes. The homes should be loving, safe and knowledgeable about the breed. Additionally, breeders should always be willing to take back a dog they have bred for any reason.