RBTclub
Breeding a Litter
SO YOU WANT A LITTER OF PUPPIES ?
Ask Yourself WHY???
"To make a lot of money." Do you realize the expense involved in such items
as advertising, vet bills, stud fee, food, etc., to name a few?
"Because it would be good for the children to watch the birth and play with the
puppies as they grow up." Actually, the "gory" parts of the whelping repulse
most kids, who are all too anxious to just skip the viewing of the miracle of
birth you have planned for them to see. And a litter growing up is too rowdy
for most kids who are usually totally disinterested or absolutely terrified of the
leaping creatures with the sharp nails and teeth. If you want the kids to see a
puppy grow up, its probably better to BUY ONE!!!
"Because we love her so much we want one just like her." The chances of
getting one "just like her" are very slim indeed.
"Because everyone who comes to the house and sees our bitch wants a puppy
when she has a litter." Just wait until your litter of 12 is ready to go to their
homes and watch all those people back out with excuses like...."The kids aren't
old enough."...."The kids are too old now to be bothered with caring for a
dog."......"We are going to have a baby."...."The rug is too new."...."The house
is too small."...."We'll be moving in 3 months."....."Grandma doesn't like
dogs."...."Our old dog hasn't died yet."....."It might not get along with the
cat.".....And it does happen the list goes on and on!
"Because we really love little puppies." You'd better be sure you love them.
You can't fully imagine how much is involved, such as the mess a litter makes.
Can you put up with the cleaning that is constantly needed in caring for the
litter? There is no way to explain how tired you get of scrubbing up after the
puppies, their whelping box, the yard, kennel, or wherever they are kept. They
dump their food and water the minute you put it down, step in it, and drag it
through whatever else may be in the puppy box, and with 6 or 8 or 12 puppies,
there's always something else to be cleaned up too!
Do you understand the RESPONSIBILITY you will have with a litter?
It's not just the bitch having the litter and caring for it until they are ready to
go. Most of it is up to you and you're tied to the litter like any new mother,
only you can't take the litter with you to your in-laws for the weekend, or
anyplace else for that matter, so you'd better be content to spend all too long,
because you have to be there to fee the puppies four times a day and you are
constantly cleaning up after them!
Now that you have some idea of what is involved other than playing with those
cute, cuddly puppies and are still determined to breed, here's something else
that should be considered.
If you can answer "yes" to the above , then read on...
Get an opinion of your bitch from a few reputable breeders. Find out what they think are her faults and her
virtues.
Learn about any problems that exist in your breed such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, etc. Study the breed
standard yourself so that you are familiar with it when looking at and evaluating possible stud dogs. Get
several reputable breeder's opinions of a stud dog who will enhance your bitch. Go to see as many of the stud
dogs and their offspring as you can.
After you have decided on a stud dog, take your bitch to the vet and have all necessary health clearances
done She should have a general health check-up and the vet will let you know if any vitamin supplements
are necessary. This exam should include: a worm check (take along a stool sample) , brucellosis test,
updating of vaccinations, blood panel. Don't forget, all this is going to cost money, but it's necessary, part of
planning for a healthy litter.
Now while you wait for her to come into season, read all you can on your particular breed, breeding,
whelping, and rearing puppies.
Start saving all your newspapers and have your friends do the same (remember what we told you about
clean-up?) You'll need all the newspaper you can get your hands on.
Have a whelping box built or, if you are handy, build one yourself. More money!
When the bitch comes in season, contact the stud dog owner with whom you have previously made
arrangements regarding the breeding. You will be advised on when to bring your bitch. Plan to pay the stud
fee at the time of breeding (£££) There may also be a boarding charge if your bitch is to stay with the stud
dog's owner (£££). Be sure you understand in advance what the payment of the stud fee is guaranteeing. The
suitable stud for your bitch may be some distance away involving additional travelling expense (£££).
Getting your bitch in whelp isn't always as easy as you might imagine and may require repeated trips to the
stud dog.
After your bitch is mated you have about 63 more days to do more reading and thinking, and laced with the
good thoughts about the precious darlings will be some horrible thoughts about what can go wrong and how
much it will cost you, both financially and emotionally
Things DO go wrong
Do hate to keep dwelling on this but things DO go wrong occasionally and you should be prepared in case it
happens to you.
(1) What if your bitch has problems and requires a Caesarean section or other extensive vet services (£500-
£1000)?
(2) What if the puppies die?
(3) What if she is not in whelp or has a miscarriage?
(4) What are you going to do with 10 six month old puppies that you can't sell, give away, or have the heart
to put to sleep? Do you have adequate facilities?
(5) What if your bitch can't or won't nurse the puppies? Are you prepared to feed them every two hours for
the next three weeks?
(6) And worst of all, what if your bitch dies while whelping or afterwards? Will it have been worth it?
The days pass, and the bitch whelps her puppies without any problems, but you still have to take her to the
vet to be checked over within 24 hours of delivery. She will probably get injections to prevent infections
(£50-100). Lucky for you, she has whelped 10 healthy puppies.
At 3 weeks you start weaning them off the bitch, you have to feed a good quality food to rear strong health
puppies (£££)
They are almost 6 weeks old now and in two weeks it will be time to sell them. First they will all have to
make a trip to the vet. Their check-up will include shots and a worm check with medication if necessary (10
x £25-£40). As well
You also have to register them with the Kennel Club. Litter Registration by the Breeder (per puppy) 10 x £12
= £120. Five generation pedigree £6.00 per puppy
Now that you know they are healthy and ready to go, you'll want a breeder to see just how gorgeous they are
and how great you did on your first try. Of course, you think they are all show quality and worth show prices.
But again be prepared because you might be told the following:
(1) The best male has only one testicle.
(2) The next best male toes out badly (but has both testicles.)
(3) The really pretty bitch has a bad bite.
(4) The smaller bitch has a proper bite but her topline is bad.
(5) The bitch with the prettiest head is cowhocked.
(6) There are four who are average, nothing really wrong but nothing outstanding either.
There is one who is show quality. The "show quality" one is the one you were going to keep just as a pet
because the kids liked it best (another mouth to feed £££) and you're feeling down at the breeder's opinion of
your litter. But you're told to cheer up, one outstanding puppy is better than a lot of people get out of a litter
and you should consider this a successful breeding, Some consolation when you were going to sell them all
as show puppies!
Now you are ready to sell them. By this time, are you knowledgeable enough about your breed to be the
expert every buyer assumes you are? Are you prepared to answer questions on training, housebreaking,
feeding, grooming, etc.? Are you prepared to answer these questions not only at the time of purchase, but
months later or when someone calls at midnight because the dog isn't eating right? Can you direct buyers to
obedience classes, breed handling classes, help them get into showing, recommend a vet, etc.? Remember,
you are now the breeder and the responsibility doesn't end when a puppy is carried out the door. Do you have
a pedigree and puppy pack ready to go with each puppy, as well as the registration forms? Are you prepared
to advertise extensively (£25+) if needed?
If you have a good bitch and have bred to a stud dog owned by an interested breeder, they may send referrals
to you, but don't depend on others to sell your puppies and advertising expenses can really add up. Don't
expect the buyers to flock to your door the day the puppies are ready to go. It may take weeks, or even
months, before they are all sold. This results in lots of food costs and more trips to the vet (£££).
We hope that if you breed your bitch you do it the right way and only for the right reasons and put lots of
time, thought, and love into your decision.
All Show Results
