How to breed dogs ethically

Breeding a litter of puppies is simply magical. From conception to birth and beyond, it is one of the most rewarding and joyous journeys a dog lover can undertake. Being present for the arrival of new life, and being a part of the early puppy days is delightful… and if you know just how divine a baby puppy smells then you already know what I am talking about! 

However, choosing to raise a litter of puppies is a huge responsibility. Bringing new life into the world is a privilege and one that should be undertaken with prior knowledge, education and lots of research. 

That applies if you are breeding one litter, or ten litters. 

As mutual dog lovers, I am sure we all agree that the dogs of our future ALL deserve the very best of starts. Being a breeder is like being a chef, you have to study and understand all of the essential ingredients, how they work together and how to bake them into the perfect pie. 

Defining why you want to breed

Being clear on why you want to breed is the starting point. There are lots of reasons people decide to breed. Are you aiming to better your chosen breed? Are you focussing on breeding for working or show purposes? Is your goal centred around breeding dogs for dog sport? Or is your heart set on ensuring your puppies grow into the perfect family pet? Whatever your motivation, it should centre around what you are adding to the dog world, not around what the dog world can add to you. 

Health testing dogs

To ensure that you do not breed from dogs that are unhealthy, breeders must run health tests on both proposed parents. Note we have said health tests, not health checks. 

A health check is when a vet looks over a dog and sees that it is fit and well on any given day, a bit like an MOT on a car. 

Health tests are a deeper dive into the dog's genetic health and give breeders a much clearer picture of what could be going on under the surface.  

Genetically, unhealthy dogs can pass those unhealthy genetics onto their puppies, which of course no one would want to do! Luckily for us, there are lots of scientific wizards who have developed tests that we can have done to ensure that the puppies we breed are as healthy as possible.  

To start this process, it is best to research the required and advised health tests for your breed. My top tip for this is to speak to your breed club, they will have a health coordinator who is dedicated to improving the health of the breed. They will often be a fountain of knowledge on the health tests you need to run, and where the best place is to have them done. 

The tests may include DNA tests, Eye & Hearing tests, Hip & Elbow scoring to name a few. Some of the tests can be done at home by you, some require a vet or vet specialist. It varies from breed to breed, but remember both parents should be tested to ensure optimum health. 

Understanding breed conformation

Health also extends to the conformation of a dog. Conformation is the word we use to describe build, shape and size. Ensuring that a dog is structurally suitable for breeding is crucial for long-term health and well-being. 

Study your breed standard and compare it to the dogs you are considering breeding from. Do they meet the standard? Are they “good enough” examples of the breed? Breed standards have been developed to preserve the health of our breeds and ensure that our dogs are fit, healthy and able to perform the functions that we have bred them for. 

Although the more recent trends are to breed pet dogs, that does not lessen the importance of conformation. For example, a pet dog often goes for long walks with their family. If they have not been bred with conformation in mind, and the breeder did not ensure that the dog's parents had strong, straight, and functional legs, then sadly the resulting puppies will develop limb and joint issues. They will be in pain, and they will not be able to enjoy the long leisurely family walks. This will directly affect their health and well-being and could even mean that the family chooses to rehome them due to veterinary costs. 

Temperament testing dogs

Just like health, temperament can be inherited. Ensuring both parents have appropriate temperaments for their breed is super important. If your Terrier is tenacious, great! We expect them to be, but if your Terrier is nervous, jumpy and afraid, then there is a high chance that the puppies they have will also suffer from those same traits and behaviours. Not so cool eh!

This can get a little tricky, as temperament can also be affected by environment and experiences, but some uber clever scientific research into inherited behaviours has shown that unborn foetuses are not only likely to inherit their parent's temperament but get this…. they can also be affected by their parents' experiences! It’s called epigenetics, and you can learn a little more about it here. 

Choosing the right pair to mate from

We often see pairings where the stud dog is extensively health tested, but the mother is not. Whilst it is great that health testing in stud dogs is increasing, it is only half the story. 

The mother and the father's genetic tendencies in terms of health and temperament will influence the puppies in equal measure. To be a suitable candidate for breeding a dog must be clear of hereditary disease and have a suitable temperament for the breed.

A great skill to develop as a breeder is to critically evaluate your own dogs and any potential mates. Being able to remove yourself emotionally from breeding decisions is one of the most difficult things a breeder can do, but when we choose to bring new life into the world, we get to be selective about the dogs we breed. 

Ask yourself, do these dogs truly complement one another? That way you are ensuring the puppies are healthy and happy little rockstars!

Understanding coefficient of breeding

Asides from health and temperament you also need to consider if the two dogs you are proposing to breed from are related. Inbreeding should be avoided and understanding the “coefficient of breeding” and how to calculate it is an important part of the decision-making around a pairing. 

Further factors are:

• Colour - some colours for example Merle can come with accompanying health problems.
• Experience level of the dogs - have they mated before?
• Would AI or Natural mating’s be appropriate - do you need additional support?
• Location - are you able to assess them at the right time on the right day?
• Sexual health (Canine Herpes Virus/Infection) - are the dogs protected or monitored?
  
  

Choosing the pairing is just the start

Mastering the minefield of mating’s and whelping is often nothing short of an art! You will need a support network, and that should start with your vet. Building a strong relationship with your vet will be crucial in the ongoing care for your pregnant pooch and her puppies. 

Find a vet that is happy to work with you and involve them in your breeding plans and processes. They will be on hand to help with;

• Health testing
• Ovulation detection
• Ultrasound scanning to confirm pregnancy
• Ongoing care throughout pregnancy
• Whelping
• Aftercare for the mum and puppies

Being a “Canine Midwife” is not for the faint-hearted! It can be a time of extreme anxiety, and many new and novice owners find it very overwhelming. Having underlying knowledge puts your mind at rest and gives you the best chance of being the caregiver your dog will need you to be. 

Learning how to make the right choices, at the right time for your dog and her puppies is crucial. You can equip yourself with the breeder education you need here.

Raising them right and finding them the right homes

Raising a litter is 24/7 full-on and hard work, but it can be super fun too! Watching them learn to navigate their expanding world is an awe-inspiring time. 

Learning what to expose them to, and when, is your next learning curve. Science tells us that puppies require certain interactions at certain times to optimise their development. 

From as early as three days old breeders can follow protocols that ensure long-term resilience, health and wellbeing. Getting yourself skilled up on puppy raising techniques is key to raising happy puppies. Here is an outline of the protocols you can follow:

• Early neurological stimulation
• Early scent introduction
• Sound desensitisation
• Textures & levels
• Crates & pens
• The outside world
• Other dogs and pets (vaccine dependant)
• Children & visiting adults
• House training
• Recall
• Grooming preparation 
• Handling preparation

As the puppies grow and develop, there are learning windows available to us, if they pass without being utilised those windows are closed for good.  

Even with everything above in place, if your pups aren’t matched with suitable homes, then this will impact on their future. Puppy profiling helps you to successfully match the right puppies with the right people, setting everyone up for a happy life together. 

In conclusion

Breeding a litter of puppies is a wonderful experience, but be mindful that choosing to breed is a serious commitment in terms of time and dedication. Breeding a litter correctly is a full-time job, and not an activity that can be run alongside full-time employment or a busy family life. The commitment in terms of finances is also a large consideration, vets fees soon mount up! 

If we truly love dogs, then ethical breeding practices must be our only focus. We must protect the long-term health and welfare of the dogs of our future. 

This article is a guest post kindly contributed by Rebecca Walters of Pupstarts Breeders. Pupstarts provide dog breeding courses to help ethical dog breeders to breed, whelp and raise puppies responsibly, safely and with absolute confidence. 

Learn more at www.pupstartsbreeders.com