Owning a new pet is exciting and fun. Many clients coming into our clinic are so happy with their new pet they decide they want to breed him or her. If one adorable puppy is so much fun, imagine a whole bunch of them! However, there is much more that goes into breeding than meets the eye, and if you're truly serious about breeding, there are some important things that you should know.
First and foremost you must consider care for the mother and the puppies or kittens. Breeding requires a lot of time and money. Making sure the mother is properly dewormed is important as she can pass on intestinal parasites to her offspring. Nutrition and diet must be monitored for both the mother and her babies. Making sure the mother has the proper vaccinations and is given a thorough exam by her veterinarian before breeding is vital to the care of your pet. The breeder is responsible for making sure neither parent has any physical conditions they could potentially pass onto their offspring.
Any good breeder will tell you that home care for puppies is a lot of work. Remember that none of the puppies will be house trained when they are born, and kittens will not be litter box trained. Just like children, the older and more mobile they get the more things they can get into and cause trouble.
Many people rely on the breeder to do the first round of shots for the puppies or kittens. They will also rely on the breeder to have a fecal sample submitted to make sure they are free of intestinal parasites. The cost for each puppy or kitten to have an exam, vaccines, and a fecal screen will grow exponentially with each animal.
No matter how wonderful your dog is, there is no guarantee that his or her puppies will have the same temperament and intelligence as your dog. In fact, it is rare that puppies are identical to either parent. Often it is up to the environment the dog or cat is raised and how they are trained that determines what their personality will be. It is the responsibility of the breeder to make sure each puppy or kitten has a loving home where they can live a happy and healthy life.Breeding your dog or cat can be a wonderfully rewarding experience, but it must be a labor of love. We generally recommend against breeding to people who are inexperienced or have financial concerns. If you do decide to breed your dog or cat, talk to your vet. They can discuss your options and help you come to the best decision for you and your pet.
