WHAT MAKES A RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDER: Responsible breeders are people who produce dogs with a firm commitment to preserving the health of the breed and a realistic knowledge of everything that is involved in breeding dogs. When these people breed their dogs, they do so in the hope of producing animals at least as good and hopefully better than the parents. Responsible breeders closely analyze the genetic make-up of the dogs in their breed. They track genetically transmitted diseases such as hip dysplasia, temperament abnormalities, blood disease and blindness within the breed. Notes on affected dogs are kept and such dogs are eliminated from breeding consideration. This helps to improve the chances of producing healthy pups that will live long and happy lives.

Responsible dog breeders strive to produce dogs that meet the official breed standard, a description of the perfect specimen. This is their guide line for producing dogs. A Sheltie should look 1ike a Sheltie, not a Pomeranian or a Collie .

Knowledgeable breeders study pedigrees of dogs from related lines as well as those of unrelated lines. They have a good idea of what a certain mating is likely to produce. Responsible breeders consider not only the potential sire and dam of a litter, but also the ancestor of these dogs. Every dog has faults, some are minor and some are major. Recognizing these faults and breeding accordingly is the mark of a successful breeding program.

Because of pet overpopulation problems, we as a society must carefully evaluate each dog we intend to breed. There is no shortage of available dogs with wonderful personalities, but there just aren't enough available homes to condone indiscriminate breeding.

The following points should be considered in advance if you are contemplating breeding your dog:

QUALITY: AKC registration is NOT an indication of quality. Most dogs, even purebred, should not be bred. Many dogs, though wonderful pets have defects of structure, personality or health that should not be perpetuated. Animals used for breeding should be proven free of these defects BEFORE starting on a reproductive career. Breeding should only be done with the goal of IMPROVEMENT - An honest attempt to create puppies better than their parents. Ignorance is no excuse - once you have created a life, you can't take it back, even if blind, crippled or a canine psychopath!!

COST: Dog breeding is NOT a money making proposition, if done correctly. Health care and shots, diagnosis of problems and proof of quality, extra food, facilities, stud fees, advertising, etc., are all costly and must be paid BEFORE the pups can be sold. An unexpected Caesarian or emergency intensive care for a sick pup will make a break-even litter become a big liability. And this is IF you can sell the pups.

SALES: First time breeders have no reputation and no referrals to help them find buyers Previous promises of "I want a dog just like yours" often evaporate. Consider the time and expense of caring for pups that may not sell until four months, eight months or more! What WOULD you do if your pups did not sell? Send them to the pound? Dump them in the country? Sell them cheap to a dog broker who may resell them to labs or other unsavory buyers? Veteran breeders WITH a good reputation often don't consider a breeding unless they have cash deposits in advance for an average-sized litter.

JOY OF BIRTH: If you're doing it for the children's education, remember that the birth event may be at three a.m. or at the vet's on the surgery table. Even if the kiddies are present, they may get a chance to see the birth of a monster or a mummy, or watch the bitch scream and bite you as you attempt to deliver- a pup that is half out and too large. Some bitches are not natural mothers and either ignore or savage their puppies. Bitches can have severe delivery problems or even die in whelp - pups can be born dead or with gross deformities that require euthanasia. Of course there can be joy, but if you can' t deal with the possibility of tragedy - don't start,

TIME: Veteran breeders of quality dogs state that they spend well over 130 hours of labor in raising an average litter. That is over two hours per day, every day! The bitch CANNOT be left alone while whelping and only for short periods for the first few days after. Be prepared for' days off work and sleepless nights. Even after delivery, mom needs care and feeding, puppies need daily checking, weighing, socialization, and later grooming and training, and the whelping box needs lots and lots of cleaning. Additional hours will be spent doing paperwork, pedigrees and interviewing buyers. If you have any abnormal conditions, such as sick puppies or a bitch that can't or won't care for her babies, count on double the time. If you can't provide the time, you will either have dead pups or poor ones that are bad tempered, antisocial, dirty and/or sickly - hardly a buyer's delight.

HUMANE RESPONSIBILITIES: It's midnight - DO YOU know where your puppies are? There are THREE AND A HALF MILLION unwanted dogs put to death in pounds in this country each year, with millions more dying homeless and unwanted through starvation, disease, automobiles, abuse, etc. Nearly a quarter of the victims of this unspeakable tragedy is purebred dogs "with papers". The breeder who creates a life is responsible for that life. Will you carefully screen potential buyers? Or will you just take the money and not worry if the puppy is chained in a junk yards all of its life or runs in the street to be killed? Will you turn down a sale to irresponsible owners? Or will you say yes and not think about the puppy you held and loved now having a litter of mongrels every time she comes in heat which fills the pounds with more statistics- your grand-pups? Would you be prepared to take back a grown puppy if the owners can no longer care for it? Or can you live with the thought that the baby you helped into the world will be destroyed at the pound?

DEFINING A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
 

A responsible breeder assumes responsibility for the lives he or she creates by carefully screening buyers, helping find new homes, making a comfortable life for his retirees, and, yes, being able to make the decision to euthanize when a puppy born with a mental or physical problem, has no chance for a quality life. And, unwanted dogs are always taken back.

A responsible breeder builds a good reputation slowly, based on dedication and consistent quality, not on volume, advertising or from a casual or self-glorifying attitude.

A responsible breeder goes further and assumes some responsibility for the problems of the breed as a whole -. he or she belongs to an organization for the breed, continues to read about new developments, and works to reduce the number of dogs that are carelessly bred, ill cared for, and discarded.

A responsible breeder must look at a bigger picture than dog show wins or puppy sales and must contribute in some way to the betterment of the breed as a whole.

A responsible breeder keeps in periodic contact with the owners of puppies he's sold, not only to see the development of his breeding program but also because he cares about their well-being.

A responsible breeder does NOT have so many dogs that he or she has no time for individual attention, play and grooming, or so that he has to skimp on food quality, space, preventive medicine, and health care.

Given a choice, educated owners much prefer to buy from these professionals. If you want to join the professional ranks, we'll enjoy working with you as you learn. If you feel this is more obligations than you care to take on, choose the responsible alternative of having your pet neutered. Because of these facts, we believe that dog breeding is best left to the "Responsible Breeder", it's not for everyone.

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