How to Breed a Dog

Choose a dog. You need to choose a breed from your dog breed. That means you need to choose a female dog that is fertile, and a male dog to breed with the female dog. You must make sure they have the characteristics discussed.

• You can also find a male dog from another breeder if you don’t have one. Hiring a male dog or buying sperm will cost money. Sometimes the contract allows the owner of the male dog to take the puppy. Ensure that all agreements are in writing and signed, so that there is a contract between the parties regarding the puppy.

Identification of the dog’s genes. You should find out the genetic source of the breed dog. Check the dog’s bloodline to make sure they have good traits in the bloodline. For purebred dogs, you can obtain blood records from the American Kennel Club or other registries. You also have to make sure the breed is not blood related to prevent genetic defects from inbreeding.

• You should test your dog and the dog you plan to breed for genetic problems related to their lineage. The Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) maintains a database of dogs and genetic disease testing results such as hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disease, patellar dislocation, and heart problems. You should not breed dogs with diseases that can be passed on to the next generation. ^[4]

Monitor their temperament. Observe pairs of breed dogs to assess their behavior. Consider their behavior when interacting with each other and with other dogs. Breeding friendly, harmonious dogs will often produce puppies with similar temperaments. It is not recommended to breed aggressive and too scary animals because they are very dangerous. ^[5]

Check your dog’s age. Make sure your dog is of reproductive age. Breeding dogs are usually around 2 years old. Many genetic problems will appear before the dog is 24 months old. You can screen for these problems with specific testing. For example, OFA will not accept X-rays of dogs under 24 months of age to evaluate and grade hip dysplasia. For successful breeding, the parent dog needs a permanent microchip or tattoo to be able to send test data to the OFA and other organizations. They want to make sure that there is no way to fake the results. ^[6]

• Bitches begin estrus between 6 and 9 months of age. They are in estrus every 5-11 months after the first estrus. Breeders usually do not breed a female dog until she is 2 years old and has gone through 3 or 4 estrus periods. This is the time when the bitch is fully grown. Their bodies are now ready to bear the pressures of pregnancy and childbirth.

Take the dog to the vet. Before mating, you need to take your dog to the vet for a checkup, and make sure it’s vaccinated. Antibodies in the mother dog will be passed on to the puppy when it suckles. Antibodies will protect the puppy from getting sick.

Know your dog’s medical history. If the dog has underlying medical problems it could alter your breeding plans. Small breed dogs can have genetic problems that you should be aware of before mating. Puppies are likely to have similar or worse problems. It can be a dental problem such as teeth growing in the wrong place, resulting in the upper and lower jaw not touching each other. They may be prone to dislocated kneecaps, hip or elbow dysplasia, and spinal problems such as a torn disc. Dogs can also develop allergies that lead to skin and ear infections, heart disease, eye problems, or behavioral problems. ^[7]

• Make sure your dog is regularly dewormed. Roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms can be passed from the mother dog to the puppy. ^[8]

Reproductive health check. You need to check your dog’s health to make sure they can breed. For male dogs, they can analyze sperm. For example, these tests look for genetic problems as well as infectious diseases such as Brucellosis. Before mating a female or male dog, testing for Brucellosis is recommended to make sure neither dog is carrying the disease and spreading it to the other.

Wait for the bitch to come into heat. Bitches need to be in heat before being mated. This time is not fixed so you have to watch to know when the bitch is in heat. Then the female dog’s genitals begin to swell and have bloody discharge. If the male dog is nearby, he will be very excited.

• The female dog will not accept the male dog until she is ready to mate. It may even bite a male dog to drive it away if it is not ready. Don’t let them get hurt. Watch closely when pairing the two.
• Usually female dogs will accept the male dog 9-11 days after estrus begins, and allow the male dog to climb up to mate.
• If you’re having trouble getting your bitch to mate, ask your vet for a progesterone test. This test will show when the estrous cycle begins and the dog’s body is ready to receive semen. Progesterone levels will rise 1-2 days before ovulation. Some bitches have estrus cycles that are so quiet that it’s undetectable, and a Progesterone test will help determine when you’re ovulating. ^[9]

Consider artificial insemination. Artificial insemination can help you breed a dog if a male dog is not available. Dog semen frozen in liquid nitrogen can be shipped around the world. They will take steps to defrost and fertilize the bitch. You may have to consider this if your chosen pair doesn’t seem to be able to mate naturally.

• This is quite troubling because of the potential problems with the reproductive health of the next generation of dogs.
• In special cases, semen can be implanted by a veterinarian into the female dog’s uterus while she is under anesthesia. Of course, these procedures will increase the cost per pregnancy and per puppy. ^[10]

Keeping the bitch healthy. Once you are sure that the female dog has been mated, you can separate her from the male dog. You need to provide a balanced diet for the mother dog, which can be supplemented with vitamins and calcium. Veterinarians will usually recommend the same.

• You need to maintain this diet throughout your dog’s pregnancy. The gestation period of a dog is about 58-68 days.
• Keep the dog’s crate clean, free of parasites such as fleas. Clean the dog’s crate periodically and provide plenty of drinking water and clean bedding.

Notice the changes in the bitch. Nipples and mammary glands will undergo changes during pregnancy. Towards the end of pregnancy, the mammary glands begin to produce milk. During the last three weeks of pregnancy, bitches need extra nutrition. Ask your veterinarian for advice on proper nutrition.

• Often pregnant bitches are fed puppy food during the last three weeks of pregnancy. Puppy food provides enough calories and nutrients for the developing fetus and prepares the mother for breastfeeding.

Prepare the nest. The nest is a place for the mother dog to give birth. You should use a box that is about 15cm longer than the mother dog when she is on her stomach, and about 30cm wider. The box should have rails to prevent the mother dog from lying on top of the puppy after birth.

• Alternate layers of plastic cloth and newspaper at the bottom of the box. This liner keeps the litter cleaner when the bottom of the box gets dirty. You just need to pull out a layer of paper and a layer of plastic cloth and leave the rest clean. Line with a clean towel or other lining material that can be easily washed.

Please note. You need to pay attention to know when your dog is about to give birth, and educate yourself about the stages of labor in dogs. When the mother dog begins labor, monitor her for signs of strong contractions that last more than 30-45 minutes but are still unable to give birth. This could be a complication during labor.

• Taking X-rays on day 45 of pregnancy will help the doctor count how many puppy skeletons are in the mother’s womb. X-rays also show if there are abnormally large puppies that could cause problems at birth. This information is the basis for you and your veterinarian to prepare for the possibility of a cesarean section and to know in advance how many puppies will be born.

Keep the puppy warm. You need to keep the newborn puppies warm, while making sure all puppies can breastfeed. Check for birth defects such as cleft palate. The puppy’s palate should be perfect, with no signs of separation of the oral tissue. The mother dog will clean the puppy and help the puppy into a nursing position.

• If the puppy has a cleft palate, milk will flow from the mouth into the nasal passages. If this disability is severe then you should euthanize it because it will not be able to live.

Record fertility data. Record the date of birth, the total number of puppies and the number of females and males. If you’re planning to register this litter with organizations like the AKC, you can apply online. You need the registration number of the parent dog and the parent dog to fill out the application form.

Monitor puppies. Monitor the puppies carefully for the first few weeks, making sure they are clean and warm and well fed. Weigh the puppies daily (the scale has a scale) to ensure that the dog is gaining weight evenly. Healthy puppies should be perfectly clean, active, and belly tight. Puppies should gain about 10% of their body weight per day for the first 2 weeks.

• Around 4 weeks of age, the dog becomes very active. The nest will no longer be large enough for them, so you should provide a larger box with a wall around it for safety. The mother dog will usually be out of the nest for longer at this point, and you can start weaning the puppy with watered pellets. ^[11]

Take the dog to the vet. Take the puppies to the vet when they are 7-8 weeks old. Your veterinarian will give them their first vaccinations. They will be vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza Virus (DHPP). Puppies are also treated for worms. You should talk to your doctor about preventing fleas and heartworms.

• Ask your veterinarian to check for other health and genetic problems. Responsible breeders will provide this information to new dog owners so they can complete subsequent vaccinations within the recommended timeframe.

Check the dog’s new owner. This process should be done carefully. You should only sell dogs to families who can create a good living environment for it. The new owner should be a responsible person who is willing to put in time, effort and money for the newly purchased dog.

• Consider inspecting the new owner’s home. Willingly refuse if they are not suitable for raising puppies. ^[12]