So, you think you want to breed your dog, do you? Here are a few questions you should consider before making that decision a reality.

• Most important, why do you want to breed? If your answer is to improve the breed, then you are at least headed in the right direction. It means you understand that purebred doesn’t mean well bred. If your answer is anything else, you can stop here, and alter your pet. No other response justifies the breeding of any dog, ever, period. If you do want to breed for the betterment of the breed, there are additional considerations, as noted below.
• Can you afford to put your dog in the show ring in order to gauge whether or not its conformation and working abilities meets breed standard or not? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Is your dog’s temperament exceptional and does it meet breed standard? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Can you afford to have hips, elbows, eyes, heart, thyroid, and any other commonly known breed specific genetic screenings done on your dog? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Are you sure the dog you are breeding to has also gone through the above checks?  If not, stop here, and either find a dog that has, or stop here, and alter your pet.
• If you are the bitch owner, can you afford vet care if she runs into trouble whelping? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Are you willing to be responsible for the puppies from your breeding for the rest of their lives? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Are you willing to socialize, micro chip, and inoculate your puppies before placing them, and either alter pet quality puppies, or place them on a spay/neuter contract that you follow up on? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Are you willing to use an iron-clad contract when placing your puppies that specifies their care, and demands that they be returned to you if the new owner must give them up in the future? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.
• Are you willing to place show quality puppies with contracts that demand they be shown and proven, and require that they only be bred under stringent standards like those specified above? If not, stop here, and alter your pet.

Why should you take these things into consideration? Because rescue does. We clean up after poorly bred (and even well bred) litters, and take responsibility for dogs we did not bring into this world for the rest of their lives on a daily basis. We do it because we love the breed, as you should love the breed, and we do it without payment, with few resources, and without fail. Perhaps the final question you should ask yourself about breeding your dog is this: Are you willing to step up for the progeny of your dog to the same level rescue does? If not, breeding isn’t for you. The only reason to breed any dog is for the betterment of the breed, and you should breed only the puppies you can care for and are willing to screen appropriate homes for and follow up on. To do otherwise only contributes to the overwhelming pet population problem, not only by over propagating, but also by producing potentially genetically unhealthy animals in the process. Thank you for taking the time to review breeding from the perspective of a rescue.