Having a purebred dog does not ensure that your dog is a good example of the standard for that breed or a good breeding animal. Good breeders look to produce canines that are within a set specification for that breed and have good temperaments. Being purebred also does not ensure that your dog won’t pass serious genetic flaws to his or her offspring. Breeding specifications and testing for heritable (genetic) diseases are beyond the realm and scope of this discussion. For more information about whether to breed your dog and what we recommend if you decide to do so, please give us a call at 252.715.1407.

?But I’ve heard that every female dog should have a litter or go through a heat cycle?

There is very little to no merit to this line of thinking. In rare cases, it may be beneficial for a female dog to go through a single heat cycle. For the most part, you are actually GREATLY increasing the risk for malignant mammary (breast) cancer. A female dog that is spayed before her first heat cycle, usually before 10 months, has very little chance of getting malignant (bad) mammary tumors… 0.05% chance. However, females that are spayed after their second heat cycle have a 1 in 4 (26%) chance of developing malignant mammary tumors in their lifetime. That means by spaying your girl before her first heat cycle, you are decreasing her risk of getting malignant breast cancer by 50,000%! On the bright side, if your female dog has already had two or more heat cycles, it is likely that spaying her will decrease her chance of having other, more benign types of mammary cancer as well as the risk for a life-threatening uterine infection (pyometra).

For male dogs, it completely eliminates the possibility of them having testicular cancer, which is fairly common in older dogs. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) can also be eliminated by neutering. The most beneficial reason for neutering, especially at a younger age, is that it takes away testosterone and eliminates or significantly reduces many different undesirable behaviors.


?Is this a good way of showing my children the miracle of life/birth?

That depends. Are you prepared to explain to your children why some of the puppies were born dead or that die after birth? It is very common for first time litters to have complications and also to have at least a puppy or two out of the litter to die. What will you tell your children if the mother dies delivering the puppies or is sick from complications from breeding? As you know pregnancy can be painful, how about when the mother is vocalizing (read as screaming) very loudly if she is having a painful labor? Do you have a place in the house that can be easily cleaned as birthing is a fairly messy event? Are you prepared to wake up with your children in the middle of the night to nurse puppies (this is a teaching experience, right?!?)? There is often at least one puppy in the litter who needs a little help and sometimes the entire litter may need to be bottle fed for several weeks. Puppies, just like infant human babies, need to be bottle fed every 3-4 hours in the first few weeks of life. In my opinion, a better solution would be to take your children to help volunteer at a shelter or rescue organization. There, they may be able to witness a mother dog or cat having a litter and would be exposed to many other aspects of pet care and responsible pet ownership as well. They would also be helping to lighten the load of an already overworked shelter (most of them are ‘bursting at the seams’ with animals and could always use a little help). Please consider this option and these points before you breed your female dog to show your kids the ‘miracle of life’.



?John Smith said that he made a lot of money selling dogs. Can I make good money at breeding my dog?


The short answer is likely NO! If done correctly, here is a minimum of what you will need to do BEFORE you even consider breeding your dog.




1) Wait until he/she is mature (2 years minimum). This requires a significant initial cost to purchase a breeding dog from a good stock and house/feed her for 2+ years. Also, don’t forget the cost of veterinary care for that pooch for her initial puppy vaccine series and wellness care!
2) Test for Genetic Diseases (what we recommend will be breed specific). NOTE: To find out if your dog is a good specimen, he or she will have to be at least two (2) years old to find this out! It can be fairly expensive to get a dog to two year of age If your pet is likely to pass along genetic problems such as hip dysplasia, you should not breed him/her….period!
3) Find a GOOD sire or dam to breed with your dog for your litter. This dog or bitch should have the same level of testing that your dog does! If not, he/she is NOT a good match for your dog. Experience is also a plus as inexperienced breeding dogs commonly injure themselves and/or their mate. It is fairly easy to find a dog with a pedigree to breed with yours. In my experience, there are very, very few dogs out there will the proper credentials for responsible breeding. In the same breath, there are also few breeders who are completely committed to producing the highest quality of dog possible.
4) Have both dogs been tested for sexually transmitted diseases that they could pass along (Brucella canis)?
5) Veterinary expenses can also add to the cost of this endeavor. Your dog will need to be vaccinated and on heartworm prevention for his/her entire life. Also consider the costs involved in having the puppies, especially if all does not go well. Do you have the money necessary for a C-Section if the mother can’t have the pups naturally?
6) Female dogs should only be bred every 1.5 to 2 years. Only puppy mills and irresponsible pet owners breed their dogs on every (or even every other) heat cycle. We recommend waiting at least two (2) heat cycles before breeding a female dog again. This will usually equate to about every year and a half at the earliest.





Please also consider that many people who breed dogs end up struggling to find homes for all of the puppies, especially with large breed dogs who have litters of 10 or more. The last puppy that you sell can quickly eat up any potential profit and when they are above 10 weeks of age and the cost of feeding them begins to accelerate…especially with a larger breed dog!



? I want a dog just like the one I have. Can I breed her to get that?


The short answer…NO. But many of your pet’s behaviors and traits are common to his or her breed of dogs and are developed from behavioral training and a good environment. Your pooch’s temperament and attitude (just like in people), stems from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that can never be duplicated!



? But I’ve had several people tell me that they want a puppy from my dog. Are you telling me that I wont’ be able to find a home for them?


No. You very likely will be able to find a home for them, just not as easily as you may think. Friends and other people will often say that about another person’s pet…until there’s a puppy in front of them. Then it ‘isn’t the right time’ or ‘We don’t have the money now’. The story often changes when it comes time to pay for a puppy as well! If you question this, ask them to leave a deposit of half the cost of the puppy to hold one for them and wait for their response!!!



? But don’t my male and female dog need to have sex to bond?


Short answer ….again = NO! Copulation in dogs is driven EXCLUSIVELY by hormones and not by love. While canines are very affectionate for one another sometimes, this behavior stems from individuals being a member of the pack. Dogs are NOT people…don’t try to make them!



I know it may seem from this article that I am biased against breeding dogs. I assure you that this is not the case! A breeder who is committed to producing the best quality of dog is a huge asset to that breed and to the world of dogs. Someone who assesses both the genetic and environmental factors of their breed to make sure that each dog finds a quality home is a great breeder. This article is not designed to discourage you from breeding your dog, only to help you understand that doing it right and for the right reasons is extremely important. In my experience, most people do a mediocre to poor job at breeding dogs. Someone who waits the proper amount of time for a dog to mature, performs the necessary medical testing to help eliminate problems common in their dog’s breed, and makes sure that the partner dog has been tested and raised to those specifications is not very common.

Dr. Jay Taylor
3723 N. Croatan Hwy, Unit I
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
Schedule online NOW at : http://outerbanksvet.com/schedule-appointment/