You have decided to Breed. Now What?

By Paul Jensen

You have decided that your bitch will be bred.  She is healthy, free of hip dysplasia, and of the right age and temperament.  Now you must find a stud dog and determine when your bitch is in heat, ready to be bred.

The Stud Book
The obvious place to start your search for a stud dog is with a breed club, whose advisory board members or breed warden may suggest males that will make a good match for your bitch.  These advisors should have information available on previous breeding of various males and on the results of those breeding.  They should be able to tell you what combinations have given the best results and what bloodlines are suited to each other.
Perhaps, however, you live in a location distant from breed clubs.  Then look for a dog that meets these requirements: healthy, no seizures, no hernias, no eye disorders, no bite abnormalities, no hip dysplasia, both testicles descended, easily trainable, and a good temperament.  He should not be people-shy, and if he is a hunting dog, he should not be gun-shy and he should have been tested for his prowess in some sort of field trial.  Those are minimum requirements; you may add others of your own.
Seek a first-class male.  The difference in price for breeding to one of the best stud dogs and a second-class unknown male is so small (sometimes none) that it's worth your while to use the best.  As a breeder -- and that's what you become when you decide to breed your dog -- you want the best possible puppies for their own sake and also because the puppies will be easier to sell when the parents are certified as good breeding animals. Remember that the male dog should be tested for Brucellosis before the mating (within 30 days).
To this end we can share that my wife and I drove 1200 miles one way in the middle of winter for the purpose of breeding our female Fantasia!  In breeding selection, you should always be realistic about the dogs and only breed the best to the best; use common sense, ask and follow advice given by experienced breeders.  Your job is to breed for excellence and many breed clubs have experienced breeders that will be happy to assist with selection of a male for your bitch.

About the author:
Paul Jensen has been involved in raising, training, showing, judging, and breeding dogs for more than 30 years. To learn more about the breeding of dogs in particular please go to The JOY of Having PUPPIES web site.