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Rodney Dayton | Create Your Badge
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Responsible Breeder
The AKC welcomes responsible breeders to the world of purebred dogs. Breeding
involves art, science and total devotion. It will show you the best in the
human-canine bond ... and the result of absolute commitment by responsible
breeders. What are the hallmarks of a truly responsible breeder?
A Responsible Breeder is Always a Student
Responsible breeders seek to improve their breeds with every litter. To reach
this goal, they must devote hours to continually learning as much as they can
about their breeds, including health and genetic concerns, temperament,
appearance and type. They also need to know about general dog behavior, training
and health care. In short, they become canine experts.
Study your Breed Standard
The breed standard is the official guide by which dogs are judged at dog shows.
Each breed of dog recognized by the AKC has its own standard (written by the
parent club). The standard may specify everything from the curvature of a dog's
tail to the color of its eyes. You can obtain a copy of your dog's breed
standard and order breed-specific educational videos from the AKC. Many parent
clubs offer more detailed information on the standard, such as amplifications
and illustrated standards.
Responsible breeders are familiar with AKC rules and regulations concerning the
sale and registration of AKC-registrable dogs.
A Responsible Breeder's Objective
Virtually every dog is the best in the world in the eyes of its owner.
Responsible breeders have the ability to separate their love for their dog from
an honest evaluation of its good and bad points. Why is a detached point of view
necessary? Breeding is hard work. Every breeding is a carefully planned endeavor
to produce a better dog. A good breeder recognizes a dog's flaws and finds a
mate with characteristics that will help reduce or eliminate those flaws. So how
can you honestly evaluate your dog as potential breeding stock?
Seek assistance from some of the best informational resources available -
longtime breeders and the breeder of your dog. This person should have extensive
knowledge of your dog's line and, like you, should want to see it continually
improved.
A Responsible Breeder Conditions the Sire and Dam
Good puppies start long before their parents are bred. Both the sire and dam
need constant care, or conditioning, to produce the best offspring. This means
regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding health
tests, regular exercise and good nutrition. It means consulting with a
veterinarian or experienced breeder to ensure that you know how to meet the
dam's (mother's) special nutritional needs while she is in whelp (pregnant).
It also means maintaining your dog's mental health. Stressed animals can
experience fertility problems. Many breeders swear by the belief that the dam's
temperament affects the puppies - good puppies come from good mothers.
Consequently, they avoid breeding shy or unstable dogs.
An excellent way to
develop an impartial eye is to test your dog against others. To see how well
your dog conforms to the breed standard, get an assessment from an experienced
breeder and dog fancier, and enter dog shows. Entering obedience and field tests
and trials will allow you to measure your dog's intelligence and abilities. If
your dog is a success in these events, you'll be more confident that breeding
your dog will contribute to the betterment of its breed.
A Responsible Breeder Places Puppies Wisely
As you can probably imagine, once it's time for the puppies to go to new homes,
we've invested a lot of ourselves
in them. A difficult and important aspect of breeding is making sure our puppies
go to owners who will provide loving and permanent homes.
The complete picture is important to responsible breeders. They make sure new
puppy owners know what to expect, both the pros and the cons, from the furry
little bundles they're taking home. If their particular breed requires extensive
grooming, drools profusely, or can be difficult to train, responsible breeders
will point that out. They will also provide all the necessary paperwork for new
owners to register their dogs with the AKC, which will allow them to participate
in the sport of purebred dogs.
Responsible breeders also know the right questions to ask prospective owners in
order to get a feel for the type of home they'll provide. Some of these
questions include:
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Why does the person
or family want a dog?
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Who will be primarily
responsible for the dog's care?
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Are there any
children? If so, how old are they?
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Does anyone in the
household have allergies?
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What is the potential
owner's attitude toward training and obedience?
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How often is someone
at home?
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Will they have time
to walk and play with the dog?
If
feasible, it's not unreasonable for a breeder to make a house call after the
puppy has had time to settle in with its new family. Some breeders require dog
buyers to sign contracts indicating the specific conditions of care.
Important qualities to look for in potential puppy owners are interest and
inquisitiveness about you and the dogs you breed. A person or family truly
committed to responsible dog ownership will want to learn about the breed and
how to care for it.
A Responsible Breeder is Responsible for Life
Now comes the best part of being a breeder. It's having those great families you
selected call you with news of puppy's first tooth, first veterinarian visit,
first dog event, first win! It's getting letters. It's getting holiday cards.
It's getting family portraits with your puppy (yes, it'll always be yours) smack
in the middle. What's not to love about being a breeder at these times?
But now can come the worst part, too. It's the nice young couple who is
divorcing and neither person can keep the dog. It's the distraught owner calling
from the veterinarian with news of an unforeseen illness.
Responsible breeders are there for all situations - both good and bad. They know
they were responsible for this puppy being born, so they are responsible for it
until the day it dies. They are willing to provide guidance and answer as many
questions as they are asked. They are always concerned about their puppies.
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