To Breed Or Not To
Is your dog in good health (what does the vet say?), at the right age (2-4 yrs),
straight eyes, good personality, good nose for breathing, good size &
weight, etc? Is the sire (the male) in good health? Good example of what
the breed should look like? Are you a stay at home doggie Mom? It's not
fair to breed if you are not home all day during the time she's due and
the 2 months after. You can't leave a dog that is going to give birth at
home alone nor the pups. Someone must always be home before and after
delivery, for 2 months someone must always be home to take care of the
pups. That means, if you go to the store to shop, hubby must be home to
dog sit, etc. It's a huge responsibility and should be taken seriously
with alot of thought. The dog owner needs to read a ton of books on it
BEFORE getting into breeding. It takes a ton of work and it is NOT a
money making endeavor. Are you ready for the possible complications, a
possible expensive C-Section and a hospital stay for your dog, even the
possibility of death? Can you deal with the death of one of the pups
during birth? Ready to hear whinning pups at all hours of the day, losing
sleep? Ready to socialize the pups and potty train them? Ready to pay
for the medical expenses prior to selling the dogs? Ready to spend money
on a whelping box (or make one), a space heater or heating pads (even in
the summer), and gates for your kitchen? It's not fair to breed in your
garage, the kitchen is the easiest to keep sanitary and best conditions
for the pups. Are you ready to give up a room in your house to breed for
2 months? Ready to possibly have to hand feed your female during
pregnancy and the pups after delivery? Do you have the money, time and
energy and the right frame of mind to take on such a huge responsibility
of bringing puppies into the world? Are you ready to screen those callers
who want the pups? To find the right homes for those pups, even if it
means making people angry and turning them down (too young children, not
home enough time to care for a pup, etc.). Are you ready to offer
assistance to the new owners for the life of the dog? To offer to take
back the pup/dog if they can no longer care for the sick or healthy dog
(money or circumstances)? It's the responsibility of the breeder to find
great homes, so they don't land up at the pound or SPCA later in life. I
could go on forever with more info. You really need to ask yourself AND
your family (whom you will need help from) if the family is ready for
this! Read up on the subject before you make such a big decision and
BEFORE the dog goes into heat. Then if you are ready, again go to the
library and bookstore and read up on the how to's and more info. Then and
only then breed. I see way too many people get into it, not realizing
they need to be at home (not have a job outside the home), the money (vet
bills), the problems that can arrise, the fact that you rarely make money
off it after expenses, the loss of sleep, etc. Please look into it
first! And if you do breed, please potty train the pups before they go
to their new homes so they can have a good start in their new home.
Potty training should be started in the whelping box at only a few weeks
old! Also, good puppy food is important.
God Bless God's Creatures Great & Small!
Wendy in NC - USA
ex-breeder of Malteses
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