Every one of us who has a dog thinks we have the best dog ever. Be it because of a nice temperament, good looks, smart, or just being full of spunk. What we often fail to realize is that there are plenty of dogs that are great out there, and that the dogs we own ourselves may have flaws we’d never even think about.

If you have never considered showing your dog, getting it health screened, OFA tested, temperament evaluated, tested for inhereted diseases, or even what those inhereted diseases are- you shouldn’t breed your dog.

Breeding takes a lot of research, time, and money, making little to no profit for the breeder. There are also a lot of health risks involved for both the mother dog and the pups. This includes the risk of death on both sides. You must consider the risks involved for a bitch birthing pups with large craniums, as they are more likely to have problems and often require emergency c-sections. Pregnancy and delivery care vary from breed to breed, reading just one book on breeding will not cut it.

One thing of utmost importance before you breed your dog is thinking about the surplus of dogs already craming shelters. Shelters have to put down thousands of dogs a year in just the US alone, this includes many purebred and akc registered dogs. Unless you are breeding with the specific purpose for bettering your breed in mind, please get your dog altered. Health and behavior benefits for a dog that is nuetered or spayed are numerous. If you are worried about the costs, consider what it takes for breeding, both for your pocket book and your dogs well being. Also look for low price spay and nueter clinics in your area, often veterinarians will work with you.