Every so often, we receive a request from a person asking if we "know of a good stud dog in the area?" They typically go on to tell us that they "bought a bitch a little while ago and she is so nice we just have to breed her". Shortly hereafter, I am informed that the bitch is in heat right now and so they decided to start looking for a stud dog.

Well, a breeding like the one described above is so full of wrong I do not know where to start. So if you are reading this because you have a bitch who is in season right now and you have not already selected a stud dog and made numerous other preparations...my best advise to you is 1. forget about breeding her this cycle, 2. learn all you can about breeding dogs between now and the next cycle, 3. critically and carefully evaluate your bitch (is she a finished champion?) and your motives for breeding, and 4. visit your breed club's website to learn more about breeding ethics and their code of conduct.

After all this, you may learn that breeding is not for you...or that your wonderful bitch is not really a breeding quality bitch. If that is the case you should feel good about yourself because by not breeding a litter you have done a very responsible thing.

We are not professional breeders, however, over the years we have learned a great deal about breeding dogs and would like to share some of these little pearls of wisdom with you in the hope that it will help you breed a healthy litter.