Uncategorized
November 27, 2024

Uncategorized
November 27, 2024

What makes a responsible breeder?

Responsible breeding requires time, dedication and an inherent passion for your chosen breed.

True responsible breeding starts off from the very first day of your interest in a particular strain of dog.

Begin by learning all about the breed, the nuances and personality traits, their environmental requirements and their daily care routine. This first step will help you find out if it is the right breed for you.

Much as it is a great joy to have them around, being a breeder is not just about having litters of puppies. A responsible breeder is someone who wants to improve their chosen breed to ensure its safety and longevity for the future.

This means that most responsible breeders breed with retention in mind. They will usually wish to keep at least one pup from each litter to continue the line for the next generation. This makes ensuring the suitability of the foundation bitch in terms of health, temperament, type and overall soundness, essential.

Becoming a responsible breeder

Becoming a breeder should not be a decision based on a whim. Anyone considering it should carefully think about what breeding involves, the responsibilities it brings with it, and the inevitable impact it will have on their lives.

While breeding is one of the most fulfilling and wonderful hobbies there is, it also brings financial commitment and requires full dedication and availability of funds. Bear in mind that being a breeder is not the same as being a pet dog owner.

Before getting your first breeding dog or bitch, you should consider starting your journey from the very beginning and that involves going ‘back to school’…

Your first steps as a breeder

when it comes to breeding working dogs, there is no better place to learn than going directly to the source.

Ask pickers-up and Guns on shoot days where they obtained their dogs from and what they were looking for when choosing a new dog. You can also ask the owners what they expected from the breeder and their set-up.

The likelihood is that some names will be mentioned more often than others, plus you’re picture of the ideal working dog will also become clearer to you.

Once you find a breeder with plenty of experience and knowledge under their belt, a good reputation in the gundog community and a decent presence online (yes, this is also important these days!) – ask them if they would be willing to become your mentor and sell you a breeding-quality pup.

First things first

Having a mentor coach you during your first steps in the world of breeding is essential both for your own sanity and the safety of the bitch and the pups, if you decide to start off with a female dog.

A good mentor will be able to either offer you a well-bred pup or help you find a pup that will tick all the important boxes.

A breeding dog needs to:

come from a reputable source – a registered breeder
come from parents tested for genetic diseases common in the breed
have good pedigree (ergo, good lineage of proven show dogs or working dogs) and no or minimal inbreeding
come with a health guarantee from the breeder, in case it develops an illness disqualifying it from breeding
meet the breed standard

Why do you need a mentor?

A mentor will be able to help you choose a bitch with the most potential, telling you exactly what to look for. Here are a couple of examples:

Is the pup big and strong enough?

A bitch that is small for her breed could have problems delivering pups safely.

What about her character? Will she grow up to be a loyal dog or is she showing signs of being too independent?

A bitch that is too independent could make it difficult for you to support her during labour and raising pups.

Knowledge is king

A mentor will be able to answer your questions and point you in the direction of any important publications you should read (e.g. dog genetics, KC breed standards, books relevant to the breed, etc). They will help you create a breeding plan, which will help you set clear goals for your breeding programme for the years ahead.

They will help you ensure your bitch is raised correctly and prepared for mating, pregnancy and labour. You should be able to ask them about the best age and time of year to plan for pups. Will a winter litter be as well socialised as pups born in spring or summer? What to have on hand when the bitch goes into labour and what to look for in case things go wrong.

A dedicated mentor should also be available to you 24/7 around the time the bitch is due to give birth in case you need their help, too.

You need to learn how to perform CPR on your dogs and pups to ensure that you can act quickly and effectively in emergency situations.

To become a successful and respected breeder, you need to have a clear goal for your breeding programme.

Responsibilities of an ethical breeder

There are many responsibilities to shoulder as a breeder. Producing a litter can have wide-reaching effects.

First, you have to consider if you are in a suitable situation to breed.

Can you offer a lifelong commitment to every puppy?
Can you care for your breeding dogs even after they retire from breeding?
Do you have the means to pay for vet bills when things don’t go to plan?
Are you able to raise the puppies yourself if the bitch is unable to do so herself?

A responsible breeder must be prepared for pups to stay longer, either due to lack of interest or other reasons, such as their health or development. For instance, would you be able to take back a dog if the owner’s situation changes and they can no longer keep it?

Do you have access to a trustworthy veterinarian who will be able to support you? This question is by far the most important to any breeder as their needs are different to those of an average pet dog owner. You will need a closer relationship with your vet – one of mutual trust and understanding.

Final considerations of a responsible breeder

Final but essential thing to consider is your own strength of character. In an ideal world, each dog and puppy would be healthy and each pregnancy and labour a joyful experience.

Unfortunately, reality is often cruel and even the most careful and responsible breeder will go through heartbreak. Are you prepared to let go of a beloved companion when things don’t go to plan? Are you strong enough to deal with miscarriage, death or sickness of the pups and adult dogs? Can you keep your cool in an emergency when your bitch is distressed during difficult labour? Are you really ready to get your hands ‘dirty’ and help her if a pup is breech or not breathing?

All these questions must be answered seriously before you leap into the world of breeding.

Thankfully, having reliable insurance in place will ease some of the pressures so give insuring your breeding dogs some thought. BASC working dog insurance provided by Agria Pet Insurance ticks all the boxes in this respect, and the additional breeding cover available will help you tackle down any unexpected vet bills you will most definitely encounter on your journey.

Expert support for responsible breeders

BASC working dog insurance is managed by Agria Pet Insurance, one of the world’s leading animal insurance specialists. Established more than 125 years ago, Agria exclusively insures dogs, horses, cats and rabbits in the UK. Its policies are designed to be the best for you and the new owners.

Agria have put together the perfect package to support breeders at every stage, including a specialist BASC Breeder Club.

BASC Breeder Club five weeks’ free insurance

BASC Breeder Club five weeks’ free insurance includes up to £4,000 towards vet fees and free expert veterinary advice 24/7 through the Agria app. This offers protection for the first weeks while puppies settle in their new homes.

Puppy owners are introduced to the benefits of BASC dog insurance, and you will be rewarded every time one of them takes out a BASC Dog Insurance Lifetime policy. This provides peace of mind for everyone.

BASC Direct Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Agria Pet Insurance Ltd who administer the insurance and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register Number 496160. Agria Pet Insurance is registered and incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 04258783. Registered office: First Floor, Blue Leanie, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QW. Agria insurance policies are underwritten by Agria Försäkring.