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Getting Started with a Responsible Stud Dog ( or Breeding Bitch )

Breeding must taken seriously whether a one dog hobbyist or a big time competitor. The AKC provides online material regarding the basics of responsible breeding. Please take the time to read as much as you can to start off with the right attitude and information.

In particular to Shar-Pei, I do not consider a dog for stud or bitch for breeding until he/she was about 2-4 years of age; general health had been proven sound i.e. no entropion, fevers, skin diseases; structure was proven sound i.e. hips certified clear of dysplasia, a good scissors bite; the dog had trained and shown in the ring to be competitively standard, preferably a finished champion working on his/her special career, but at minimum with strong wins behind him/her.

While I am no longer actively breeding, I still prefer to recommend the veteran studs/bitches to new ones since they are also proven producers. Many breeders have higher standard expectations for the dog verses the bitch, but no matter what you expect, if you want a successful breeding dog, you must heed these important criteria. There are no short cuts or quick ways to success. As the more experienced breeders will tell you, everyone must "pay their dues" or do what's expected of them to create a responsible breeding dog.

In addition, I always considered personality into my breeding choices. Despite some disagreement, many behavorial traits are genetic and should be avoided if your dogs are going to be house pets or live in a home. Kennel dogs do not always have the same human interaction, therefore may not be capable of the same expectations as a home bred dog would. Get to know the parents, with and without the prompt of their handler. By observing them in a natural setting, without the bait for cue, you may see traits or behaviors you may or may not want in your puppies. Very few apples fall far from the apple tree, and it is the same with canine behavior. Behaviors may be modified to be more tolerated, but you can't make ketchup out of mustard. Don't expect anything from the animal that it is genetically incapable of providing.

For more information regarding the Basic Genetics of Dog Breeding, please click here. Breeding is a SCIENCE based on FACTS and not FANTASY FICTION. Some breeders start to sound more like used car salesmen when they manipulate the truth to fit their own needs and perspective, but it doesn't change the facts.

Be an educated buyer and a responsible breeder. Break the chain of fiction. If you don't understand what the big deal is, just visit your local animal shelter. Thousands of purebreds are abandoned each year because their owners were given false information or unrealistic expectations about their choice of pet. It's not fair to you, your buyers, or your animals to start them off with a losing proposition.

For more information about deciding to become a breeder, please visit the Virtual Breeding site or enroll in the breeder program courses at the American Institute of Animal Science.