(Continued From Last Week)A Responsible Breeder Conditions The Sire And DamGOOD puppies start long before their parents are bred. Both the sire and dam need constant care, or conditioning, to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding health tests, regular exercise and good nutrition. It means consulting with a veterinarian or experienced breeder to ensure that you know how to meet the dam's (mother's) special nutritional needs while she is in whelp (pregnant)It also means maintaining your dog's mental health. Stressed animals can experience fertility problems. Many breeders swear by the belief that the dam's temperament affects the puppies '- good puppies come from good mothers. Consequently, they avoid breeding shy or unstable dogs.A Responsible Breeder Nurtures The Puppies Preparing for puppies means building a proper nursery. A whelping box must be dry, very warm and draft-free. It should be big enough for the dam to be able to move about freely with sides that will safely contain the puppies.The dam normally takes care of the puppies' needs the first few weeks of their lives. Of course, you should be prepared for unusual but serious situations, such as a dam with no milk or an orphaned litter. You will also need to provide food and water for the dam while she is nursing puppies.Once the puppies are weaned, they become much more active and require lots more attention. You will need to oversee feeding to ensure each puppy gets adequate food. You will need to frequently change and keep the towels or shredded newspaper lining the whelping box clean. The puppies will need their first round of shots, they may need grooming and they will definitely need plenty of playtime and opportunities for getting used to being around people. You may even want to start working with them on basic obedience commands to ease their transition to their new homes.A Responsible Breeder Places Puppies Wisely As you can probably imagine, once it's time for the puppies to go to the new home, you've invested a lot of yourself in them. A difficult and important aspect of breeding is making sure your puppies go to owners who will provide loving and permanent homes.The complete picture is important to responsible breeders. They make sure new puppy owners know what to expect, the pros and the cons, from the furry little bundles they're taking home. If their particular breed requires extensive grooming, drools profusely or can be difficult to train, responsible breeders will point that out. They will also provide all necessary paperwork for new owners to register their dogs with the akc, which will allow them to participate in the sport of pure bred dogs and take advantage of special offers regarding complementary first veterinary office visits and pet healthcare insurance.Responsible breeders also know the right questions to ask prospective owners in order to get a feel of the type of home they'll provide. Some of these questions include:'Why does the person or family want a dog''Who will be primarily responsible for the dog's care''Are there any children in the household' If so, how old are they''Does anyone in the household have allergies''What is the potential owner's attitude toward training and obedience'Do they know how to find an akc dog club''How often is someone at home''Will they have time to walk and play with the dog'If feasible, it's not unreasonable for a breeder to make a house call after the puppy has had time to settle in with its new family. Some breeders require dog buyers to sign contracts indicating specific conditions of care.Important qualities to look for in potential puppy owners are interest and inquisitiveness about you and the dogs you breed. A person or family truly committed to responsible dog ownership will want to learn about the breed and how to care for it.A Responsible Breeder Is Responsible For Life Now comes the best part of being a breeder. (No, it's not putting away the newspaper liners and puppy food.) It's having those great families you selected call you with news of puppy's first tooth, first veterinarian visit, first dog event, first win at an akc event! It's getting letters. It's getting holiday cards. It's getting family portraits with your puppy (yes, it'll always be yours) smack in the middle. What's not to love about being a breeder at these times'But now can come the worst part too. It's the nice young couple who is divorcing and neither person can keep the dog. It's the distraught owner callingthe veterinarian with news of an unforeseen illness.Responsible breeders are there for all situations'both good and bad. They know they were responsible for this puppy being born, so they are responsible in a sense for it until the day it dies. They are willing to provide guidance and answer as many questions as they are asked. They are always concerned about their puppies.A breeder once said that the most satisfying phone call she received came 14years after her first litter. The caller said one of 'her' (the breeder's) dogs had died of old age. At that moment, the breeder knew she was responsible for bringing years of the same kind of love and joy she experienced from her dogs into someone's home. Ultimately, isn't that exactly why you want to breed your dog
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