A good reason to breed.

following on from another thread on breeding,

I wondered what people felt were good reasons for someone to breed?

also what are unacceptable reasons for having a litter?

Good reasons...to better the breed, to create happy healthy dogs with loving homes ready. I want to breed to produce some good show dogs, among other reasons.

Bad reasons....Solely money, thinking your dog is well pretty so blah blah, 'health reasons' still widely believed.

There are more reasons not to breed than to breed IMO. Most people do it for the wrong reasons. I'd like to think I will be doing it for the right reasons (although to some people there are no right reasons.)

I think good reasons include:

*To keep a puppy back for yourself, to show, etc...
*To further the breed
*To produce healthy dogs with good temperaments that can fulfil a variety of roles, from pet to flyball to canine partners for independance, etc...

Bad reasons:
*Money
*Because you think everything bitch should have a litter
*Because you think children should experience the 'miracle of life'

Just my thoughts.

lol just as many adults use that reason, it may come under slightly diff banners such as, I have done everything else with dogs, so wanted the experiance of breeding.

the all bitches should have a litter is a pet hate of mine, slightly worse still is the old " Having a litter will calm her down/help her behavioural issues"

I personally think the good reasons to breed are...
* after you have many many years of knowledge in said breed.
* have either shown or worked the said breed.
* you have a superb example of said breed and are breeding her/him to another superb example that will compliment her/him, so 'furthering' the breed
* you want to retain a puppy
* you have carried out and passed all neccassary health tests, maybe even doing ones that are not needed.
* you have enough money spare if it all goes wrong.
* you are prepared you could lose your bitch
* you can take back any of the pups in the future
* you keep in touch with pups new owners.

Bad reasons

* To get some money
* The 'ooh my dog is lovely' one
* My bitch should have the one litter
* No real experience of the breed

Thats a hard one. If everyone stuck to the above very few dogs would be bred. However you'd end up with the responsible good homes not breeding and the awful ones carrying on.

Personally I don't have a problem with cross breeding as long as the parents have the relevant breed health checks and the new owners know they are cross breeds.

rune

I wanted to breed my first dog because she was just wonderful - perfect temperament, healthy, very intelligent - but I left it too late and by time I decided, she was too old.

My reasons for would be

- to keep a pup back for myself
- to introduce new diverse lines into the country (in the case of a rare breed such as my own)
- to improve the breed with excellent example of each sex

Against

- Money
- All bitches should be bred from

I was going to breed from my Gordon but decided that the possibility of several full grown returned pups was not enticing!

Just after I had her spayed the breeder contacted me and wanted to get her lines back and wondered if I'd use Ceilidh for her. I'd probably have gone for that with her help, funny how things turn out.

rune

any views on the diff between a one off litter or a longer term breeding plan?