Are You A Responsible Boxer Breeder?

[Ron]

1. Contact a breed club for your breed. Ask for a mentor.

2. STUDY the breed standard. Learn about dog anatomy and ask your mentor to
clarify anything you don't understand.

3. Learn what genetic faults and diseases run in your breed and test for any
that can be tested for.

4. Show your dog in conformation events to see if it is of the proper
quality for breeding. Winning doesn't always mean a dog is breeding quality,
but being around so many others that know your breed and will talk to you
will do wonders for your self-education efforts!

5. Study the past history of great dogs in your breed. You will see how your
breed has improved and progressed since the beginning of the breed.

6. Study the breed standard some more! ;-)

7. Join any Yahoo groups or any other forum about your breed.

8. Live, dream and study your breed.

9. Get a good book on canine reproduction, and educate yourself about the
pitfalls, problems, and proud moments of breeding. Learn about the
physiology of reproduction, such as heat cycles and venereal diseases in
dogs, potential for problems specific to your breed, and what you need to
expect at whelping.

10. Remember that whelping (giving birth) can kill your female. Being used
as a stud dog can encourage bad behaviors common in intact males such as
territorial marking, aggression, and desire to roam from home.

11. Prepare to be broke. Breeding properly is EXPENSIVE.

12. Line up potential homes for any puppies you produce and write up a
contract. Remember to include that you will be willing to take back your
puppies at any time in their lives that they might need you. If you bring
life into this world, it is your responsibility FOREVER.

13. Prepare to spend sleepless nights attending whelping females, caring for
fading puppies or puppies orphaned, and practice cleaning up after 24/7 poop
machines.

I'm sure there are many things I missed because being a responsible breeder
isn't just a job. It's a way of life. You will live dogs. 24/7/365. There
are lots of hard decisions. There is a lot of expense. There will be pain.
But, if you do your darndest to always keep the welfare of your dogs and the
future of any of their offspring, you can go to step 14.

14. Enjoy the love and success of a job well done.

Source: Jennifer Tomlinson

[boxerflash]

great post tie. I hope all breeders follow this guideline

[BoxerLove]

I'm not a breeder, but that's a great list of rules for a breeder to follow. I agree with Boxerflash that I hope all breeders live by those rules. Anyone who isn't willing to has no business breeder any animal! The desire to breed should come from love for the animal, not love for the money.

[Tombo]

Awesome post MagTie! I really wonder if all breeders follow these guidelines to a good boxer dog!

[Boxer diva]

Thank you so much for posting this. I am a breeder out in AZ and it is amazing to see how many people don't follow the breed and proper care of them I hope all people have the opportunity to read this

[AussieGirl]

Bump!

[Marylou Mader]

Bravo, and the bottom line is, "you will NOT make a profit in this game" it is truly a hobby and sport...

Great guidelines...

[Enocebox]

I am doing some research into how we can determine which females are more predisposed to death or complications during whelping.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

[Marylou Mader]

Originally Posted by Enocebox

I am doing some research into how we can determine which females are more predisposed to death or complications during whelping.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Is this personal? or are you actually conducting a research for a paper, or for school???

I would contact the National Breed club, call out to breeders that are willing to fill out a survey, that way you could get some idea of percentage. There probably is some genetic component to dystocia (problems giving birth)

You will need to make a survey that puts all your points together that will actually give you data to form some sort of actual basis.

Good luck, most people are quite private about their dogs here in the US and Canada, however, if you get a translator, you could view the German Stud Books, they tend to have everything in them, regarding the breeding, whelping, and pups. They also have breed wardens in Germany that oversee all of this data.

[Marylou Mader]

Oh, by the way, I would be willing to fill out the survey :0)