Breeding Dogs

Perhaps due to their fierce loyalty to their masters dogs are referred to as man’s best friend. As dogs have been tamed around 15,000 years ago, it makes the dog an ideal pet. There are numerous breeds of dogs such the Terrier and the Mastiff for example in addition to dog types. These two terms should not be used interchangeably as dog type means to categorize the animals by the role it performs. Breeding dogs is the practice of allowing specially selected specimens to mate in order to preserve or create certain qualities or traits. 

The characteristics of the offspring are determined by natural selection when dogs mate without human involvement. Thus, many domestic dog owners would be breeding dogs to obtain an improved new generation of dogs. However, breeding dogs is a quite tough task. It’s vital that you have a good idea of the intended purpose, genetics and the health condition of the dog in question so that breeding dogs could be done in a fruitful manner. In addition, dog breeders generally record the birth of puppies in stud books of associations such as kennel clubs, where the information about the dog as well as, the dog’s ancestry and special achievements are recorded. AKS is the American Kennel Club one such famous organization.

Properly maintaining data about dogs is vital for breeding dogs. Once an owner has informationconcerning the dog, he/she could study them and determine what traits could be expected and what should be avoided. The dog breeder may also have to determine whether to inbreed or to outcross. In addition, there are certain set of laws that have to be adhered to when breeding dogs. According to the breed, kennel club and country these regulations may vary. Usually, the rules are formulated for the betterment of a specific breed or a few dog breeds and dog breeders have to stick to the laws of an association to be recruited in their breed programs. Different test might have to be done in addition to come to a decision regarding the health condition and qualities of the dog in question in accordance with these regulations and an evaluation by and expert breeder might also be necessary.

Although breeding dogs is a very famous thing, there are certain groups who oppose and criticize the practice. Animal rights groups state that breeding dogs to be sold is immoral and claim that most breeders care only about the profit while totally disregarding the welfare of the animal. In addition inbreeding has also come under attack as this might cause the natural hereditary disorders of the dogs to continue into new generations.

Thus, breeding dogs can be thought of as a very delicate matter. You would need to have a good understanding of the subject if you wish to perform it.