Why Not to Breed Your Dog
The benefits of not breeding your dog are clear.
Breeding dogs is a big responsibility and it is not something that everyone is prepared to do.
There are many reasons why you might consider not breeding your dog, such as the health of the mother and puppies, the cost of raising a litter, or just because you don’t want more than one dog as a pet.
No matter what your reason for considering not breeding your dog, there are many benefits to doing so.
These include: less chance of genetic disorders in the puppies, less chance that your puppy will end up in a shelter or rescue group, and less chance you’ll have to find new homes for the puppies if they’re too big or too small.
Is it bad to let your dog have puppies?
Not only does waiting until after your dog has had a litter expose them to all the risks of pregnancy and whelping, but it can also reduce the protective effect neutering has against some forms of reproductive cancer.[1]
Is it good for a female dog to have a litter?
It’s a very common misconception that a female dog should have one litter before being spayed (neutered). Not only is it an out-dated concept, with no evidence to support that breeding a litter is either physically or psychologically beneficial to a dog.[2]
Should dogs be allowed to breed?
In short, dogs do not need to breed but frustration may come out of a lack of sexual interactions from the male. While, in the female dog, not breeding may have both good and bad health and hormonal consequences. Overall, it’s fine if you do not breed your dogs, but expect them to still show signs of wanting to mate.[3]
Does breeding a dog change their personality?
Your dog’s personality may change greatly after breeding. They may become more rambunctious and hard to control in some situations. Other male dogs may not change at all. There’s no way to predict how your dog will change after breeding.[4]
Does breeding a dog shorten its lifespan?
On average, mixed breed dogs lived 1.2 years longer than purebred dogs.[5]
Does breeding hurt dogs?
Inbreeding causes painful and even life-threatening genetic defects in “purebred” dogs and cats, including crippling hip dysplasia, blindness, deafness, heart defects, skin problems, and epilepsy. Distorting animals for exaggerated physical features also causes severe health problems.[6]
What happens if female dog is not mated?
While dogs are able to – and should be permitted to – mate with each other, your doggo can definitely live without mating! In short, it will never harm your dog if he or she can’t mate, and it’s important to recognize that spayed and neutered dogs can live just as long as other pups who have not been fixed.[7]
Do female dogs change after having puppies?
Many mother dogs display behavioral changes after giving birth, and these can range from mild to extreme. Depending on the cause, uncharacteristic dog behavior after having puppies rarely lasts more than a few weeks before a new mom begins acting more like herself again.[8]
Do female dogs get depressed when puppies leave?
If dogs have their puppies taken away too early or all at once, then they will miss them. As long as puppies are removed from eight weeks onwards and are given to owners gradually and not all in one go, she will soon be feeling herself.[9]
Should I stud my dog?
A good reason to stud your dog, on the other hand, is to improve the breed. That means ironing out flaws in your dog by breeding it with a dog that lacks those flaws, with the end goal to produce flawless puppies.[10]
What does the male dog owner get when breeding?
In exchange for services, the stud owner will receive a stud fee and will usually be guaranteed the first pick of the litter if breeding is successful. The service also extends beyond just purely allowing a dam to mate with a stud.[11]
How many times can I breed my dog?
A best practice is 4-6 litters per dog Most reputable breeders will cap even their fittest, best mothers at around 4-6 litters so that she can be spayed while she is still young and at her healthiest.[12]
