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This article is from the Breeding, Whelping, and Rearing Puppies FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Liza Lee Miller.

005. Okay, but what about showing and working, how can those have anyeffect on her qualities as a brood bitch?

There are two reasons why a brood bitch should "get out of the house." First of all, she'll be a happier dog if she has activities in her life and gets to go places with you and do fun things. If she's happier, she'll be a better mother. It's that simple. Secondly, you need to have some way of knowing that your bitch is worthy of breeding. That sounds very judgmental, but I'll remind you that we are discussing responsible breeding here. That means that we are breeding to better the breed. The best way to ensure that you are improving the breed is to only breed quality animals to other quality animals with an eye to minimizing faults and strengthening good qualities. We'll discuss more on choosing a stud dog later, however, you also need to choose your brood bitch. If you are starting out with your first dog, you'll need to look long and hard at her and decide if she's worthy of breeding. This has nothing to do with how much you love her -- obviously you do -- this has to do with bettering the breed. This can be a difficult decision to make when your heart is involved. Hearts tend to fuzz up our vision so that faults are minimized and good qualities are enhanced. This is where the idea of showing and testing our animals originated. These events give us a better idea of whether or not our dogs are worthy of breeding. But, keep in mind, everyone has their own standards and they won't all agree. Some people won't breed a bitch until she's a Champion in the show ring. Some people don't consider a bitch worthy of breeding until she's got her Master Hunter title or her Utility Dog title. You have to make these decisions yourself, keeping in mind the idea of bettering the breed. At the minimum, you should have her evaluated by another, more knowledgeable pair of eyes. Her breeder would be an ideal choice, however, that's not always possible. Any experienced breeder in your particular breed should be able to help you evaluate your bitch honestly and without the rosy glow of love changing your perspective.

 

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• prev: 004. I can see why nutrition and health care are important concerns, but how do those other things make her a better brood bitch?
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• next: 006. Okay, I'm satisfied that she's a quality bitch, worthy of breeding,what's the next step?

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breeding, whelping, rearing, puppy