| Question about being a responsible breeder?After years of research, I have finally decided to breed quality dachshunds. I have a gorgeous doxie girl who is 9 years old (she IS spayed & I've had her since she was 8 weeks old) and through knowing her I have learned a lot about the breed, as well as reading books and talking to breeders. I researched for a long time first b/c I didn't want to jump into it. I have assembled a "game plan" and I was hoping you guys could give me your input. I apologize in advance if it is long.
I just brought home 2 girl puppies (Danke, {pronounced don-ka} a cream silver dapple long-hair & Brooklyn, a chocolate cream dapple long hair) from a breeder & friend that I have known for over a year. (she is also my mentor) The girls are both show quality and their parents are champions. I will raise these girls actively in shows and events (I have been to a few and the environment is amazing) and work on getting them their titles. Once they are 2 years old and they have had their health checks (pinnhip, ofa, cerf, are brucellosis negative) and they have passed AKC's CGC (canine good citizen) test is when I will breed them. I have already constructed a nursery and it has whelping boxes (they have pig rails), scales, towels/blankets/rags, toys, crates, dog litter boxes (they will be introduced @ 4 weeks), emergency first aid kit, bottles & formula (just in case), heated whelping box pads that use a programmable thermostat, etc. I also have record books for each of the puppies where I will record their birth time, daily weights & tests/shots/worming once age appropriate. I will be taking off work for the first week of the puppies' lives to help my girls with them. Also, as soon as they're born, I will fill out & send off the litter registration form so that I can get their papers in time for them to go to new homes at 8 weeks. I've learned that it can take uo to 6 weeks to get the papers back from the AKC. When they are 4 weeks old, they will go from the small 4 panel pens to 8 panel pens for extra growing room. At five weeks, I will start weaning them with mushed up Taste Of The Wild dry puppy food until they are able to eat it whole. When they're 6 weeks old, I will have them vaccinated, de-wormed and tested for heart problems, hernias, eye & ear problems. When they are 8 weeks old (or longer if need be for any puppy that needs to remain with me longer) they will go to their new homes. But, before they are born, I will be developing a list of potential new owners. My mentor has already agreed to help me when the time comes. I will also be taking Danke & Brooklyn with her to the shows she goes to before the girls are old enough to compete.
Does this sound like a solid enough plan? My mentor says it is but I wanted outside opinions as well. Thanks guys! I also forgot to mention that all of the puppies & Danke & Brooklyn will be microchipped. The puppies will also be given advantage once they are 8 weeks old. Also, I will NOT be advertising in a newpaper or through any kind of puppy site (craigslist, ebay, puppyfinder, nextdaypets) or anything like that. The only magazines I will advertise in will be AKC Family Dog, Dog Fancy's Dachshund & the original Dog Fancy. I will also be creating a personal website once it gets nearer to time for the girl's 2nd birthday. Also, I will be inclusing a spay/neuter agreement for pet puppies and a lifetime take back policy (whether the new owner decides they don't want the puppy anymore a week later or 15 years later, I will take the dog back into my home) If the puppies happen to not be "worthy" of show quality, then I will find them homes as pets to homes that only I approve of. And, if I can't find a home, the puppy will live with me for the rest of his/her life. I love dachshunds and I'm in this for the breed, not for money. Besides a good and responsible breeder knows that there IS NOT money to be made in dog breeding. All expenses incurred during the breeding are barely replaced by the puppy fees. Anyone in this for money will get a huge slap in the face. @ Sonny-licous: I love that movie! That's where I got the name from lol! I have "birthed" a dog before and cats too. When I was only 14, I raised two stray puppy litters. There was a total of 21 puppies! And I successfully rehomed them in good homes. Even then I was very picky about home placement. I have watched videos about birthing difficulties and read numerous books. I try not to think about losing Danke or Brooklyn but it has crossed my mind. All I can do is hope for the best. As mentioned in another edit, if it takes a while to rehome the puppies, then they will stay with me. The more the merrier. I love them. @ nosaj: I misread the question. Absolutely! If something were to happen like that and their tests reveal that they shouldn't breed, then I will get them spayed and they will just be faithful and loved companions. And I won't look at the money spent as wasted money. I'll look at it as money well spent on their vet care and that I know more about them than I ever would have. I would definitely start over and hope for a positive charm the next time around and I'll proudly welcome another little doxie into my home. 4Her4life: I didn't mean the CGC as a title. It's simply a temperament test that I want my girls to go through. I'm asking opinions on here because I want to know what others think. There's nothing wrong with that. I met my mentor at a show I went to a little over a year ago. We hit it off perfectly. I do value her opinion & it was with her help that I learned what I have past what they tell you in breed books. I just wanted some opinions from people I didn't know. And as far as titles go with my mentor, her dogs (between all of them) have the following: all have CH, and then there's DC (dual champion), FC (field champion), GCH (grand champion), MBIS (multiple best in show), HC (herding champion) and OTCH (obedience trial champion)
Also, I want to know why you think it's odd that I adopted two of her girls at the same time?? Where is the abnormality in that?? 4Her4life: I didn't mean the CGC as a title. It's simply a temperament test that I want my girls to go through. I'm asking opinions on here because I want to know what others think. There's nothing wrong with that. I met my mentor at a show I went to a little over a year ago. We hit it off perfectly. I do value her opinion & it was with her help that I learned what I have past what they tell you in breed books. I just wanted some opinions from people I didn't know. And as far as titles go with my mentor, her dogs (between all of them) have the following: all have CH, and then there's DC (dual champion), FC (field champion), GCH (grand champion), MBIS (multiple best in show), HC (herding champion) and OTCH (obedience trial champion)
Also, I want to know why you think it's odd that I adopted two of her girls at the same time?? Where is the abnormality in that?? @ Julie D: I meant to type in PENNHIP. I still have the pitbulls and they (including the puppies) are doing great. Marek, which is the name I decided to go with, is a goofy boy who is actually getting along the best with one of my older cats, Banana and obviously, Ausha, our other pittie; the one we've had the longest. Immie, the mama pitbull (puppies are now 2 weeks old-she had 5), is doing really well. We had to keep her outside because she didn't like my 9 yr old dachshund. We cleared out a spot in our shed and built her an insulated dog house and a little whelping box area around it. But the puppies haven't even left the house yet. Too little still. And once Immie's milk has dried we will be getting her spayed and rehoming her since we can't bring her in and I'm not making her be an outside dog.
Back to your questions though: My question isn't a "story". You're out of your mind if you think "NO good breeder will sell you two puppies a @ Julie D: I meant to type in PENNHIP. I still have the pitbulls and they (including the puppies) are doing great. Marek, which is the name I decided to go with, is a goofy boy who is actually getting along the best with one of my older cats, Banana and obviously, Ausha, our other pittie; the one we've had the longest. Immie, the mama pitbull (puppies are now 2 weeks old-she had 5), is doing really well. We had to keep her outside because she didn't like my 9 yr old dachshund. We cleared out a spot in our shed and built her an insulated dog house and a little whelping box area around it. But the puppies haven't even left the house yet. Too little still. And once Immie's milk has dried we will be getting her spayed and rehoming her since we can't bring her in and I'm not making her be an outside dog.
Back to your questions though: My question isn't a "story". You're out of your mind if you think "NO good breeder will sell you two puppies a
Asked By: Felicia - 1/20/2013 |