Your poodle is adorable. Everyone says so. Friends have told
you over and over how much they wish they had a dog just like
yours. Why not let your poodle mate with the poodle down the street,
produce a litter of great puppies, and recoup some of the expenses
of caring for your dog? Right? Wrong.
"Backyard" or amateur breeding is discouraged by most
serious poodle breeders and poodle owners. Before you breed your
poodle, there are some hard questions you should ask yourself.
Where Does Your Poodle Stand in Regard to AKC Standards?
Sure, you love her to death, but an AKC judge might tell you
her tail is set too low, her ears are set too high, and her posture
is horrible due to hip dysplasia. The poodle you want to breed
your female with probably has some issues of his own. In the end,
even if your poodle and her friend are purebreds, they will not
come close to producing anything like a champion dog. This will
discourage many potential buyers who seek poodles that closely
match AKC standards.
Does Your Poodle Have Any Genetic Problems?
If so, they may very well be passed to her litter. Do you really
want to bring into the world five or more little dogs who will
be blind by age six or who will die of an Addison's crisis after
several sickly years?
What Exactly Are You Breeding For?
Are you trying to recreate the mother dog's sweet disposition
or the father dog's luscious brown coat? If so, be prepared for
some unpleasant surprises. Even professional breeders who carefully
study genetics and know the history of their dogs for many generations
back don't always get what they bargain for.
Besides, there are probably dozens of puppies in pounds around
the country that have beautiful brown coats or sweet dispositions.
Why not adopt one of them?
What Will You Do With the Puppies?
If you're breeding for the first time, you'll have no reputation
in the poodle world to help you sell the puppies. Friends who
talked hypothetically about how much they'd like a puppy like
yours often disappear when the puppy becomes a reality. If you
can't find homes for the pups, can you keep them and care for
them?
Many professional breeders go a step further and ask the people
who buy their dogs to sign an agreement that if they can't keep
the dog, for whatever reason, the dog will be returned to the
breeder. Are you willing to take responsibility for your puppies
to that extent?
Do You See Yourself Making Money from the Litter?
You're unlikely to do so. The truth is, even professional breeders
often lose money--amateur breeders almost always do.
Finally, Are You Prepared to Risk Your Dog's Life?
Complications during labor and delivery aren't common, but when
they happen they can be very serious. Smaller dogs, like toy poodles,
are more likely to have complications than are larger dogs.
The bottom line is that you're probably better off leaving poodle
breeding to professionals. If you love your dog, get it spayed
or neutered, learn how
to care for your poodle at home, and enjoy it as a friend
and a pet for the rest of its long life.
Attention: To discover how
YOU can have the Happiest, Healthiest and Best Behaved Poodle,
get a copy of this Poodle Guide
NOW!
