subject: Things To Consider When You Choose To Breed Dogs [print this page] Things To Consider When You Choose To Breed Dogs
This is a very good question. Many times pet owner's love their dogs and they want to experience the fun of being able to raise a bulldog litter. Well, there is not much I dislike more than some snob who is stuck up and only willing to sell their dogs having limited AKC reg. What this will mean is that your dog is only a pet and will never be able to be bred. Or rather, your dog can not be bread and still have the puppies be registered in accordance with the AKC. I don't understand what would make a breeder feel that they are so special that it us up to them to decide that they can breed bulldogs, however nobody who they sell to will ever be able to have a litter produced from a puppy of theirs. This really irks me like little else can. How much more self-centered can one person be?
However, with that said, there are some excellent reasons to strongly consider before seriously considering to breed your English bulldog. It can be a lot of work and expense to say the least.
Aside from the work that goes into raising a litter of puppies, you should consider the quality of your animal. Does your pet meet traditional AKC standards for the breed? If not, by breeding your pet you are perpetuating traits that are considered undesirable amongst the breed. While your pet may be perfectly healthy and lovable, if he or she does not meet standards according to the AKC, you may want to think twice about breeding.
Secondly, there is the important consideration of cost. Many people who attempt to breed English Bulldogs can plan on having to pay for a stud service. A stud service can range between $600 and $800 for a stud dog that is well-put together. This does not provide any guarantee that the puppies will eventually come to look like their Dad, or even that you will get a litter that is large. All this will get you is the breeder. Many breeders who are offering a stud service will provide a repeat breeding for no additional charge if the female dog does not take on the first try. However, this will typically be limited to people who have done progesterone tests in order to verify that the female is indeed in heat and she has not yet ovulated prior to being bred. If you have your vet draw blood and do 4 progesterone tests you will most likely have spent an additional $200 - $400 depending on your vets fees.
Aside from cost, raising a litter of puppies is very time consuming. Puppies must be fed every two hours and while the mother is capable, you will need to ensure she is performing her duties and raising a little of healthy pups. If your bitch is a first time mother, she may require assistance in taking care of her pups. This means long hours staying up with your pups and making sure they are getting adequate food. If she is not, you may need to hand feed them until they are able to suckle themselves. This type of dedication means you are practically raising a litter of puppies as though you had no mother taking care of them.
With all of that said it can certainly be enjoyable and fun if you happen to have a female which will warrant being bred, if sleep deprivation is something you do not mind, and IF you will be able to handle the cost.
