There’s no denying that dogs are an amazing gift to us and a precious addition to many families. That said, do you know just what the dog breeding process involves? It may be a fun and interesting thing to know, and you can even use it to break the ice and start a conversation or two with fellow dog lovers if you’re one yourself. Keep reading to get a good idea of what the process involves, so that if anyone ever asks, you can share some information that they’ll enjoy with them.
Research Is the First Step
To start with, you need to do thorough research into the details of canine genetics. This should make it possible to make a decision that will result in stronger puppies that have great qualities and good health. Learn about things like hereditary diseases and other issues like these so that you get a good breed whose nutrition, care, and exercise will be manageable. To this end, you should make sure that both dogs that you choose to breed are in great health and don’t have any underlying conditions. The importance of this step makes it crucial to find the right people to work with, keeping in mind that, according to statistics, up to 70% of all business partnerships end up failing.
There Are Various Options Available for Breeding
Next, keep in mind that there are several options from which you can choose to breed the perfect puppy. One of these is the natural process, and the other one is artificial insemination. For the natural process, there’s minimal or even zero human interference. In natural breeding, hybrid or designer dogs are bred by the method of outbreeding, which involves crossbreeding two different dog breeds. The other option is back breeding, which is essentially a form of inbreeding with one dog mating with another one so that the same dog can mate with the strongest outcome from that litter later on.
For artificial insemination, a veterinarian will be involved at the start of the process to enable fertilization to occur. This is the option that’s used in cases where natural breeding isn’t possible. For this, both outbreeding and backbreeding can be practiced as well. In both cases, it’s beneficial to know that there are about 350 recognized breeds of dogs around the world, according to Homeward Bound.
Health Matters a Lot
As mentioned, good health is a crucial part of the whole process, and so matters such as hygiene and nutrition have to be taken into account. Both the puppies and the breeding dogs should get some vaccinations as well as deworming to keep them in the best health. Their oral health is not to be ignored since it can affect their overall health, as all dog-breeders and owners alike ought to know. This is the same case for human beings, who also need to take proper care of their oral health. This may not be the case, with a mere 12% of adults aged from 20 to 64 years not having been to the dentist in the last five years.
Being Prepared for Possible Complications Is a Good Idea
Finally, it’s important to hope for the best but stay prepared for possible complications. This means that you should learn about the signs of possible issues so that you can act fast to keep things in control. Some of the complications that may arise include problems giving birth, excessive discharge or bleeding, stillborn puppies, low levels of calcium, mammary or womb infections, and unique challenges faced by special needs pets such as a dog with Down Syndrome. Learning about these as well as what to do can help keep the dog and puppies safe from birth right up to adulthood.
These are just some of the details that go into dog breeding, so it’s clear that it’s a complex process. With the necessary care, it’s possible to get a batch of healthy, happy puppies. This is the main reason why it’s best to let professionals handle the process of dog breeding so that they can create the best outcome and minimize issues.
