Breeder Education

Some things to consider before breeding your Swissy:

• What are your reasons for breeding your dog? If you want to breed a litter so that your children will experience the "miracle of birth" you should also be prepared for them to witness the reality of death. Loss of one or more puppies or even the dam is a very real occurence in many Swissy whelpings.
• Are you and your family prepared for the time commitment that planning a breeding, whelping and rearing a litter, placement of puppies and on-going contact with the puppies' new families requires? A breeder is solely responsible for the health and well being of the dam and every puppy produced in a litter for its lifetime. Raising a litter takes a tremendous amount of time, it is not a 9 to 5 job but rather a 24/7 commitment for several months. Even after the puppies are placed, the breeder has a responsibility to mentor the puppies' new families.
• Are you financially prepared for the costs of breeding a litter? Every breeder hopes to break even on a litter. However , very often the cost of breeding, whelping and rearing the puppies far exceeds any money that is obtained from puppy sales. Thousands of dollars can be spent on veterinarian bills for breeding or whelping assistance as well as routine litter care for vaccinations, microchipping, dewclaw removal, etc.
• Have you  read the breed standard?  Have you attended Regional and National GSMD Specialties so that you have had the opportunity to speak with knowledgeable breeders and owners to develop your understanding of how the standard is to be applied?
• Can you point out your own dogs'  deviations from  the standard – structural, type-related ?
• How well do  you know your dog's pedigree? Can you name your dogs' grandparents readily without looking at their pedigree?  Have you seen your dogs' ancestors or spoken with individuals who are personally familiar with them so that you have and in-depth knowledge of your dogs lineage?
• Have you thoroughly researched the health problems in  your own dogs pedigrees and in the lines of the mates you are  considering for breeding? (Note: NO line is free of health problems whether epilepsy or a skeletal, eye abnormality or other    problem)
• Have you obtained  basic health clearances on the dogs you plan to breed?   (OFA for hips, elbows, shoulders; CERF for eyes)
   Is  your dog temperamentally sound?   Has he/she passed a temperament test?
• Have you shown  your dog to its AKC Championship? Have  you obtained any working or obedience titles on  your dog?
• Do  you have mentors who will be honest with you about  your abilities to breed a litter and be willing to assist you with the breeding and the litter? Have you had the opportunity to assist an experienced breeder with a whelping so you know what to expect?   
• Do you have a vet experienced with  the GSMD-- specifically reproductive issues?
• How do you plan on finding GOOD homes for the puppies? Do  you know how to effectively screen homes ? Do you know how to evaluate puppies properly for temperament, structure and breed type? (Note: perfect markings do NOT make a puppy "show quality")
• Do you  have experience so that you thoroughly understand the specific health and training concerns of the breed? To be a good and   dependable mentor to your puppy buyers  you will need this knowledge and the ability to share it with others.
• Do you know enough about dog behavior to mentor your puppy buyers on how to raise their puppy and how to correct behavior problems before they become major?
• Do you have the room and time to keep numerous puppies for up to several extra months when you have yet to find a good home in which to place them? Can you take puppies or adults back if they are returned to you when the owner can no longer keep them? As a breeder you are responsible for the dogs that you produce for their lifetime?

Articles:

• A Responsible Breeder - by Sari Tietjen
• Canine Breeding and Reproduction - by Dr. Julio Correa
• Breeding Clearances - by Katie Carman
• Transcript of Canine Reproduction Seminar -by Dr Robert van Hutchison
• Just Like Clockwork - on Progesterone Testing (from Today's Breeder - October 2004)
• Progesterone Testing - by Dick White
• Overbites in the GSMD - by Ann Hansen
• 2 x 0 -(Is Better than Mediocre Good Enough?) - by Gay Dunlap (from the Canine Chronicle)
• Reproductive Physiology & Artificial Insemination - by Robert Lofstedt

Links

• GSMDCA Health Database
• Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals
• Breeding Better Dogs by Carmen Battaglia (articles, information, seminars and more to "Build a Better World of Breeders")
• GSMDCA Breeder's Guidelines
• GSMDCA Breeders' Classifieds Enrollment Form
• GSMDCA Breeders' Classifieds
  

Contracts, Charts, Guidelines, and Forms

• GSMD Breed Standard
• Breeders Drug Guideline - by Dr Amy Moore
• GSMDCA Breed Study Handout
• Stud Service Contract template - by Lori Price
• Estrous Cycle Chart
• Events in Canine Pregnancy
• AKC Litter Registration Form
• Purchase Contract/Agreement template - by Lori Price

Breeder Education Committee Contacts