ARTICLE: Breeding

I remind people to spay/neuter and have heard the reasons why some choose not to. A common misconception is that the pet will be obese if neutered/spayed. Any animal that eats too much and has too little exercise will be heavier than it’s standard weight. Dogs aren’t any different than us in their calorie versus exercise requirements. If the dog eats a bag of chips with you and neither of you get out for more than a stretch, I’m afraid the problem will not improve quickly for either one of you!

Some dog food bags don’t have the correct information about food amounts. One example of this is that older dogs eat less, because they are expending less energy. Your dog will thank you for using common sense when filling the bowl.

Some breeders recommend not feeding a large breed youngster commercial designated “puppy” food because their bones are developing too quickly and the extra protein in some puppy foods will cause painful panosteosis. Pano causes extra bone mass and the dog limps on different legs at different times. If you suspect something like this is occurring with your puppy you should see your vet or talk to your breeder. Also I recommend high dosages (2,000 mgs a day) of vitamin C to promote proper bone growth. C is a water soluable vitamin and if the body doesn't need it, it is eliminated. Some pup's kidneys aren't mature enough to produce C that's why I recommend it.

Females do not need a litter or a heat before being spayed. If you let your female have a litter you risk her life during the pregnancy and labor. Sometimes bitches die during whelping as will some of the pups. You could end up nursing orphans for weeks.The younger a female is when you spay her the healthier she'll be as an adult, she'll have less odds of having many types of cancer.

Making puppies for profit is the wrong reason to breed a dog. Showing your children birth is the wrong reason. Your opinion that your dog is pretty or smart or sweet is not a good reason to bring more puppies into the over-dog populated world. Visit a city shelter if you have doubts.

It costs money for a stud. It costs money to have the pregnancy checked along the way. It will cost a fortuine if something goes wrong. It costs money to raise, feed and care for puppies. It costs money to have all their health checks, shots and to eliminate worms. Breeding should be left to people who show, title, conform and improve the standards and screen new owners for a permanent match. Very good breeders often have their litters sold before they ever mate their dogs.

Breeding correctly costs as much or more than you’ll make from one litter. If you have a breed that is prone to displaysia you must have your stud and dam x-rayed and they should pass an OFA review before it can be bred. Any pure breed dog has physical abnormalities that can show up in a litter if you don’t know the breeding basics. Dogs also need to be screened for venereal diseases before mating. No purchaser wants a puppy from a timid, unhealthy sire or dam.

Currently there are vets that will give a male dog a vasectomy but this won’t prevent testicular cancers. Mammary cancers are common for unspayed females, any part of their reproductive system can become cancerous. Females spayed before their first heat will have a 90% chance of avoiding mammary and uterine cancers.
If you want to love your pet for a long time - spay or neuter.

If you purchased a puppy with a limited registration or you have a mixed breed dog it only means you aren’t able to show your dog in conformation shows. You can still participate in any other sport you like such as obedience, agility, herding; even in AKC events. If your dog is altered you can obtain Indefinite Listing Privilege numbers (ILP#) from the AKC and this allows you to compete in their events. Competition is fun and great exercise for both dogs and their people. The working breeds are, without question, born to work and getting them involved in a sport is an excellent way to burn off their energy.

“Dogs should be free to roam where ever they want.” I have heard this hundreds of times despite the fact that most towns have leash laws. Some pet owners move from the city and suddenly find themselves surrounded by woods. Dogs that were previously restricted are now free to go wherever they like to urinate or defecate on someone elses two acre lot. A loose dog is just as likely to get hit by a car in the country as it was in the city. In the city it might have gotten loose twice, in the country it’s loose all day long.

Loose dogs get stolen, poisoned, bit by wild animals, lost, teased, hurt, killed by cars, abused by strangers, in fights with other dogs, they kill other people’s pets, open the neighbors’ garbage and eat anything they like. One lick of antifreeze is deadly. Some people put it out intentionally to kill roaming dogs. Don't let that dog be yours.

If a loose dog bites a person, another dog or animal you will be fined and it may even cost the dog his life. When a dog wanders into the street and gets hit by a car it is not the driver’s fault, it is the pet owners fault and often people in cars are lucky to be alive after avoiding a wandering dog.

If your pet happens to escape confinement these are some ideas to bring him/her home again. If your town has Animal Control Officers you should check with them first, if not you can contact your police department. Put up posters with the dog's photo around stores. Place an ad in the local paper that your dog is missing with a description. Call area vets to alert them and some vets will allow you to post notices. You can also post notices on the internet. Be aware that most of the time a dog is found within five miles from home but some very active dogs can travel up to twenty five miles a day.

Vehicles

Leaving a dog (or child for that matter) in a car with the windows cracked in the summer is very dangerous, if not deadly. In most states it's illegal. The car heats up quickly and a dogs panting cannot keep the dogs temperature cool enough, fast enough. If you have air conditioning please take into account that it can fail, the car can stall and your dog will succumb to heat prostration very quickly.
There is a law in some states that dogs cannot ride in the back of pick-up trucks unless restrained. The best way to have a dog in this situation is with cross ties. If you ride with a dog in the car and want the best protection, there are dog seat belt harnesses; crates are commonly used, some people bolt the crate to the car or truck floor.
Pets are people too! Caring for a dog can be as much responsibility as caring for a child. Health, safety and compassion are required for both.
It’s very true that animals keep people healthy, so do what you can for their longevity and they will contribute to yours.