How To Breed Your Dog

Expect little if any profit from breeding your dog. Typically, the owner of the male dog, or sire, incurs no cost and receives the pick of the litter as payment. The owner of the female dog, or dam, pockets income from sales of the remaining puppies, or whelps, but incurs all vet and boarding costs (including de-worming and shots).

Find a suitable breeding mate for your dog. Exchange pedigrees with the other dog’s breeder.

Wait for the female to go into heat. Symptoms include discharge from the vagina and swelling of the vulva. The most fertile time for the female is nine to 12 days following the onset of heat.

Shave under the tail of the female to improve your chance for success, especially when breeding a long-haired dog.

Allow the two dogs to get comfortable with each other. Sequester them in the breeding enclosure for a day or two.

Let nature take its course, or use an artificial insemination kit. With direct contact, the handler must hold the male and position the dog’s penis to ensure maximum penetration and prevent injury.

After 48 hours, allow the dogs to repeat the mating process to increase the likelihood of success.

Don’t be fooled by false pregnancy. Get a canine pregnancy test after four to five weeks.

Prepare to deliver the whelps — research the breed beforehand so you know what to expect.