Factors to Consider

• Will your dog contribute excellent health, temperament, working ability or conformity to the breed standard?
  
• Do you understand that spaying and neutering will prevent some health problems that you risk by keeping your dog intact?
   
• Are you aware of any and all health and temperament problems in your dog’s pedigree, looking at both depth and breadth of pedigree?
  
• Are you willing to search for the best dog to breed your dog to, even if you have to travel out of state?
  
• Do you have carefully screened buyers and deposits for all the puppies you may produce?
  
• Do you have money set aside in case the dam or puppies need emergency care?
  
• Can you or another responsible adult be present 24 hours a day for the first 3 weeks in case hand feeding is needed?
  
• Have you read about what to prepare and expect for canine pregnancy, whelping and puppy rearing? (rec source: Canine Reproduction: A Breeder’s Guide 3rd Edition, Phyllis Holst)
  
• Are you willing to keep and properly socialize all the puppies until good homes are found?
  
• Are you willing to take back any or all puppies any time in their lives that they may no longer be wanted?
  
• Are you willing to serve as a lifetime resource for the buyers of your puppies?

Pre-Breeding Procedures

• Annual CERF eye certification.
  
• Wait until 2 years of age before breeding, then have OFA hip and elbow certification performed.
  
• Have all breed-specific health clearances performed – check with veterinarian and national breed club (may include heart, thyroid, genetic testing, many others).
  
• Have Brucella canis test performed 1 month in advance.
  
• Have a complete physical examination performed on your dog prior to breeding. 
       – This should include a digital vaginal exam to check for vaginal band/stricture.