What It Takes to Breed Hunting Dogs
Purely for the love of the breed! This is the primary reason that people become breeders. Though most purebred dogs do fetch a good price, the breeders aren’t in it for the money. For any breed of dog, breeding requires years of commitment, a wealth of resources, and a great deal of research. Hunting dogs have specific needs that other breeds may not have.
While a show quality dog should have certain physical characteristics like a head that is in proportion to their body or a straight tail, a good hunting dog also has characteristics that are important – they have a certain temperament that allows them to be trained, are suited for hunting and they are not jumpy or nervous around gunshots. Everyone understands that a dog that is bred as a ‘pet’ really needs only one quality – the willingness to play well with others. Hunting dogs do not always make good pets, though certainly most hunting dogs are good pets as they love being around people.
Show quality dogs are not the norm. In fact, in many litters, you are often going to have only one pup that is considered to be show quality, if you even get one! Even with show quality dogs that are bred from show quality parents, you are not likely to get more than two in a breed. However, in spite of this, almost every litter will breed pups that will be effective hunters or quality family pets.
Because show-quality dogs are so rare, it is important that their pedigree be kept in order. If your dogs do not have papers, you’re not going to get the same price for them as you would if they were. If you are a good trainer as well as a breeder, you may be able to get a high price either way. Fine-tuned instincts, fearlessness, a sense of adventure, and a desire to please are all traits of a prized hunter.
Many breeders use artificial insemination to breed. This is acceptable of course, and allows you to select the male to breed your female with. Many times, the paperwork that you are reviewing will not tell you whether the male is going to bring all the qualities you want when you are attempting to breed your bitch. Nevertheless, once you do, you will be looking forward to the day when your brand new puppies will arrive.
Being well-prepared in advance can help insure the safe birth of healthy puppies. Have a veterinarian on call as well as another dog handler who has had experience, in case of any emergencies. Natural instinct has prepared your bitch to be able to handle the birth herself, but you may need to offer reassurance or help, especially if it is her first litter. She should be compelled to take care of the puppies as soon as they’re born. If not, there may be a problem and you will need expert advice.
Assuming everything has gone according to plan, the puppies should be fully weaned before they are sold. This takes at least six weeks, but most breeders choose to wait as long as eight weeks of age. The puppies should all have had their beginning series of shots. At about four months, hunting dog training begins. It can take up to a year to fully train a hunter, but the dog will have all its basic hunting skills by the time it is one year old.
It is easy to become attached to the dogs you have bred, but it’s not always easy to sell them. Who you sell them to is your business. You have every right to deny a sale for whatever the reason. Every dog deserves a good home, even if it’s not show-quality or won’t make a good hunter. The love you have for the breed is the reason you decided to become a breeder in the first place.
Hunting dogs are a lot of fun and great pets, but you have to make sure you have all the proper hunting dog supplies. some great products out there, include tracking collars and Shock Collars.
