SHOULD YOU BREED YOUR American Bulldog?

THESE ARE NOT GOOD REASONS TO BREED YOUR DOG:

1. So the kids can see the miracle of birth. Children can learn about birth from books and videos. This does not justify causing a litter of perhaps 10 puppies to come into the world in need of loving homes. Take a trip to the local animal shelter and see the sad results of many litters born for just this misguided reason.

2. She should have one litter before she is spayed/he is altered. WRONG! There is absolutely NO medical, physical or emotional reason that a dog or bitch needs to reproduce itself except to continue the species. In the case of a pet quality dog (or even some show dogs) this does not apply.

3. You want to recoup your investment. Ha! All dogs that are even being considered for breeding should, at the very least, have their hips x-rayed to rule out hip dysplasia. More and more breeders are now screening for cataracts, Von Willibrands Disease (VWD), normal thyroid and even elbow dysplasia. These will probably cost somewhere around $250.00. Routine check for any uterine or vaginal infections will help ensure a live litter. Add $100.00. Stud fee to a good quality stud who is right for your bitch and has, himself, passed all the health screenings will run about $400.00. Now we’re at $750.00. If a C-section becomes necessary, add at least $350.00 and probably more. Assuming there’s no need for a section, you now have a nice healthy litter of, oh, say 8 puppies. At the age of 6-7 weeks you’re likely going through at least 50 lbs. of dog food a week. Add in the first vaccines (likely $20 each at your vets, less if you give your own), that’s about another $160.00. AND, if you’ve bred a bitch and have no market for her pups, chances are you may end up supporting several of these pups until they’re 4 or 5 months old or older! Do you have any idea how expensive this is getting? And if you have no ready market for your pups, you cannot get the $1000.00 that is about average for a show potential puppy from top show stock. You’ll be lucky to get 2 or 3 hundred dollars a puppy. Still think you’re going to recoup your investment? Better stick with an altered pet!

4. She’s just so nice all my friends want one of her babies and I want one just like her. I refer you to number 3 above. Those friends who just have to have one of her pups have a strange way of back peddling when the time comes to actually purchase the puppy. And there’s no guarantee that you’ll have a puppy even remotely like your dog or bitch. So is it worth all the expense to take the chance? It’s a lot cheaper to just go to a reputable breeder and buy another dog!

5. She’s a champion! She deserves to be bred! Bull Feathers! True, a championship is likely a good indication that she is of top quality breeding stock and many champions are of breeding quality. However I know of some really lovely champions that should NEVER be bred because of health problems or temperament problems or many of those problems in their pedigrees. If a dog isn’t sound in mind and health, it should not be bred. Conversely I know of dogs who couldn’t finish their championships due to conformation faults but who are among the best producers! I even own one! The point here is this, the whole dog along with it’s pedigree and health screenings must be considered before making the decision to breed or not to breed.

BREEDING A MALE

It takes two to tango and males are as responsible for litters as are the bitches. Pet male Bulldogs should be neutered. Period! This is an issue that more commonly is a problem for a male human owner than us ladies! Many men have this thing which causes them to think that their dog will be somehow less macho if he’s been neutered. For some reason that I do not understand (probably because I’m a woman) this is a real problem for them. I’m here to tell you, gentlemen, that truly this IS YOUR PROBLEM, not your dog’s!

First, as for a pet female, a pet male should not be bred and for all the same reasons. If he is not to be bred, he should be altered. He should be altered to reduce the chance for testicular or prostrate cancer. He should be altered to prevent him from being upset and stressed if a neighborhood female is in season. A male will smell this from far away! He should be altered so that he will never be responsible for a litter when someone is careless, leaves the door open and he’s off to mate with that in season bitch! HE won’t care that he’s been altered, he’ll be much happier and more content without the stress of overactive hormones that should never be satisfied.