i am not interested in breeding dogs, but i know someone who is. i just have a few questions regarding the difference between a "hobby breeder" and a "backyard breeder" and just regular questions about breeding. the dog is a Bernese Mountain Dog.

is the main difference between the two the cause of why they are breeding the dog? for the better of the breed, or the money.
if they did end up selling the puppies, how much profit would they make? they bought the dog for $1,200 and i don't know how much the stud fee will cost.
what all do you have to do medically for the dog before it is bred and during its pregnancy?
is it really necessary to have the male and female checked physically before breeding?
how old must the female be before breeding?
how many times can she be bred?

thanks so much. if you have anything regarding breeding please let me know. i don't think she should breed the dog. personally, i would get a dog from a shelter, and not buy a high quality dog from a breeder.

hi there... i'm not an expert on the subject by any means but a backyard breeder is someone who is out just to make some quick money selling puppies and a hobby breeder is the one who is trying to make the breed better and is also the one that cares more about the animals than the money.. i don't know anything about the breed your friend has but i know with my boxers that i raise and sell there really isn't any profit... i spend so much in having them checked out physically that i usually owe more than i make..and i also have to check out homes and potential buyers have to come see the pups a few times before i just send them home with one..and i also go to their home to see the environment before making a decision.. because with sooooo many dogs ending up in shelters now.. you really have to check into things..and i personally have them sign a contract saying that if for any reason they don't want or cannot care for the dog anymore it has to come back to me and then i either keep it or i find it a better home.
I would think that the same rules apply for any dam you're trying to breed that you need to have them totally tested and checked out physically to make sure that it will be safe for her and also make sure you check out the studs papers and vet exams..if it's a responsible stud owner they will already have those available for you.. but please tell your friend not to breed for the money because if you're doing it the right way there isn't a whole lot of return in it.. you spend quite about on examinations and tests.
but if he/she is looking to better the breed then they should already know this..
have them talk to their vet more about what needs to be done and keep doing research... you can never know too much
again i'm not an expert..i've only been doing this for 2 years now but i hope some of this helped

[lil mutt]

steph75_77 may not be an expert but he sure knows how to explain it to someone stupid like me... ^_^

perhaps these will help

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A REPUTABLE DOG BREEDER

Things to think about BEFORE breeding your dog

So you want to be a breeder?

Hi,If buying a pup/dog check out the living quarters of the female & her babies.Is it clean.What are the breeders like?Is the female being bred often?Ask them.No question is ever to silly to ask.ONLY BUY YOUR PUP IN YOUR AREA.That way if there are problems yous can communicate & get of hold of them easier.I know to many people who got Ripped off waiting for a puppy to arrive on a plane,which I think is Tramatic to a dog.Some arrive Dead.I own a male & female Shih Tzu.People please spell your breed of dog right.ITS SHIH TZU.....

She should definitely let the vet know she plans to breed and have the bitch checked out and discuss any breed-specific problems that might occur. If your friend has not bred dogs before, she should do everything she can to educate herself on what to expect long before any breeding takes place. There are a lot of problems that can occur during a whelping and she'll need to have the vet's number handy in case anything comes up that she can't handle.

I have a neighbor who breeds shih tzu's and claims to make around 12K a year selling them. I have no idea how many he breeds each year or how much he charges, although he does charge more for full registration. I think that before breeding she should research how much her breed might be "in demand" or she might end up keeping several puppies she can't find homes for. Ideally, she would have good prospective owners lined up before any breeding takes place.

[wishbone]

Good links Suebgone.

Jack you got to tell to your friend how much responsibilities and things to do to become a responsible breeder. Many who only money within those poor dogs mostly suffer from having may body defects up to suffering after ending up on shelter and mostly... just have to take them to sleep.

IMO...I actually preferred to adopt dogs who are homeless...
rather than to buy a great breed one...

Check this link : Backyard Breeder vs. Responsible Hobby Breeder it may help you to know the difference between a "hobby breeder" and a "backyard breeder"

Originally Posted by dorothysmith

Check this link : Backyard Breeder vs. Responsible Hobby Breeder it may help you to know the difference between a "hobby breeder" and a "backyard breeder"

Great site...it gives better information...

Thanks Lyka_01