FamilyCosm

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 hard to come by. In a litter of pups where both parents are of show-quality, you may get one or two that are also show-quality. In a litter where the parents are not quite show-quality, only one of the pups may be show-quality if you’re very lucky. The only certainty is that all of the pups will make great pets, and some of them will be excellent hunters too.

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.

A clear pedigree is not the only requirement. Both parents must have all the qualities you want in your pups. If you own a bitch, be sure the father has everything you’re looking for. If he is difficult to find, artificial insemination and many breeding services can offer alternatives. But however it happens, the big day will arrive when the puppies are born.

While it is unlikely that you will have any problems, it is always a good idea to have a vet on call or even another dog handler who has had experience in the birthing process. Typically, the mom is likely to take care of herself – you on the other hand may need some reassurance or even some assistance. If the bitch does not begin caring for her pups immediately, you may have to take action and it is helpful to have someone who is knowledgeable on hand.

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.

As a breeder, you reap the rewards of the happiness and love you get from your dogs and this does not change even if you must sell them. If you are a breeder who is considering selling a dog you have bred remember that you are under no obligation to sell the dog. Make sure that your dog has a good home – just because someone has the money to purchase, a dog does not make them an ideal owner. Deny anyone who you feel is not an appropriate companion for your dogs. It is not only your right, but it is your responsibility to ensure that the pups are in a good, safe and welcoming home.

Hunting dogs are a lot of fun and great pets, but you have to make sure you have all the proper training supplies. Innotek has some great products out there, such as the Innotek Field Pro Series, the Innotek ADV-1002, and the Innotek ADV-300P.