German Shepherd Breeding: Tips for First Time Breeders
If you’re a first-time breeder it’s critical that you’re prepared as much as you can for your first litter.
German Shepherd breeding is a very challenging experience, but it can also be a rewarding one. The first thing you must know is that it’s very time-consuming. Beyond that, it’s labor-intensive and can even result in failed attempts, which can often be heartbreaking. You must have a true commitment and a lot of patience if you’re going to see it through. When done properly it will take months (if not years) of being organized and diligent planning before the actual breeding takes place. In addition, it’s going to be expensive. These facts aren’t meant to deter you from proceeding, they’re just the harsh reality of successful breeding.
If you’re in the San Antonio or New Braunfels area, here are some tips from a world-class breeder that can help you get started.
German Shepherd Breeding Specific Information
The first thing potential dog breeders should do before undertaking the challenge is to educate themselves on the German Shepherd breed. The kind of information to look for includes things like:
- What age does the Dam have to be before breeding can start
- Are there any standards that must be met
- What health concerns should be addressed
- How to choose the right male partner for breeding
Those are just some examples of what needs to be known before getting started. As surprising as it may sound, the answers can change across breeds. So it’s crucial that dog breeders do their homework on the specific breed they’re dealing with.
Foster a Healthy Environment
One of the keys to successful German Shepherd breeding is that your Dam is as healthy as can be. Is your German Shepherd eating a quality diet? Are you keeping up with veterinary health checks and vaccinations? Are they getting enough exercise? A high-quality diet and daily exercise are crucial to ensure she is in good condition to whelp.
Make Sure You Have The Necessary Supplies
You need to ensure that you have the necessary supplies prior to the litter being born. Here’s a list of some of the things you’ll want to have on hand:
- Your Vets Phone Number
- Rounded tip scissors
- Stethoscope
- Gloves
- Bulb syringe
- Disinfectant
- Charts (to record details)
- Thermometer
- Towels
- Blankets
- Hemostat
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For yourself and/or your assistants it’s never a bad idea to have a beverage and maybe some snacks on hand as the delivery could be a lengthy process.
Also of importance is to a vehicle that has gasoline just in case. You never know what kind of unplanned things may occur, so it’s always good to be prepared for an emergency vet visit.
Start Your Marketing Campaign Early
Unless you already have a list of interested people, you’ll need to get the word out about your litter before they even arrive and provide information on when the puppies will be available for sale. You can take an ad out in a publication, advertise on social media, get a website up and running, etc. There are multiple ways to advertise. The key is to start early enough to get traction.
Successful dog breeders such as Lara’s Canine Solutions in New Braunfels will tell you that breeding a quality litter isn’t always easy. German Shepherd puppies can bring a lot of joy to someone’s life, but the reality is that it takes a lot of preparation, hard work, research and financial commitment on behalf of the breeder to ensure a successful litter and breeding experience.
The most important tip is to be prepared for any situation that may occur. In cases like these, the experts will tell you there’s no such thing as being over prepared. If you’re ready for the commitment, German Shepherd breeding can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Good luck!