SHOULD I BREED MY BEDLINGTON TERRIER?
Why do you want
to breed?
1. To make
money.
2. To let the
kids witness the miracle of birth.
3. Because my
Bedlington is the BEST, and he/she will produce great puppies.
4. Any
combination of the above.
Let's examine
these reasons in order:
1. To make money.
Even long time
breeders have a difficult time making a living at breeding Bedlington
Terriers. Besides, they aren't in it for the money – they are breeding
because they love the breed and want to improve it through careful and
deliberate breeding of champion quality dogs that exhibit great terrier
qualities, temperaments, and conformation (physical adherence to an
established breed standard). Maybe you are just going to breed once.
Here is what you figure you can make:
Average litter
size : 4 puppies
Average sale
price : $850.00 for puppies from non-champion parents or inexperienced/unknown
breeders
Keep in mind
that breeders of AKC registered champion dogs sell their "pet"
quality dogs for $1000 to $1200. These are dogs with very minor faults
(shorter heads, soft coats, large eyes, or over/under size) from proven
dogs. Can you really expect to sell your puppies for more than they are?
And they have a network of other breeders who will send puppy buyers to
them, and will meet puppy buyers at shows. How will puppy buyers learn
about your puppies? If you advertise, add that cost in the negative
column!
Still, total
profit is: $3400.00. Not bad for you, for not having to do any work.
WRONG! Did you
notice that expenses haven't been figured in yet? OK, how much can it
cost - it can't be that bad. Well, let's see:
1.1 Pre-Breeding
tests, including liver biopsy, cardiac and eye certifications, patella exam and a
Brucellosis Test (canine venereal disease that can be passed to humans,
and if your dog gets it - it's a death sentence!). OFA and CERF
certification is critical to the health of the puppies and the long term
health of the breed in general. Are you producing a litter of puppies
that is destined to live shorter lives from heart disease? Are you
producing a litter of puppies that will die before they are five years
old because of copper toxicosis passed on from your bitch and stud? How
happy will that make the puppy buyers (most likely family and friends)?
How would it make you feel to see your puppy go blind due to a genetic
eye disease? Eye and cardiac exams by board certified vets can be done
at health clinics sponsored by local kennel clubs. If you keep your eyes
peeled and locate one, the costs will be $40/dog for cardiac exam,
$25/dog for eye exams, assuming the screening test results are normal.
Registering the results with CERF (eye) and OFA (cardiac) costs around
$30.00. Liver biopsy costs for each dog, including the pre-op
blood tests is around $450.00. GET IT DONE!
For ONE dog,
Pre-breeding costs are:
Brucellosis $60
Eye
exam/register results $40
Cardiac
Exam/register results $55
Patella exam/register results
$45
Liver
Biopsy $450
Total test
costs PER DOG: $605
1.2 Stud Fee:
$850.00 is the minimum you can expect to pay for a stud fee from a
proven stud dog. You are planning to get the best stud possible, aren't
you? After all, a few titles in the family tree will help sell the
puppies. Oh - you have a friend who is willing to accept the pick of the
litter since his/her dog is untitled. OK, you just lost $850.00 from one
of the pups to sell. Also, don't forget the cost of shipping your bitch
to the stud dog, or the associated costs with driving back and forth
every other day while trying to get a successful mating! Shipping costs can
run into the $350 range, including a health certificate (required by
Airlines).
1.3 Whelping
Supplies: Heat lamps, whelping box (keep those puppies warm and close to
mom!), miscellaneous supplies: $200.00
1.4 Prenatal
care and vet visits for your pregnant bitch can cost from $200 to $400
dollars, more if there is a high risk pregnancy. You do love your bitch
enough to insure that the pregnancy is not going to kill her, don't you?
Supplemental vitamins and extra food will be required during the
pregnancy and while nursing. Average cost: $300.
1.5 Delivery
costs can also add up. Do you know how to help the bitch open the
birthing sack and cut the umbilical cord? Do you know how to suction the
lungs of a newborn puppy that is drowning in its own fluids? Do you know
how to extricate a pup that is stuck in the birth canal? How about if
the puppy is born breached and your bitch is literally screaming in
pain? Hmmm - better have a vet on call for help. Since births invariably
come at night, be prepared to wake your vet up – or these days, make a
trip to the emergency clinic! This is going to cost you at least
$500.00.
1.6 Puppies are
here! Don't forget the two vacation days from work you will need to
insure that the bitch doesn't accidentally smother her helpless puppies.
They have an extra toenail on their front legs (called a dewclaw) that
looks really easy to tear off accidentally or slice off while grooming.
Well, call your vet again to remove the dewclaws. This will cost you
again, at least $10 per puppy plus an office visit - let's say $80.00
total.
1.7 Puppies will
need two set of shots for parvo and other boosters. This will cost you
about $60.00 per puppy per set of shots before you let them go. Without
these shots, the puppies are very likely to contract a disease or
infection and die very young. How happy will that make the puppy buyers
(most likely family and friends)? Total cost: $480.00
1.8 Bedlington puppies should be DNA tested for CT - all
knowledgable buyers will require this. These test cost between $70 to $85 per
puppy, so figure a cost of $280.00.
1.9 AKC litter
registration will also cost you. If your litter is not registered,
forget about selling them for even $300 - you will be lucky to get
$150-$200. This is a cost of $25.00 plus $2/puppy, total for our example
litter $33.00.
2.0 The puppies
will need to start getting fed before they leave the dam. They will also
need gruel consisting of rice cereal, baby meat, and supplemental milk
powder (at $25 per can!). The cost of puppy food must be factored in for
a few hungry mouths over a few weeks. Total cost about $100.00. Add in
$$ to keep the whelping box at a constant 80 - 90 degrees with heat
lamps and heater pads - say an additional $50 minimum. You have the
equipment for grooming, don’t you? And you know how to give the young
puppies their first few haircuts, right?? Because your puppy buyers
expect to get cute little Bedlington puppies with cute little mohawks
and tassels started on their ears.
Total costs
(items 1.1 -2.0): $3873.00 Hmm – this litter just COST YOU $473 and you
didn’t keep one of the puppies!! Is it going to be worth the time,
effort, and associated risks? What if someone sues you for selling them
a dog with a genetic defect? Sounds like you may want to take out
insurance on your "business" of breeding your dog!
Of course, a
larger litter has the potential to generate more revenue. There are no
guarantees regarding litter size. Indeed the litter may only consist of
1 or 2 pups. If a large litter is produced, be ready to take vacation
days from work to bottle feed puppies for several weeks. Additionally,
larger litters mean increased costs for food, shots, health exams, dew
claws, etc, and more difficulty placing puppies with good homes.
Keep in mind
that these are generally the minimum costs! What if your bitch contracts
mastitis, uterine infections, or viral infections? More $$$! What if the
puppies all get sick and require long term vet care? What if an
emergency C-section is needed? These costs can be very significant. Many
breeders will tell you that they LOSE BIG BUCKS $$ on litters where
problems like these surface. What if the bitch or stud (or both!) attack
the human handlers facilitating the mating. You are aware of the need to
supervise a "tie" aren't you? I hope so – an improper mating can cause
permanent damage to either of the unlucky Bedlingtons!
Are you going to
be able to sell all the puppies? To good homes I hope - you wouldn't
want them getting beaten, abused, or sold to puppy mills would you? Rule
of thumb - have good homes ready for all your potential puppies BEFORE
you even make the initial mating. Do you? Have your researched the
potential buyers? Written a contract stating what the buyers can expect
from you and what you can expect of the buyers (midnight calls because
the puppy is sick!)?
2. To let the kids witness the miracle of birth.
This is one of
the most common reasons given for wanting to breed a dog. Stop and think
about this for a few minutes. Here are some considerations:
2.1 Will your
bitch allow the children to witness the birth? Most dams are VERY
nervous and upset at birthing time, particularly the first time. It is
always recommended that only the one most trusted companion be present
to avoid upsetting her further.
2.2 Ever seen a
breech birth? How will your kids react to her screaming and howling in
pain during a difficult birth? Probably scared and crying for her -
that's how I would be, and I can't imagine children being less upset!
2.3 The bitch
will want to chew the umbilical cord, often flinging a newborn puppy
about as she does, and it screams the whole time. Then she eats the
placentas! What about the puppies? Are any deformed or dead at birth?
Here is a sampling of what might be seen:
There can be puppies that are born with
parts of their internal organs on the outside of their bodies,
Without any or missing some legs,
With 2 eyes on one side of the head,
The body being so bloated that it looks
like it has a diving suit on,
A puppy that has no bones in the body,
A puppy that is green.
Sounds pretty
disgusting to me - what will your 5 year old think? Are you sure that
you are not setting your children up for what will be a traumatizing
experience?
2.4 Will you
children appreciate you shortening the life of their pet? Typically,
spaying a female before her first heat cycle will extend her life 2-3
years due to fewer health problems, mostly related to cancers and
infections. In fact, the family pet may DIE during the pregnancy or
birthing process, leaving you with large vet bills, no puppies, and
heartbroken children.
2.5 Are the
children ready for the nipping and barking of four wild puppies? Are the
kids ready to pick up after four unhousebroken and very active puppies?
Are you? Hmmm - maybe we should add LOTS of paper towels to the list of
expenses in section #1!
A final
suggestion: take your children to the humane society or canine rescue
organization in your area. What will they want to know? I'll tell you -
they will want to know why all these dogs are alone with nobody to care
for them and love them! Children are sometimes wiser than we would
believe. Are you willing to accept one of your puppies back at any time
for any reason? If not, you are probably going to add to the population
at that humane society. Do you really want to???
3.0 Because my
Bedlington is the BEST, and he/she will produce great puppies.
Is he/she truly
the best? What titles do you have to prove it? Is he/she a good physical
representation of the breed? You have read and understood the breed
standard, right? What about temperament? Is he/she good with people
(NOT just your family!)? Can children, strangers, and other animals
approach him/her at a park without you worrying in the slightest? Or do
you grab a tighter grip on the leash "just to be sure"? Have heart, eyes,
patellas
& liver been checked by a certified vet to be free of genetically
inherited defects?
Consider this: A
well-bred, socialized, and trained Bedlington will almost ALWAYS have a
wonderful temperament. A gentle, loving nature is in and of itself not
enough reason to breed your pet. What else can your dog or bitch offer
to this wonderful breed?
3.1.
Conformation titles are a reflection that your dog/bitch is a good
representative of the breed standard. ALL potential breeders (and even
owners) should read and understand the breed standard. See elsewhere on
this website for information regarding the breed standard. Common faults
in pet quality dogs include: Incorrect size, overshot and undershot
(overbite and underbite), hackneyed gait, poor muscle – weedy, lightly
colored eyes, and soft or white coat. Is your dog free of all possible
disqualifying faults? Not all dogs are good representations of the
breed, no matter how "cute" they may seem, no matter how sweet they
are. Do we really need further
dilution of the Bedlington line from breedings between animals who do
not measure up to the standard? Consider the case of overshot. How
severe is this really? Well, some dogs have to have their lower canine
teeth (the long ones in front) GROUND DOWN to avoid puncturing the
inside of the roof of their mouth! Doesn't sound like fun for the dog,
owner, or the vet!
A professional
breeder will select only the best representatives of the breed standard
to breed or provide stud service for, thus maintaining or improving the
breed as we know and love it. Can you say the same?
3.2 Has your
dog/bitch been awarded any titles in any recognized field (such as but
not limited to: obedience, agility, earthdog, service dog, therapy)? How
do we measure the value of any dog’s contribution to the breed? By their
accomplishments!
If you can't
answer yes to either of the above (preferably both!) then ask yourself
how you have measured your Bedlington against others that may be bred.
Does he/she really stack up? Great pets are not required to achieve any
of these awards, but may also not be the best choice for breeding.
Look at it this
way: If you are hiring someone to do some work for you, what are
qualifications you look for? How about a high school diploma? Membership
in a professional organization (e.g. Master Plumber)? College degree?
Outstanding achievements in a related field? How should you evaluate the
requirements of two dogs before you decide to bring more lives into this
world?
Aside from these
qualifications, have you evaluated your dog for potential genetic traits
that can at the least cause discomfort and at the worst death? How about
the partner? Example: some lines of dogs when combined will invariably
produce offspring with physical defects and abnormalities. Does your
bitch have this risk when mated to your chosen stud?
4.0 Any combination of
the above.
Take a few
minutes to read all of the above material. Still convinced that you want
to breed your Bedlington? I hope not.... If you are still determined to
breed your dog/bitch, please do the following two things AT A MINIMUM:
1. Make sure
both partners in the breeding have had liver biopsies performed and been
certified as "normal". Ask your veterinarian to help you get cardiac,
patella and
eye certifications to the OFA and CERF. Nothing could be sadder than to
watch your beloved pet try to rise from its bed someday just to greet
you and not be able to due to liver disease.
2. Make sure to
research all potential puppy owners to insure a good home. Due to its
grooming requirements and terrier personality, the Bedlington is not a
breed for irresponsible owners. If you have any doubts, DO NOT sell,
give, or barter a puppy away to such an individual. Use a legal contract
for the sale and make sure the terms are understood by the purchasing
party.
CONCLUSION
This has been
an attempt to present arguments AGAINST breeding your Bedlington (Stud
or Bitch). Every year, more Bedlingtons are being found in puppy
mills. There is no need to add to this level of misery for a breed
that we all know and love. Ask yourself honestly what your motivation is
for desiring to breed your Bedlington and read the above information. It
will help you see the negative side of breeding – the side that often is
not considered when a breeding is planned. Keep in mind that while much
of the information is relevant to the bitch, the stud dog owner has just
as much responsibility to the breed. It does take two to tango!
After reading this, feel free to email me with
additional questions at
ashcrofterriers@gmail.com
Photos of my dogs can be seen in the Photo Gallery.
Places to get additional information about the breed are:
Bedlington Terrier Club of America
VetGen DNA typing for
CT markers
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Canine Eye Registration
Foundation
Read
the Breed Standard
Grooming the
Bedlington Terrier
