OT - Anyone know about dog breeding?

It's generally recommended (by animal welfare groups) not to give away pets.  Charging a (small, reasonable) fee discourages people that won't take good care of the animals from taking them, and also discourages people that take free pets and then sell them to labs to do tests on them.

There are a few "clubs" that have pedigreed dogs, like the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club.  

My peke (may he rest in peace) was registered through the AKC, and he was by no means a show dog - he was way too big by breed standards to show - not that I was going to show him.  We bought him at a pet store back in 1998 (way before I realized the horrors of puppymills) and he was quite a nasty little guy too.

My eskie is registered through the UKC.  She is a goregeous dog, and if she was a bit skinnier I bet she'd be show quality.  Again, not that I am planning to show her.  I got her through a private breeder.

Both dogs' pedigrees went back several generations.  Registering the dogs was easy, as I got the proper paperwork from the breeder.  All's I had to do what choose a fancy name and send in the check for like $30 and I got my "official" papers.

I think that people like the idea if they want a specific type of a dog, they want to make sure that it came from a reputable breeder which is why registering the dogs with one of the recognized kennel clubs makes sense.

But most people who are looking for a show dog know where to go for one.  

Wow - that was long winded!

I would strongly suggest to your stepdad that he get both the dogs spayed & neutured. Not just for their health but check out petfinder - there are so many dogs listed that can't find homes. And so many dogs are put down every day because people get cute puppies that end up growing up. Kids loose interest, etc.

That's a good suggestion for after she gives birth. But she is pregnant now so I'm trying to help him deal with the puppies. This is sort of painful for him, remembering how his wife wanted these puppies and not having her here to share in this moment.

The only thing I know about dog breeding is that our ****er spaniel (AKC registered) got caught last year and the father didn't stick around for introductions !!! Cute puppies which did get distributed around family members. 

I bred my jack russell terror twice (that wasn't a typo btw). My dog as well as the male we bred her with had papers that they could have been registered but we never went to the trouble.

I gave the info to the new parents in case they wanted to pursue it on their own. We sold the females for $300 & the males for $250 with no problems.

There was a case where a husband & wife wanted our last girl pup & fell in love with her but didn't have the money - they could afford $75 so that's what she went for. I had a guy offer $400 for the same pup but he skeezed me out & I didn't want her going to him. Later found out he owned a puppy mill & only wanted her b/c my dog had 6 pups with each litter (which is unheard of for Jack Russell's) and he saw $ signs.

Just follow your heart with the screening process. 

Most folks just want  their dogs for pets and don't care too much about papers. My pug isn't papered and I don't care. I never wanted to breed or show her, and she got spayed at 6 months old.

I never filled out the paperwork for our Lab either because it wasn't important to me.

Bassett Hounds are such wonderful dogs (we had them when I was a kid). Glad they you are getting a pup.

In reality there are only a few reputable registries that people care about. AKC, UKC, CKC ( not continental but Canadian) and a few others. Of course this doesnt mean that by having, say an AKC Bassett dog, that it'll be show quality, it just shows that it's lines are pure and that his parents were bassetts, and their parents before we're too and so on and so forth. I breed AKC show chihuahuas for years and yes, if they are show quality and their parents are champions, you can sell them for more. But if they are pets, there really is no point in spending money in registering them. I'm sure you can sell them with out any papers for the same. For pets, I think people worry more if the parents are healthy and if the pups have had their shots and been dewormed. Just my opinion.

 Being an owner of 2 Basset Hounds!  I wouldn't worry about the papers if you are trying to sell them as pets, but by not having papers they won't be able to get top dollar, depends on what price you are looking at.  I bought our first Basset with papers for $400 so without papers you might get 150.

Now OWNING a Basset is not like owning any other small dog. Why? Because they are not small dogs except in height.  The Basset hound is a Cross between a Blood Hound and a Dachsund (Now who wouldn't have wanted to see that original breeding session right?)  Bassets live for food and are notorious in their ability to get to it.  Our Male downed a whole loaf of bread once yeah he didn't move or eat for a week.  They will require Large Breed dog food and store any food you keep out as far back on the counter as possible and any plates that have food on them.  yes this 12 inch tall dog can get halfway back the counter because it is easy to forget they have a 3 foot long body.



You have any questions about caring for them you know how to reach me. They are fun dogs to own.

 Oh I have plenty of Bassett experience. She's had Leroy for...five years? And Loretta for three. They are loyal to a fault, although not the smartest dogs in the world. Loretta is VERY protective. And she likes beating up on Leroy...just because. I am shocked to all hell they finally did it! Leroy didn't seem to have his groove together for a while. 

But yes, I agree on the food thing. They eat like champs and I admit I am part of the reason Leroy is so spoiled. When I went there to cook, I'd always give him scraps. Bad me!