If it is to make money or recoup the cost of your pup, you will be disappointed. Being a dog breeder is not to be taken lightly and requires a big commitment — to the dogs, your puppy buyers, the Spinone community, and the breed.

We recommend getting unbiased opinions as there is much to consider with structure, temperament, health, and drive. The Judges Education page provides an in-depth view of the Spinone.

Mentors are invaluable when embarking on the journey of becoming a breeder. You can ask the breeder of your dogs or others you respect for their knowledge of the breed.

Things can, and will, go wrong. Litters may have stillborn pups or pups that are too weak to survive whelping. Moms may accidentally lay on her pups if you’re not there to watch out for them. In addition to losing a litter, you could lose the mother, or both.

While SCOA does not require testing, it is HIGHLY recommended and something responsible and respected breeders do. You need to know any issues involved when breeding a particular dog. There is a wealth of information about health testing on the Spinone Health page.

A dog’s pedigree never tells the whole story. And hearsay among breeders should be taken with a grain of salt. Do your own research about your dog’s pedigree as there are health issues in ALL dog breeds. Consult seasoned geneticists and reproductive veterinarians with experience working with other breeders. Perfect OFA results don’t guarantee the same in their offspring. Knowledge is power.

Work with your vet to ensure your female is healthy enough to have a litter. Do not breed if either the male or female have Brucellosis, which your vet can test. An affected female will likely deliver a litter of stillborn pups, usually a week early.

Reproductive vets specialize in canine reproduction and their expertise is a huge asset to any breeder. It’s essential that you trust your vet or the substantial expenses incurred in the breeding process could be wasted. Your vet should have experience in artificial insemination (AI) collection if you own the stud dog for a bitch in another location.

An average size litter is 9 pups, but some litters are much larger. It takes time to get to know puppy buyers to ensure that the right pups go to the right homes.

Unexpected situations arise (owner illness, multiple dog households, health concerns) where owners may no longer be able to keep their pup. Responsible breeders must be prepared to take back any dogs that an owner can no longer keep.