A responsible breeders seeks to improve their breeds with every litter. To reach this goal, they must devote hours to continually learning as much as they can about their breed, including health and genetic concerns, temperament, appearance and type. They also need to know about general dog behavior, training and health care. In short, they become canine experts.

Virtually every dog is the best in the world in the eyes of its owner. Responsible breeders have the ability to separate their love for their dog from an honest evaluation of its good and bad points. Why is a detached point of view necessary? Breeding is hard work. Every breeding is a carefully planned endeavor to produce a better dog. A good breeder recognizes a dog's flaws and finds a mate with characteristics that will help reduce or eliminate those flaws. So how can you honestly evaluate your dog as potential breeding stock? Seek assistance from some of the best informationional resources available-longtime breeders and the breeder of your dog. This person should have extensive knowledge of your dog's line and like you, should want to see it continually improved. You may also want to consult with a professional handler who has worked with your breed. Should you breed your dog? Take time to examine your motives and get in touch with the reality of the situation. Millions of animals are euthanized(put down)every year simply because there are not enough homes for all the puppies we generate. Responsible breeding takes reserch, commitment, time and of course money. Something to think about: Good puppies start long before their parents are bred. Both the sire and the dam need constant care, or conditioning to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetc problems, pre-breeding health tests, regular exercise and good nutririon. It means consulting with a veterinarian or experienced breeder to ensure that you know how to meet the dam's special nutritional needs while she is in whelp. The Owner of the Female must agree to have the Female tested for Brucellosis by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days prior to breeding and to provide the Owner of the Male a statement from the veterinarian indicating a negative result for the test. This test protects both dogs from sickness or death.