by AKC Reunite Staff No matter how hard you try to match your puppies with the right new owner, it doesn’t always work out as planned. Handling the return of a puppy is just one way AKC Reunite microchips and a Puppy Sales Contract Agreement can help protect the lifelong wellbeing of the puppy [...]

Susan Giles, a breeder of Lhasa Apsos under Ta Sen Lhasa Apsos, was awarded Breeder of the Year for her breeding program.

As a breeder, you know how important it is to match puppies with the best possible homes, whether they are destined to be show dogs, working dogs, sport dogs, or companions. And of course, you have to decide which one to keep for yourself! You watch them carefully from birth and get to know each [...]

So after the months of preparation in organizing and testing before the breeding, praying and crossing fingers that your girl “took,” fretting before, during and after the whelping, the constant vigil for weeks after the whelping, the 24/7 care of your girl and the litter, the vet visits, testing and evaluating your pick, it is time [...]

Kayla Stilger learned early on what kind of breeder she wanted to be. Now a breeder of Icelandic Sheepdogs, she's carving her niche in the breeding world.

Reputable breeders don’t just breed in the moment: They are thinking years, even decades ahead, thoughtfully breeding dogs that are typey, healthy, and sound enough to continue to benefit the breed long after they are gone. And that philosophy of paying it forward is even more satisfying when a second generation decides to plunk [...]

Breeding dogs and producing puppies is a rewarding experience. Every litter is unique in some ways, and it takes many years to gain the experience to recognize signs of potential problems and know what steps can be taken to intervene and potentially save the lives of puppies. Breeders should be present when a dam delivers [...]

Record keeping can take up much of a breeder’s time, and the paperwork adds up fast. But the AKC Breeder Toolkit is a FREE tool that provides an easy way to comply with the five year record keeping requirement. If you are tired of completing the paper Litter records, then the online Breeder Toolkit [...]

Use the following resources as a guide to responsible dog breeding. You may also want to watch the AKC webinar on Planning Breedings: Are you ready to breed a litter of puppies? Prepare Yourself for Breeding a Litter of Puppies Breed to Improve Understand the Commitment Choose A Suitable Mate Know Your Genetics Finalize Stud [...]

An essential part of the commitment to the Breeder of Merit program is to ensure 100% of the puppies in your litters are individually AKC registered. Your work as a breeder is vital to upholding our mission, and you play a crucial role in preserving the legacy of your beloved breed. This is why, as a [...]