These articles have been posted here to assist breeders in their efforts to produce healthy litters. To the general public we would like to say, the dog breeding and exhibiting world is devoted to the production of the healthiest puppies, in mind and body, that is possible , given the state of the art. And, the state of the art is progressing rapidly, with genetic testing for inherited defects already available, in some cases, and soon to be available in others. As a veterinarian, I am occasionally upset by the depiction in the general press of breeders exploiting their dogs, and uncaringly producing puppies with genetic defects. Nothing could be further from the truth.

However, there are also people who produce puppies who are not "BREEDERS AND EXHIBITORS". Uncaring puppy mill operators who sell to pet stores, and careless back yard breeders do not qualify as true DOG BREEDERS. If you'd like to read more on this subject, visit the The BREEDER VET pages, where additional topics of interest to the Dog Fancy can be found. When people are bred as carefully as we breed our dogs, human kind will have made progress, indeed!

This space is intended for helpful information for breeders. The first piece, "What is a Breeder?" has been reprinted many many times. The "Information before contracting for stud service" page is what I have prepared to send to people who wish to breed to my (or Your) dog, but haven't given any thought to the matter of all that entails. The sample contracts and questionnaires, which were donated by some of my breeder friends, you can use as examples of puppy sales and breeding contracts. They are meant to serve to give you some idea of what might be appropriate, and to give you a head start in drawing up something to meet your own specific needs. Helpful hints for kennel design and tips on ways to make work easier or to do it better will find their way to another page. Any such you might be able to suggest would be welcome. Please e-mail them to me with the subject "Hints"