It is important to note that regardless of the type of dogs you intend to breed for sale, there is always an available buyer.
Man is yet to find an animal that is as close to him as the dog. For reasons yet unknown, the loyalty of the dog is both submissive and endless at the same time.
This, among other reasons, is why this beautiful creature has been dubbed man's best friend.
However, there are different reasons why people keep dogs at home. For some, it is a matter of company; while for others, it’s for security.
Whichever the case may be, it is important to note that regardless of the type of dogs you intend to breed for sale, there is always an available buyer.
So if you are interested in breeding pet dogs such as the Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, Beagle etc; you will find buyers, especially women, waiting to get them.
On the other hand, if you choose to breed guard dogs, such as German shepherds, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, etc; there is equally a market for it.
After all, with an ever-increasing rate of crime, the demand for a guard will continue to soar.
Another interesting thing about dog business is that there is no market boundary for dogs; whether you reside in Nigeria, Kenya or any remote village far away from civilization, you can always do your shipping to any part of the based on demand.
Here are some factors to consider before starting a dog breeding business
1. Plan your business
Just like every other business, dog breeding requires planning; because it here that you will decide the breed to choose, as well as your target market.
However, irrespective of how big you would want the business to become, experts, do suggests that starting small is actually the best way to go.
It takes capital and intensive labour to breed dogs. So acquiring them one by one or few at a time will make the breeding process a lot easier for you.
2. Buy the right parent stock
You will need the guidance of a professional here if you don’t too much about dogs. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized because any mistake done here can ruin or downgrade the entire business.
When you buy, do all you can to be sure that you’re buying a pure breed. It is advised that you buy the dogs when they are already adults or at 10 months when all the features of the breed are fully showing.
And if its puppies you’re buying as parent stock, ensure you’re buying from a trusted source.
3. Caring for the parent stock
It takes a lot to care for dogs. As a matter of fact, it takes more to care for dogs than humans. Because unlike humans, the dogs can’t fend for themselves; they are solely dependent on you.
For this reason, you should bear in mind that immunization or vaccination of the parent stock either from puppy or an adult is as important and unavoidable as feeding them properly.
Infections are likely to happen, but they can be prevented through vaccination.
4. The breeding
Observation has shown that it is usual for the bitch (female dog) to come on their first heat (sexual cycle or breeding cycle) when they are between 7 to 8 months of age.
But veterinarians would advise not to cross or mate them at that age in other to allow the reproductive system to develop properly. The second or third heat is usually acceptable to mate the bitch.
It is okay to allow the mating to take place as frequently as three times or four.
However, it takes approximately 64 days for the bitch to carry the fetuses (unborn puppies), after which she is expected to whelps (gives birth).
5. Taking care of the puppies before sale
You are expected to call a veterinarian for further advice as soon as your bitch whelps. But before that, you have to allow the bitch to clean up the puppies which they do with their tongue and eat the placenta (fetal attachment to the womb).
It is advisable to keep the nursing bitch and her puppies in a spacious room and spread a carton on the floor to help prevent them from cold.
Usually, the puppies begin to open their eyes after before or after 14 days and start eating their mother’s food at about four weeks of age this is when you start feeding them with solid food and can puppy food is recommended at this stage.
6. Selling the puppies
Start networking for buyers, through the veterinarian and other dog breeders, once the puppies are four months of age.
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