Hi im 16 and would love to get into dog breeding at some point in my life and would love some advise on where the hell to start. The breed i have in mind is Siberian Huskies i plan on owning one as a pet 1st and to get to know the breed as much as possible i probably sound totally lost and insane but i guess breeders have to start somewhere i am going to be doing a pet care course in college in September and hopefully they will help me out alot aswell. I would like any ones input weather it be bad or good Thanx loads Hannah

Just put "breeding" into search (top right hand side of this screen), and you'll get our opinions, Hannah!!

Lots of people have been asking the same questions about various breeds in the last few weeks - and the answers are always the same!

Margot

I know this sounds condescending Hannah and please believe me, being at the other end of the age scale, I'm trying not to be but really don't know how to put this any other way. :)

At your age you have all the time in the world to get it right. If your chosen breed is Siberian Huskies then what is the reason? Something must have attracted you to them. Looks? Sled work? Think about it. I appreciate that at the moment travel is probably difficult so you may not be able to get to shows or race meetings to see your breed but there is still plenty to see in the dog press, Our Dogs and Dog World. If finances allow order the KC Breed Record Supplement and maybe start a database on your PC. You will then start to get an idea who is doing what. You will also, if you look carefully, start to get an idea about who is breeding responsibly and who is maybe not. Any shows you can get to will allow you to start putting "Faces" to the dog's names that you have on your database. You will start to get an eye for "Type". Recognising the finer points of the breed and which type you personally favour. All this will stand you in good stead when you start to look for a puppy to start your line.

Talk to the big breeders at the shows, (Not when they are in a rush to get to the ring!!) Gradually a plan will start to form in your head. You will find a breeder breeding the type you like and from your database you will be able to see how they have achieved it. You will be looking to put your name on a puppy from that bitch. Let the breeder know exactly what your intentions are. Tell them you are looking for a puppy to found your line and allow them to guide you. (And I mean guide, not dictate. The puppy will be yours so the final decisions are yours!)

Remember this. Once you start to breed YOU are responsible for the breed. You love the breed, why else would you want to breed them so it follows that you should breed the very best you can. When you become a breeder you and your fellow breeders are creating the dogs which the breeders who come after you are going to have to work with. You have a duty to the breed to leave the soundest dogs for them to continue with. Think, if all you leave the breeders of tomorrow are blind sickly cripples what a terrible legacy that would be.

Basically that is it. Watch, Read and talk!

Best wishes, John

Perfectly worded and completely uncondescending (is that a word? lol)

condescending : thinking yourself better than others

:)

p.s excellent advice john - as always :P

That was really good John :D
                          Anne

Whoops snap benny ;)

Hi Hannah

Can I just add one thing to John's excellent post?

That is Well Done for joining us and begining by asking where to start.

So many people get a puppy then think they'd like to breed from it. You have made a good start, so now if you follow John's advice I think you might be a breeder to watch out for in the future! Asking before you even buy and then following the excellent advice offered here you shouldn't go far wrong.

I shall look forward to seeing more posts from you in the future, as I am sure we all will. If you have any specific questions I am sure somebody here will have an answer for you.

One more thing, would be to familiarise yourself with any known health tests/problems in your chosen breed before you get one. That way you will know what questions to ask any breeder you contact regarding buying your foundation stock.

Polly & Foxpath Flatcoats.

Hi Cassie ,Only one suggestion to make to follow the excellent advice already given, look up the Breed Club,there may even be one in your area and think of joining,some have a junior members section. They will send you news letters and you can find out about fun days etc. It also shows you have serious intentions!
:-D good luck!!

Hannah ..... :-D I see from your  posts that you have been around the site for some time, so you will have picked up a lot of tips and probably know much of this info already :-P

I have been looking on the husky breed club page loads and am going to be going and lookin around a few shows and get talking to some sibe breeders, all your advise has been great i am probably going to be getting a pup next sept have a go at showing and get to know the breed a bit more i have been e-mailing a few breeders aswell and found that really helpful. i have been looking at all the health tests etc.I cant wait to get to some shows and get talking about sibes anything else i need advise on ill be strait on here posting
Thanx loads Hannah

There are loads of advice you can also get off sibe club boards. I dunno if iam allowed to put links up?