I have a dachshund named Lolly, she's a chocolate long-haired, and she's absolutely the most wonderful dog on the planet. We're always together, she goes with me when I travel for work (which is every weekend!) and she's never more than a few feet from me. She's smart, beautiful, and funny, and just wants more than anything to please me.

Lolly is 14 months old, and is really very well-bred with a great pedigree. She's got lots of physical qualities that would make her a good breeding prospect. I've always been against breeding except in the most exceptional cases, and Lolly is definitely an exceptional case. I've had her evaluated by other breeders and they all agree with me, her genes would be a definite asset to the dachshund breed.

A few months ago I had an offer from the owner of a cream long-haired stud, to breed them for free and waive the stud fee, she would just want a puppy. It's a HUGE compliment that this breeder wants one of Lolly's puppies! She normally gets $2000 per puppy, and stud fee is usually equal to the cost of one puppy. So this is an incredible offer, financially AND for the fact that such a respected breeder not only thinks Lolly is worth breeding, but actually wants to add her genetics to her breeding program.

I've had cats that had kittens, and I bred my Jack Russell Terrier a few times back when I was showing him, but never had a female dog have puppies in my care. I know things can go wrong, but I also know that most of the time, they don't. I would just never forgive myself if anything happened to my girl because I chose to breed her. She's absolutely my heart-dog and I wouldn't be able to stand it if the worst happened.

What would you do in my case? I think I've made my decision but I'm still a little on the fence. Any advice?

Here's my beautiful girl....as a puppy:



Teenager:



And now:

If I did do it, it would NOT be for money, no way would I ask that much for a puppy! I just wanted to clear that up, in case it looks like I would breed her to make $2000 per puppy. I would probably end up giving them away to the best homes I could find, or asking a low "adoption" fee. My only reason for breeding would be to improve the breed.

BUT, remember I haven't told you what I think I've decided yet. Please keep that in mind guys, when you're answering. This is a sensitive subject for me, I love this girl to death!

So you can't love a dog AND breed them? I don't see how the two are mutually exclusive.

I guess I was looking for more input based on my individual case, and less flat impersonal blanket statements. I'm kinda regretting posting this already. Your comments come off a bit harsh and angry.

For the record my decision is NOT to breed her. I was really looking for more confirmation that I'm doing the right thing but instead I'm feeling judged.

I know she's interested in acquiring breeding stock, that's the whole reason she's willing to waive the stud fee. She didn't really "contact me" like that, we were casual friends on a dachshund board before I even was considering breeding Lolly, and since her offer we talk either on IM or on the phone almost daily, we've become very good friends. She even wants me to come stay WITH her for a week while Lolly and her stud are being bred. She's a wonderful lady and her dogs are all pets who live in her home, all her puppies are raised by her and she does a GREAT job. I have talked to 3-4 people who have her puppies and they are all thrilled with them.

I dunno...I go back and forth, I want to protect Lolly but at the same time, my vet (who is one of the best in Dallas) says complications aren't very common with doxies. My vet also agrees, Lolly would be a great asset to the gene pool.

It appears that she will contribute to the breed as well.
I would imagine that between the breeder, you and your vet she could be closely monitored and even deliver at the vet if its possible.

I would definitely work something out along the lines if there is a medical emergency or care outside of normal visits that the other breeder assists you in the costs. If shes nearby she could assist in the 24 hour watch before she is due.

Its possible that the apprehension will leave when you can make arrangements that you aren't completely on your own when she delivers.

I have a lot of respect for responsible breeders.  Breeding does not immediately equal bad!  

If you do choose to breed her, of course you can make sure she has a vet visit so you know that she is in optimum health, and make plans accordingly.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad, no matter what you decide.  Good luck!  

I'm not showing her because my job is on weekends, but we do agility (not competitive for the same reason but that's something we can still DO) and I plan on getting into Earthdog too. Lolly is VERY athletic! I agree, I would never breed a dog who couldn't perform the function for which it was originally intended.

One of the main reasons I consider breeding Lolly is because in the doxie breed right now, there are too many badly-bred and badly-behaved dogs out there. To find a dog like Lolly, who is nicely bred with a great friendly and willing personality, isn't easy! More even than her looks I would love to give someone else the gift of such a loving, smart, eager-to-please little dog like I have.

Lolly is very healthy and is due for a checkup soon, and we're going to talk to the vet about what I need to do, testing-wise and in preparing MYSELF, for the possibility of breeding. I still haven't totally decided, I just want to make a decision with ALL the information I can. If I do decide to breed her, it won't be until early next year, she will be 2 at that point and more ready. NO WAY I'd breed her now, or on her next heat which is due in August...she's definitely not ready, and it would make her puppies old enough for new homes at Christmas and I'm against buying puppies as Christmas gifts.

Unfortunately the stud owner is in Georgia and I'm in Texas, so she couldn't help me in person. But I would take time off my job to be able to stay home with her and the puppies.

I work rescue and would be happy to give you some perspective.

Doxies are growing in popularity, much to their detriment, and are being
surrendered to shelters and rescues in record numbers.  They are being
mass-produced by puppy millers who only want to make a profit and have
no regard for health or temperament.  Why on earth would anyone want to
add to that?

They're typically not good with small children (main reason for
surrender), are prone to crippling invertebral disc disease, diabetes,
adrenal gland problems, luxating patellas, various eye conditions,
urinary stones, acanthosis nigricans and pattern baldness (which your
dog appears to have around the eyes, from the picture anyway).  Anyone
with an intact male or bitch who has a litter can call themselves a
breeder.  Doesn't mean they have clue about evaluating a dog, genetics,
standards or breeding for the improvement of the breed, which should be
the ONLY reason.  Pedigrees are falsified all the time.

I'm sure you have a lovely, wonderful dog.  All the dogs in rescue are
also wonderful ... and homeless.  A friend has 5 Doxies rescued from
high-kill gassing shelters and yes, they're wonderful, too.  If you
really care about the breed, please spay Lolly and offer to help the
ones who really need it, the ones who are going to be killed because
there's already an abundance of Doxies that no one wants.

These are all waiting for a home:
Two in Athens AL - Willy and Phoebe (Long-hair) - could be dead by now
A bunch in Atlanta  http://www.dreamdachsierescue.org/Adopt2
Too many pages to count: http://www.drna.org/available.asp

A good breeder would interview potential homes because of this. They will also cover any possible physical problems with them.

I have a friend that rescues and breeds newfoundlands. The first thing she does is bring the big slobbery dogs to the potential owners house.
If they freak having slobber slung around the living room then that is not the dog for them.


I hope your not insinuating that the breeder she is working with falls into the above category.
I'm sure you have not met the person, or bothered to find anything out about them.

You yourself admit that it should take place for the improvement of the breed.
Do you have any kind of proof that either of these dogs would not contribute to the breed?
She has said that her vet (a good judge of genetics of a dog) feels her dog would be a good candidate for breeding.
Breeds should be preserved through selective responsible breeding


You of all people saying that you work in a rescue should know that not everyone is right for a rescue.
Rescue animals often have issues outside of normal dog tendencies. Some people can only handle a dog with
"normal" issues.
However, they can not and should not have a dog placed in their care that has emotional or physical problems.

Just as some people are not right for certain breeds. Some people are not right for certain rescues.

That would be true of a typical backyard breeder, but from what Greymoya has said, I really don't think that is the case here.

Breeding *does* have it's place, when it is done for the right reasons.  Most people on this forum understand the importance of spay/neutering, and to not let their animals breed for a quick buck, or because they think their animal needs to have a litter.  

That said, you shouldn't lump responsible breeders in with the irresponsible ones.  The backyard/mill breeders are the ones causing the problems you mentioned - not Greymoya, and not the people simply looking to better the breed that they love.  If they stopped breeding, the only genes that would be left are the ones with the health problems that are resulting from bad breeding.  Most responsible breeding isn't done on such a large scale, either.

Most responsible breeders also take back animals that need to be surrendered, or require you to.  I know that is the case with the silver spotted bengal cat that I own.  If I cannot keep him, I'm under contract to return him to the breeder I bought him from.  And no, I'd never breed him.  As pretty and well tempered as he is, he is only pet quality.  (and I'm not interested in breeding animals, myself.)

Anyways, I understand and respect your concerns, but it really isn't fair to compare Greymoya to a backyard breeder, or to suggest that she is personally responsible for the unfortunate, poorly bred doxies that do end up in rescues.  :/

Have you ever considered showing Lolli to see if there are others out there (besides some of the breeders you have talked to and your vet) that feel she compares to the breed standard and such? Would you sell/give away any of her pups on breeding contract (assuming there are show quality pups in the litter)? To truely "contribute to the gene pool" she would have to produce pups that go on to produce other pups and such. I know very good breeders sometimes have litters that only have pet-quality pups, and that influences their decision on whether or not to breed the pair again, or be more selective in their matings. Have any of Lolli's siblings/close relatives been bred? What was the result? Lolli may in fact be wonderful, but there could be major issues with her littermates that would make her a poor selection for breeding. I'm glad you are being so responsible about this and taking time to make an educated decision- just a few more things to think about! I would love to see doxies that aren't always so bitey! Granted, I usually deal with them when they have blown a disk and have had back surgery, but still.

I think the deal is that the breeder takes a pup instead of charging a stud fee. No doubt she will breed that pup and toss some more genetic material into "the pool."

I hate to think of it as a gene pool... a gene pool is where evolutionary forces "decide" by selection which genes get to stay and which have to go. This is more like a gene factory, where the breeder is the only force involved.