Dog and cat breeders education and training is vital to ethical and responsible animal reproduction. Irresponsible breeders may attempt to breed their pets without any knowledge of mating, birthing, and caring for the newborns. Not only does this hinder the perpetuation of specific breeds, it contributes to the pet overpopulation problem.

If you would like to become a reputable dog or cat breeder, you'll need extensive education about the process from start to finish. You have to dedicate yourself to taking care of your pet and her offspring, and you have to be able to handle the time and monetary costs that go along with breeding. To become a professional cat or dog breeder, consider the following:

1. Find out as much as you can about your breed and their mating behavior. The first step for local cat breeders and dog breeders is finding the right mate.

2. Get some information about the birthing process. Local dog breeders and cat breeders are responsible for making sure the birth goes as smoothly as possible.

3. Understand that the litter is your responsibility until you find loving homes for the babies. Many people find cat and dog breeders online, so you may want to advertise the new additions that way.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn mating procedures for dog breeders and cat breeders

Choosing a mate for your dog or cat is a vital part of the breeding process. Your goal as a breeder is to improve the breed, so being familiar with conformation standards is very important to picking a proper mate. You also need to know about how to actually get the animals to mate, since this is sometimes easier said than done.

I recommend: Attend one of the "Breeders Education" seminars affiliated with the American Kennel Club; the club also provides countless online resources for breeders, including articles about mating. Cat Breed Advice.com provides conformation information to help you pick a suitable partner for your feline.

Prepare for the quintessential part of cat and dog breeding: the birth

Although in many cases the birthing process is uneventful, complications sometimes happen. You should always allow the mother to do what her instinct tells her to do, but you also need to know how to act in the event that something goes wrong. In addition to general birthing knowledge, you should also have some knowledge about complications specific to your breed, such as emergency c-sections in small dogs like chihuahuas.

I recommend: Foster & Smith has a great article on how to prepare for whelping. Cat Pregnancy Report has a great video showing how to care for a kitten who doesn't breathe upon being delivered. The author of that site also offers an email course for breeders expecting a litter.

Find out what steps dog and cat breeders take after the litter is born

After your dog or cat gives birth, she will take the lead, but you'll have to help her out. Remember that taking good care of her is as important as ensuring that the babies stay safe. After a few weeks, the puppies or kittens become more independent and you'll take more of the care burden from the mother. Finally, you'll have the responsibility of finding a loving home for each member of the litter. Don't forget to contact your veterinarian for the babies' first vaccinations.

I recommend: Read through the article provided by WebVet, which is geared toward both puppies and kittens, to learn how to care for a new litter. Woodhaven Labs has a good list of questions to ask potential buyers as well as tips on responsible breeding.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You should think long and hard about your commitment to becoming a dog breeder or cat breeder before getting started. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem, so it's not wise to start the breeding process if you're not sure you can follow through and find loving homes for all your litters.

If you love a specific breed of dog or cat and are interested in starting your own business, consider becoming a dog breeder or a cat breeder. Although there are many animals always to be found at pounds and shelters, true breed lovers want to know the lineage of the animals they own, and they are willing to pay for the loving care that goes into creating such a well-documented history.

As all dog and cat breeders know, being a breeder is a commitment of time, love and money. In order to start your own dog or cat breeding business, think about the following:

1. Are you willing to commit to the time involved?
2. Do you have a kennel philosophy or a cat breed standard?
3. Do you belong to professional organizations and participate in shows?
4. Are you familiar with local dog and cat breeders and who is the most reputable?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Commit to a breed

Choosing a breed is the most important decision you will make. Become familiar with the breed standard if you're not already, and make sure that you not only like but also appreciate and love all facets of that animal's natural disposition. Dog breeding involves cultivating the best aspects of a certain breed.

I recommend: For dog breeders, Pedigree Database is a great place to start researching animals. For cat breeders, The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. has a long list of breeds and resources.

Develop a dog breeding philosophy or cat breeding philosophy

Every breed has certain qualities that will win in a show, so develop a philosophy that subtly differentiates you from local dog breeders and local cat breeders. Thoroughly research dog breeders and cat breeders in your area as well as online to compare and contrast philosophies. What do you want yours to be?

I recommend: For those in the dog breeder business, The American Kennel Club is a great place to start. Not only do they define breed standards, but they also have listings of clubs and events. The Fanciers Breeders Referral List lists many breeds of cats and has other helpful resources as well, such as articles and tips for those entering into the cat breeding business.

Join professional organizations and get involved in shows

Belonging to professional organizations and showing your prized animals will convey your commitment to breeding quality animals to future customers. It is also a great way to connect with other dog breeders and cat breeders.

I recommend: Dog breeding and cat breeding are big business. The Dog Associations and Clubs website can link you to local dog breeders as well as dog breeders online. The American Dog Owners Association as well as The American Kennel Club can keep you in touch with everything from upcoming legislation to shows. The American Cat Fanciers Association began in 1955 and is one of the largest cat associations in the United States.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Since many customers find their new puppy or kitten online, join a group of dog breeders online with a dog breeder directory. Likewise, join cat breeders online with a cat breeder directory.
• •  So you don't contribute to the overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats that sometimes need to be put down, breed responsibly. Make sure the animals you breed will find good homes.

If you're thinking about becoming a dog or cat breeder, you might start by becoming familiar with some dog and cat breeders key terms. From understanding the heat cycle, to knowing breed standards, or learning the difference between a hybrid or pedigree, and show versus pet quality, you'll find there are many key terms you'll use quite often if you choose to enter the field of dog and cat breeding.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Estrus, or heat

Female dogs and cats both go into an estrus, or heat cycle, a time when they are fertile and ready to reproduce. Both physical and behavioral changes become apparent in both dogs and cats when this begins. As a dog or cat breeder, you should familiarize yourself with what the heat cycle is and the telltale signs in both types of animals.

I recommend: HDW Enterprises describes feline estrus cycles and also the signs of heat displayed by female cats. Find a description of a dog's heat cycle, with physical changes to watch for and how to start the breeding process at ThePetCenter.com.

Pure or mixed breed

Both dogs and cats can be either purebred or of mixed breed. Purebred dogs and cats have ancestors that were of the same breed, while mixed breed, as the name implies, are offspring of different breeds. Pedigree often refers to purebred dogs, while bloodline means cats that come from the same breed.

I recommend: The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offers a detailed explanation of purebred and mixed-breed dogs and cats.

Breed standard

Breed standards for dogs and cats refer to guidelines that establish the general appearance and temperament of specific breeds. These descriptions are set by recognized breed clubs. Dog and cat breeders are expected to maintain the breed standard of the dogs and cats they are breeding.

I recommend: DogDunDee details the breed standard of several types of dogs as set by the American Kennel Club to give a full understanding of what is meant by the term "breed standard." The CFA Manx Breed Council provides information about the breed standard of a certain breed of cat to illustrate what is meant by feline breed standard.

Show versus pet quality

Generally, dog breeders can breed two types of dogs, show or pet quality. Show dogs are bred to maintain the physical and temperamental breed standard. Pet quality dogs usually have a physical trait that does not allow them to meet breed standards.

I recommend: Abounding Poodles gives a description of both show and pet quality dogs, while Hidden Paw Cat Club does the same for cats.

Weaning

Both dogs and cats must be weaned from their mothers before they can be sold. This means they must be gradually removed from receiving their mother's milk and begin to be fed solid food.

I recommend: Find a thorough explanation about how to wean a kitten at Professor's House. The American Kennel Club gives a brief description of how to wean puppies.

Backyard breeder

If you wish to become a successful and respected dog or cat breeder, you won't want to fit the definition of a backyard breeder. This term refers to breeders who ignore breed standards and the health of their dogs and cats while mixing breeds and paying no attention to the genetic history of their animals.

I recommend: The Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society has a detailed description of the characteristics and habits of a backyard breeder.

Dog and cat breeders have many budgetary considerations in setting up their businesses. While raising dogs or cats to sell may seem a fun and relatively simple business, it takes much more than just having a few pets and deciding to allow them to breed.

Dog and cat breeders pricing and costs involves not only setting up the kennel area and making sure you have adequate nutritional supplies, but it also requires you to follow proper legal guidelines. Depending on the size and scope of your business, you may also need or choose to buy special health supplies cat and dog breeders need. Once you've determined the type of dog or cat to breed but before you get your first breeding animals from a reputable breeder, you should consider the following things:

1. Determine costs involved in securing the proper local and state licenses needed to establish a cat or dog breeder business.

2. Decide on the type of kennels or cages you need to help you determine your dog and cat breeder business budget.

3. Consider the costs of health and nutrition supplies you need for your cat or dog breeding business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Price the required local and state licenses needed to establish a cat or dog breeding business

The laws in your city and state will determine how much you'll need to pay for licensing. You can start by asking other local dog breeders or local cat breeders about the licenses they needed to get started, then by contacting the proper city, county or state offices to secure those licenses.

I recommend: Cities and counties provide cat and dog breeders online access to license fees and the forms they need, such as the PDF application from the City of Wichita, Kansas, which charges $50 annually to be a licensed dog breeder in that city. To access the PDF, scroll down and click on "Dog Breeder License." Dog registration fees for kennel operators can run around $40 or $50, depending on the number of dogs and depending on the city, such as those shown from Cache County, Utah. Also consider kennel license fees like those assessed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which can start at $75 for fewer than 50 dogs to about $750 if selling more than 500 dogs a year. Kennel licenses for selling animals out of state could be higher, which in Pennsylvania run from $375 to $1,050.

Choose the type of kennels or cages you need for your dog and cat breeder business

The kennels and cages you choose for your dog or cat breeding business will depend entirely on the breed of animal you'll be selling. You may want to consider both indoor and outdoor accommodations for your animals, based on the space you have, the climate in which you live and where you plan to show your animals to prospective buyers.

I recommend: WholesaleKennelSupply.com carries dog crates of all sizes starting at around $40 each and cats' stacking crates or entire fiberglass cage banks that cost as much as $1,700. Kennel Deck carries sanitary flooring, which starts at $35 per section, to raise dogs off the ground and to provide warmth and air circulation. If showing or exercising your pets outside, Kenneldeck.com also offers shade kennel covers for $60 and up, depending on size.

Determine pricing of special health supplies you need for your dog or cat breeding business

Cat and dog breeders needing to perform artificial insemination on their animals will need to kits for semen collection and insertion. Also, many breeders choose to perform their own animals' vaccinations. You can find the special supplies needed for both duties online.

I recommend: Exodus Breeders carries artificial insemination kits for around $3 each, depending on the size and breed of dog or individual kit parts like insemination pipettes in packs of 10 for about $10 and tubes of lubricant for about $2 each. Jeffers carries vaccination kits for dogs and cats for about $45 each, rabies vaccines at about $64 for a box of 10 vials and feline leukemia vaccines for about $70 for 10 doses or $330 for 50 doses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Responsible cat and dog breeders will probably wish to carry kennel insurance. Ask your insurance agent for rates, as these will vary widely based on your locale and the size and value of your business.