Breeding dogs is more than just putting two dogs together during a heat cycle and having puppies 64 days later. Serious breeding should be approached as both a science and an art and it requires knowledge and experience with dogs. If you are thinking about breeding the Alsatian, please think about the questions below to help determine for yourself if you are prepared for what may lie ahead.

1. Do both your bitch and your stud have the best possible lineage, free of all health problems (including hip dysphasia, epilepsy, panosteitis)? 

2. Have you studied the breed and know the faults and weaknesses and have you accounted for them with both your breeding pair? 

3. Do you know the standards and have a clear picture of what you are going to improve in your dogs through your breeding? 

4. Do you have a facility to accommodate a litter of puppies? This can include a whelping box, a heated room, a fenced yard when the puppies are of age to roam and explore. 

5. Are you prepared for the medical obligations and expenses? Vet bills are high these days and puppies need to have their first shots before they travel to their new homes. They will also need the best food, which can be pricey. Puppies who are serious contenders in the American Alsatian show rings also need to have an embedded ID chip. 

6. Can you deal with the paperwork and advertising obligations? A responsible breeder keeps extensive paperwork on all puppies born. They know the lineage well and have pictures of parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. They have registered all their litters with the National American Alsatian Registry and are members of the National American Alsatian Breeder's Association. A good breeder also keeps up on the continuing advertising that is needed to become competitive throughout the United States. It is best if you have deposits down for your dogs before you mate your pair. 

7. Are you ready to set a breeding policy and stick to it for the successful placement of your puppies? Each puppy is unique and a good breeder knows the special qualities within each pup. In order to place the pup with the perfect home, a breeder must be able to talk with the prospective buyers and find out as much as possible about the needs of the family in relation to the puppies at the time. 

8. Are you thoroughly prepared for the reality of illness and trauma that may happen as a result of breeding? There may be times when it may be necessary to euthanize. 

9. Are you prepared to take back unwanted pups after they have been placed? Good breeders take responsibility for their litters no matter what age they might be.

Breeding, when done properly, is hard work and is certainly NOT the road to wealth. Each potential litter must be well thought out, with a sincere desire on the part of the owner to breed better dogs. Quality, not quantity, is the hallmark of the knowledgeable breeder. We wish you good luck in whatever way you choose to enjoy your dogs.