How to Start a Dog Breeding Business in Michigan

Apply to the Michigan Department of Agriculture for a business permit. The size of your breeding program will determine whether you will need a business permit, however if you plan to have your breeding program grow it is a wise idea to apply ahead of time to avoid penalties later.

Research the breed you have chosen for breeding purposes. Each breed has different health and nutritional requirements. Large dogs require more food and more space. Certain breeds, such as those originating from Siberia, are more suited to cold temperatures. If you are to give the best possible care to your dogs, make a list of the breed's key requirements. The American Kennel Club website has information on every officially registered breed (See References 4).

Make your home dog friendly. Cover polished or tiled floors with rugs. Dogs find it hard to walk on slippery surfaces. Conceal wires and cables. Mitigate any hazards in your garden, such as open ponds and broken fencing by carrying out home maintenance before you bring your first dog home. Ensure that no dog can get access to the garage by keeping the door locked. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, 37 Michigan residents died from exposure to the cold in 2006 (See References 3). Michigan has severe Winters, therefore you should provide indoor accommodation for all of your dogs during inclement weather. Crates are adequate for housing and keeping your dogs, provided you allow the dogs plenty of time to exercise.

Find a suitable dam. Breeders typically own the female and arrange matings with the owner of a suitable sire. Visit other breeders of the breed you have chosen and pick a female puppy. Use the mother (dam) and father (sire) of the litter as a guide as to how your bitch will turn out. Insist on seeing the puppy's health records. It is smart better to get a puppy rather than an adult dog as you'll have time to bond before she is old enough to breed, and will have greater opportunity for training. Do not mate her until after her second menstrual cycle.

Find a sire. Speak to fellow breeders about available males. Breeders often want to use their males to continue a blood line once their females of the litter are past breeding age. Again, insist on seeing health records to ensure that potential sire does not have any genetic health problems, such as hip dysplasia or deafness.

Introduce the dogs. When your female comes into season, she's ready to mate. Prepare a quiet, clean room with no distractions. Don't feed your dog on the day of the mating. Supervise the start of the introduction and separate the dogs if they become aggressive. Allow them to sniff each other. If the bitch begins to expose her backside to the dog, she is keen to mate. It may take two or three meetings before the dogs mate. Don't force it.

Advertise in advance. Once your veterinarian has confirmed that your dam is expecting a litter, take out advertising. Advertise in your local newspaper, stating breed, price and expected delivery date. Having potential homes lined up before the dogs are born helps you to keep feeding costs down. Although the dogs must remain with their litter for at least eight weeks, it is good to get a head start in locating potential homes. This will allow you time to screen applicants prior to the purchase of a puppy. To avoid accusations of cruelty, do not offer your dogs to a pet shop. The Humane Society advises potential dog owners to boycott pet stores that sell puppies due to the conditions that many are kept in (See References 5).