The Functional Dog Collaborative’s Breeder Curriculum is intended to cover all the topics a highly qualified, responsible breeder should be comfortable with. As this curriculum evolves, new versions will be released. We hope to also release a list of resources for use in learning about the variety of topics mentioned here. If you have any suggestions for how this curriculum might be improved, we encourage you to contact us.
Next steps for the FDC will be 1) identification of existing resources for learning topics in this curriculum, and 2) providing educational resources to fill gaps. The FDC does not yet provide educational resources except for the podcast, but stay tuned.
FDC Breeder Curriculum, v1.0.
Deciding to Breed
Responsibility
Time commitment
Daily requirements
Keeping puppies until appropriate homes found
Financial considerations
Summary: how much will you pay overall? Expect to make money?
Costs of health testing
Costs of prenatal, postnatal & neonatal care
Cost of emergency cesarean delivery
Set-up considerations
Supplies needed (whelping box, puppy pen, etc.)
Access to socialization opportunities
Legal considerations
American Welfare Association and local/state laws about breeding
Evaluating stock
Basic genetics
How simple traits are passed on
How complex traits are passed on (behavioral genetics, genetics/environment interactions)
Alleles, homo/heterozygosity
Dominance/recessiveness, incomplete dominance/penetrance, epistasis, polygenicity
Basics of animal breeding as a scientific field
Heritability
Breeding values
Using pedigree to assess breeding values
Using genetics to assess breeding values
Inbreeding: vs linebreeding; consequences of; balancing genetic diversity with predictability
Considerations when evaluating potential bitches from another breeder
All of the below, plus strong maternal traits (ease of whelping, puppy care, etc)
Health testing
How to determine which tests to do
Best places to go to get tests done (e.g. radiographs at specialist vs private practice; health screenings at dog shows)
Genetic testing
Selecting the right tests for your planned breeding
Evaluating the results of those tests
Basics of how genetic tests work
Coefficient of inbreeding, runs of homozygosity
Interpreting test results in mixed-breed dogs
Making a population plan
Setting goals
Mate selection for attaining goals
Prioritizing different goals
Assessing/prioritizing genetic diversity
Replacement breeder selection
Evaluating structure
Evaluating health
Evaluating performance
Evaluating genetic testing results, and not breeding to the test
Breeding Logistics
Veterinary theriogenologists
Credentials/training
What they do
When to use one, how to manage if one is not nearby
How to find one
Assessing your veterinarian/theriogenologist’s expertise/experience
Mate selection
Balancing short and long term goals
Knowing lines
Understanding a cross that’s been done before
Trying a new cross
Predicting inbreeding in puppies
Predicting traits in puppies (purebred vs mixed breed)
Planning a breeding
Choosing type of insemination
Determining date of ovulation
Planning for possible emergencies
Risk/expense
How to find appropriate ER for them
Pros/cons of spay at time of emergency C-section
Pros/cons of planned C-section
Pregnancy and labor
Managing a pregnant bitch
Calculating due date
Physical/nutritional needs
Emotional needs (stress level management)
Common problems during pregnancy and how to deal with them
When to do veterinary checks, what to check
When & how to set up whelping box
Labor & delivery
Normal progression
How to assist/support laboring bitch
When to intervene
Postpartum care
Puppies
Puppy environment
Nest box
Footing
Neonatal care
When to tube feed; when to stop tube feeding
When to bottle feed; when to stop
When/if to stimulate to potty
What to expect from maternal behavior
When to expect mom to wean puppies, when to assist with weaning
When/if to remove dewclaws
Timing/ethics of crop/dock
Puppy health issues
How to recognize and manage
When to see a vet
Having your plan in place ahead of time
Specific diseases
Canine herpes virus
Brucellosis
Cleft palate
Dysfunctional joints from uterine crowding
Puppy malformations
Orphans
Singletons
Puppy Development
When to see veterinarian for checkups
Monitoring weight
Vaccines
Worming protocols
Socialization
Selecting a program for puppy socialization vs going it on your own
How to socialize
Importance of first 7 weeks, timing of onset of fear in different breeds
Early neural stimulation (ENS)
How to do it
Evidence and hypotheses in favor
Evidence and hypotheses against
Puppy behavioral evaluations
When/if to have them done
How reliable are they?
How to pick a good evaluator
How to interpret the evaluator’s results
Example evaluations that are available
Placing Puppies
Contracts
Owner questionnaires/interviews
When to send puppies home
How to send puppies home (client education)
Puppy class
Training recommendations
Nutrition recommendations
Vaccine recommendations
Selecting replacement breeders (puppies to keep)
Retirement
When to retire breeding stock
Pros/cons of spay/neuter at breeding retirement
Electives
Behavior
Learning theory basics
Problem behavior basics (especially as applies to selecting breeding stock and placing puppies)
Pet foundations
Sport foundations
Service work foundations
Dog sports
Competition as a way of evaluating stock
Breeding for particular sports
Natural breeding protocols
Vaccines
Worming
Diet
Vitality assessment