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What To Look For In A Potential Sire For Your Litter

What To Look For In A Potential Sire For Your Litter

If you’ve made the decision to breed your pedigree dog, the next step is to find a suitable sire. Before choosing a suitable male dog, there are a few things you need to consider. These questions are also useful for anyone looking to purchase a puppy from a new litter. While many people will focus on the dam of the litter, the sire is just as important in ensuring the litter is healthy and of a good temperament. The sire provides half of the DNA to the litter, so it makes sense to ensure they are a good fit.

Is the sire pedigree registered?

The first step to ensuring you breed pedigree certified puppies is to make sure both parents are pedigree registered. If the dog isn’t your own, you should ask to see his papers and any DNA testing to confirm that the dog is the right breed. If you are buying a puppy and you don’t have access to the sire, you should always ask to see the papers.

Has the sire been DNA tested?

Almost every breed has a number of health conditions that they are predisposed to and these can be identified through their DNA. If the dog has been DNA tested, this is a good way to help match them with a dam. If you are buying a puppy, ask to see any DNA testing to help identify any potential health problems with the puppies.

Does the sire adhere to the breed?

Like the dam, the sire should adhere to the breed standards in every day. If you are unfamiliar with the breed standards, this is something you should research in detail before buying a pedigree puppy. With designer cross breeds increasing in popularity, it can be difficult to know what is the ideal breed standard.

How is the sire’s temperament?

If you are choosing to breed from a sire that isn’t your own, you should always make sure you spend enough time with the dog to be able to understand his temperament. Avoid dogs that are snappy or unpredictable, as these are traits that can be passed on to a litter. A good tolerance around children is also a desirable trait for your sire to have.

Has the dog fathered any litters before?

If the dog has fathered any litters in the past, this can be a good way to determine his virility. Seeing puppies from previous litters is possibly the best way to determine all of the factors above. You will be able to see if they have any health problems and if they have a good temperament. If a sire’s puppies have been entered into dog shows, this is a good way to confirm that he adheres to the breed standards. 

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