Before thinking about breeding a dog careful consideration should be given to the potential parents with regard to their general health, temperament, pedigree, any genetic defects present or carried, etc to ensure that they are a good match for breeding likely to produce healthy puppies.

Careful consideration should also be given as to what is to be done with the puppies produced. The average litter size for a dog varies according to breed but most breeds average 4-8 puppies although much larger litters are not uncommon and it has been known for some dogs to have 23 puppies in a single litter.

It is vital that owners make plans for the puppies produced before taking the decision to start breeding dogs.