What will I be doing?

If you enjoy dogs, raising and selling them may be the perfect home business for you. It can be both demanding and rewarding. Dog breeders raise dogs for specific functions, such as for show or for pets. A few breeders do both, selecting breeding stock and pups based on the breed standards and the temperament of the animals.

What will I need to start?

To successfully breed dogs you must know a lot about them. You must also love them. However, many breeders find that building a business around dogs can sometimes strain the relationships and make them less fun. So knowing your own limits can help you learn whether this is the best home business for you.

You must develop an extensive knowledge of your product: dogs. Join local and national kennel clubs, begin building your reference library, talk with other breeders, start gathering equipment and tools and find out who your customers will be. The space required, number, size and type of kennel units, breeding equipment and other factors depend on what type of dog you’re breeding, typical size, whether you are breeding show or family dogs and how much of their health needs (shots, etc.) you manage yourself. The AKC and breed associations can help you with specific requirements.

Who will my customers be?

You will have many types of customers from which to choose, depending on the breed and type of dog you are raising. In fact, if you are showing your breed, one of your customers will be you. Other customers include individuals who want to have a dog for show or companionship, associations that train dogs for the handicapped, and pet stores who will sell dogs directly to the public.