So im a first time shiba owner he's 10 months old. I dont know if I really want to breed him but im seriously considering becoming a breeder. This is going to be a long process and I dont want to be careless and im not thinking about starting tomorrow, but I do want to get educated as soon as possible that way I can be more responsible with my choices.
If you're a first time Shiba owner, you are probably a very long ways indeed from being a breeder (which doesn't mean it is impossible, just not anytime soon!) So some questions:
1. Did you buy your dog from a good breeder on a breed/show contract? Do you have a good relationship with your breeder, and is your breeder willing to be a mentor to you? Is your dog a good candidate for breeding--ie. is an excellent example of breed standards? (You'll also have to wait, of course, til he is 2, because before then you cannot get a good evaluation of his hips/elbows for OFA, and for his eyes and thyroid levels)
2) Are you active in showing, or do you plan to become active in showing? This is probably the first step, as it will help you get more familar with the breed, so you can better evaluate what is the best of the breed, and will also help you get to know other breeders who can help mentor you.
3) do you have the financial resources to do all the required health testing and pay for vet care for your dog and any puppies? Do you have a place to keep the puppies if you can't place them, and a place to always take back any dogs you may have bred regardless of age?
Breeding is a huge undertaking, and the vast majority of dogs should not be bred, perhaps even yours. However, if it is something you are interested in, start small (get active in shows, even if in the beginning it is just attending and meeting people) and/or other dog sports, and start making contacts.
If that's your Shiba in your profile pic, you will catch hell for wanting to breed a cream. That's a big no-no in the show dog world. Be prepared for that.
I recommend you do a TON of research on Shibas. Read and get to know the standard for several kennel clubs so you know what is to be expected of a Shiba's appearance and temperament, read about health problems in Shibas and read up on canine genetics and understand how coat colors, etc. are inherited or not. Breeding is a huge thing that no one should jump into without research and unfortunately, a lot of people do that. It's good to know that you are interested in doing it right, but don't plan on being able to read one or two things then breed your dog if you want to become a respected breeder.
Oh, yeah, I didn't even think of that. Well, that would be part of the knowing the breed standards, which is very very basic info. for anyone who wants to breed. Breed standards say cream is a serious fault, so therefore, responsible breeders do not breed creams. There's a whole, long contentious thread on the forum about it that you can check out, but basically, if you're going to be a responsible breeder who is improving the breed (which should be the aim of every good breeder) rather than another backyard breeder that the breed REALLY doesn't need, then you'll need to follow the breed standards. Creams make great pets, but breeding them is a big no-no.
Yes my dog is a cream but I dont want to breed him, I also got him at a store bad thinking on my part. But thats also one of the reasons I posted this so that I could learn. I probably want to make this a 5 to 10 yr plan for prep so that when I do make that step. I can be confident about what I do.
There's some good advice here so far. Setting this as a future goal seems realistic, if you are truly committed to learning. You're in Virginia, right? Echoing the above, I would start attending shows (and yes, this may require traveling), collecting literature, and finding a trustworthy mentor. Meet as MANY Shibas and as many Shiba people as you can. To that end, it's also worth getting involved with rescue (sign up to volunteer with Mid-Atlantic Shiba Rescue and NYC Shiba Rescue). Some of the best breeders I know are either actively involved or have put in significant time with breed rescue, not because their OWN dogs ever end up in that system, but because it helps put the state of the breed and their personal breeding goals into a certain kind of perspective... and more simply, because they care about the breed as a whole.
