Three bad (but common) reasons to sire your stud hunting dog

The decision to breed—whether you're supplying the semen or raising the litter—should be made with careful consideration and a well-thought-out plan.

After years of training, hunting, and building a treasure trove of memories with your bird dog, it's only natural to step back, admire your work, and consider how you might replicate your success in your next hunting dog puppy.

For some, the idea of having their male hunting dog sire a litter seems like a good way to preserve that emotional bond and carry it into the future. For others, it’s a well-meaning but misguided attempt to create a carbon copy of their cherished companion.

As a bird hunting veterinarian who dedicates a significant portion of his practice to reproduction, I often find myself serving as a sounding board for hunters who are pondering this very decision.

I always give them the same advice: The decision to breed—whether you're supplying the semen or raising the litter—should be made with careful consideration and a well-thought-out plan.

After a healthy dose of self-reflection, I encourage owners to examine whether their desire to breed stems from one or more of these common, short-sighted justifications.

"I want him to experience siring a litter before I neuter him."

While cringeworthy to most, this excuse is offered up with great frequency. As humans, we naturally view the world from a human perspective, and it’s easy (and far too common) to anthropomorphize when it comes to our hunting dogs. We also have a highly evolved brain that’s capable of recognizing when this happens and givingdogs the respect they deserve for not being like us.

While it’s undoubtedly true all animals have a strong instinct to reproduce and pass on their genes, it’s quite a leap to think that a male dog needs to mate at least once to affirm his masculinity or check off what you perceive as his bucket list. That doesn’t mean dogs don’t or won’t enjoy the process (most do, in fact), but keep in mind they’re simply responding to an instinct; an instinct strong enough that they’ll gladly choose a parent, sibling or their own offspring to breed if given the opportunity.

Testosterone has been clouding male judgment for millennia, so it's no surprise that some members of the hormone-driven brotherhood argue that a dog hasn’t fully experienced life without mating. And I’m not just singling out men here, it’s equally disturbing to hear someone breeding their female simply so she can experience the joys of motherhood. (Yes, this happens.) Empathy—no matter how strong—shouldn’t be the basis for creating a litter of pups that will need homes.

"I want another dog just like him."

I don’t think these sporting dog enthusiasts are confusing cloning with breeding, but there’s a widespread misconception that making a son from your male dog will get you as close as possible to a replica of the original.

This mindset is drenched in nostalgia rather than common sense, and it has a couple of glaring issues. First, and I'll be blunt: Creating an entire litter of dogs because you only want one pup is unethical. When I see this situation in practice, I always ask the prospective breeder what their plan is for finding good hunting homes for the rest of the high-energy, hard-charging hunting dog puppies they’re hoping to replicate. This questions needs an answer before breeding, not after.

The simple fact that your male is the best dog you and your buddies have ever seen or hunted over isn’t enough justification to breed him, particularly if your experience is limited. This reality is hard to recognize and even harder to acknowledge for most novices contemplating standing their male at stud.

This is a serious consideration, especially since many hunting breeds are known for large litters, meaning you might need to find homes for 12 or more pups. Don’t be the guy in the Bass Pro parking lot with a cardboard sign and a truck bed full of 12-week-old puppies you had no plan to home from the outset.

Second, if you believe in the notion that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, remember that sometimes the apple lands and rolls quite a distance away. While this approach may have worked out well for the Manning family, your new pup, even if bred in the image of the father, might end up looking, behaving, and hunting more like his mother. There are no guarantees in genetics, just statistics.

If you're still set on getting a pup that resembles the one you have now, consider returning to the reputable breeder where you got your current dog. There might be another litter planned from the same sire and dam, and the breeder likely can recommend a pup that has all the characteristics and temperament of the male you’re considering breeding.

"He's a fantastic hunting dog."

Our own biases can cloud our judgement, especially when we finally get our hands on a quality hunting dog. Believe me, I’ve been there. The simple fact that your male is the best dog you and your buddies have ever seen or hunted over isn’t enough justification to breed him, particularly if your experience is limited. This reality is hard to recognize and even harder to acknowledge for most novices contemplating standing their male at stud.

“The simple fact that your male is the best dog you and your buddies have ever seen or hunted over isn’t enough justification to breed him, particularly if your experience is limited.”

I can't stress enough how much hard work goes into producing high-quality hunting dog puppies. Responsible breeders aim to improve their breed by competing, trialing, testing, and health screening their stud dogs, often investing significant time and money in the pursuit. If a dog excels in all these areas, only then is he deemed suitable to pass on his genes.

The Germans have perfected this philosophy—almost to an extreme—but their commitment to maintaining high standards for breeding animals almost guarantees that each new pup will develop into a skilled bird-finding machine in the field. If you’re still set on becoming a breeder, seek out the expertise and mentorship from these folks before diving in. You’ll be surprised how much there is to learn and precisely how expensive it is to do it the right way.

For the rest of us, leave the hard work of breeding to those breeders putting in the reps for making quality bird dogs. You’ll know exactly where to find your next one.