Health & Genetics
What this section helps with
- Understanding pre-breeding health testing requirements
- Recognizing signs of fading puppy syndrome early
- Learning emergency techniques like tube feeding
- Making informed decisions about breeding age and genetics
Guides in this section
All 16 articles
Fading Puppy Syndrome: Signs, Causes & What to Do
Understanding why some puppies fail to thrive in the first weeks — what to watch for, possible causes, and how to respond when a puppy starts to fade.
Dog Breeding Strategies: A Working Breeder's Glossary
The complete vocabulary of pedigreed dog breeding — outcross, linebreeding, doubling on a stud, close inbreeding, type fixation, and more. Definitions plus the why behind each.
Dog Show Titles Explained: CH, GCH, NOHS & More
What conformation titles mean and what they take to earn — CH, the Grand Champion levels, NOHS, AKC vs UKC, prefix vs suffix — plus what 'champion bloodlines' honestly tells a buyer (and what titles don't prove).
Health Testing Before Breeding: OFA, CHIC & DNA
A practical overview of the health tests responsible breeders complete before a breeding — OFA evaluations, CHIC numbers, and breed-specific DNA panels.
Managing a Stud Dog: A Breeder's Guide
What stud ownership involves — health clearances, fertility, setting a fair stud fee, contracts, and managing the breeder inquiries that come with standing a dog at stud.
Tube Feeding Technique — Measurement & Insertion
Focused step-by-step on the tube-feeding technique itself — measurement, insertion, gastric placement check, aspiration prevention.
When Is a Dog Too Old to Breed?
Age considerations for both dams and sires — what responsible breeders weigh when deciding whether a dog should still be bred.
Coat Color Genetics for First-Time Breeders
An introduction to how coat color is inherited in dogs — dominant vs recessive genes, common color patterns, and what breeders should understand.
Common Household Dangers for Puppies
A breeder's reference for common household items, plants, and substances that are toxic or dangerous to young puppies.
Dog Poisoning Emergency Guide
What's toxic, what's safe, emergency first aid steps, when to induce vomiting, and what to tell your vet. Links to all toxicity calculators.
How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need by Breed & Age?
Complete guide to daily exercise needs by breed type, age, and energy level. Covers the puppy 5-minute rule, senior dog adjustments, weather safety, and signs of over- and under-exercise.
Understanding Inbreeding Coefficients (COI) in Dog Breeding
What COI means, how it's calculated using Wright's formula, what different COI ranges mean for health, and practical strategies to reduce inbreeding in your breeding program.
Dog Coat Color Loci Reference
Comprehensive guide to the seven major loci that control coat color — A, B, D, E, K, M, and S. Covers inheritance, Punnett squares, Labrador genetics, merle dangers, breed-specific color, and DNA testing.
Dog Emergency Signs — When to Call the Vet vs Wait and Monitor
A severity-ranked guide to dog health symptoms: the 10 signs that mean rush to the ER, urgent same-day vet calls, what to monitor at home, and what's probably normal. Includes vital sign reference and first aid kit checklist.
Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs: Signs, Timeline & What to Do
What makes chocolate toxic to dogs, how much is dangerous by weight and type, symptoms to expect by timeline, and exactly what to do if your dog ate chocolate.
Puppy Deafness & BAER Testing — Breeder Guide
When normal puppy hearing develops, how to spot a deaf puppy at home, BAER testing protocols, and breed-by-breed congenital deafness risk.
How to use this section
Use the health testing article before any planned breeding. The neonatal care articles — fading puppy syndrome and tube feeding — are best read in advance so you're prepared if a situation arises. The genetics and safety articles provide foundational knowledge for any breeding program.
These articles support informed decision-making — not diagnosis. Always consult your veterinarian for medical concerns.