OSCA ID: 152999
   
Alternative names: Canine breeder, Commercial Dog Breeder, Pruebred Breeder,

Hopefully NOT backyard puppy mill breeder!

All Dog Breeders have another special ID: Breeder Identification Number - BIN.
  
   
Specialisations: Many dog breeders specialize in caring for a particular breed of dog, such as Chihuahuas, Golden Retrievers, Scottish Terriers or Labradors.

Responsible breeders can tell you that the purebred dog is far more predictable as to its temperament, behaviour, appearance, size and even colour than a crossbred dog. Purebred dogs are the result of many years of selective breeding. All breeds were developed for a specific purpose and documentation is available on their history and heritage.
   
Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Dog Management Skills – being able to manage multiple dogs, especially when they’re in heat

• Canine species expertise

• Dog Training Skills

• Dog Care & Maintenance Skills - it helps if you can determine if your dogs are healthy and, if not, to do basic diagnosis on what they need. Feeding a great dog food will mitigate most of this, but you’ll still need some understanding of dog parasites and their management. It also helps if you can manage minor injuries at home and not consistently need vet visits. This will help you run with leaner overhead.

• Understanding of Dog Structure – having a general idea of the physics of dog movement and structure will help you select better breeding dogs.

• Understanding of Biology & Genetics

• Marketing Skills – understanding how to build a brand

• Sales Skills

• Customer Service Skills

• Money Management Skills

• Contract Skills

• Web Design Skills – being on the internet is a must. You’ll need some form of website and the ability to update it with current litters.

• Social Media Skills – one of the easiest ways to get traffic to your website is through your social media.

• A Willingness to Learn

• Grit

• Discipline & Habit Forming Skills

(Source: The Dog Nest)

Duties and Tasks

• Select and breed dogs according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring.

• May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use.

• May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.

• Health inspections

• Fecal sample collection
  

Working conditions

• Frequently work outdoors in kennel or corral areas. They occasionally work indoors in an office or animal shelter.

• Are sometimes exposed to animal noises that are uncomfortable or distracting.

• Are exposed to contaminants on a daily basis.

• Occasionally wear protective or safety gear.

• Work in a moderately competitive business, and must meet strict weekly deadlines.

• May repeat the same physical or mental activities.

Tools and technologies

• MS Office

• Data management

• Basic maths

Education and training/entrance requirements

 

Example NSW Dog Breeder requires: these requirements are similar for each State and Territory.

• Become an Ordinary or Joint financial member of DOGS NSW

• Become the registered owner of a female purebred dog/s you wish to breed with, so that your name appears as the owner on the Certificate of Registration & Pedigree (Main Register).

• Ensure that the Sire (Father) that you have chosen to mate your bitch is owned either by a financial member of DOGS NSW or an interstate controlling body and holds a Certificate of Registration & Pedigree (Main Register) paper.

• Apply for a Breeder Prefix which will identify all dogs bred by you and becomes the first word of the names of all puppies to be registered. For example, Prefix ‘LOGIC’ name ‘GOLD NUGGET’ the full registered name of the puppy would be ‘LOGIC GOLD NUGGET’. Indicate your 8 choices on the Prefix Application form. At the time of your application for a prefix you must be a full financial Member of DOGS NSW. Your application will automatically enrol you in the Members Education Prefix Program (“MEPP”).

• If you only include 2 or 3, and those are rejected by the DOGS AUSTRALIA National Prefix Register, then you will be required to submit another form. There is no timeframe as to when you can sit the Online Examination after enrolling, however, it is suggested you do study the materials prior to sitting your Examination.

• As soon as your Prefix Application is accepted by DOGS NSW you will be enrolled in the DOGS NSW Online Members Education Prefix Program.
  
  When you join DOGS NSW you sign to agree and abide by its Constitution and Regulations. This includes Part I/1A: The Register & Registration and Part XIII: Code of Ethics. It is mandatory that you make yourself familiar with both of these Regulations.

• Once your Application for a Breeders Prefix has been submitted, your requested Prefix Names will be sent to the DOGS AUSTRALIA Ltd National Prefix Register for provisional approval. You will be notified of your name approval after you have passed your exam and your premises has been inspected.

 

Did You Know? (Source: NY Scotties)   Once the third most popular breed in Britain, the Scottie recorded just 406 puppy births in 2023, placing it on The Kennel Club's ‘At Watch’ list. Other breeds added to the list include the pointer, rough collie and wire fox terrier.    In 2023, the Scottish terrier – a small, compact dog with short legs and a big personality – recorded just 406 puppy births, the lowest number since records began. The Scottie, as the breed is affectionately known, is iconic in Britain, appearing as the face for Walker's Shortbread and one of the tokens from the board game Monopoly. The breed was also thought to be Queen Victoria’s favourite dog. In its heyday, from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s, the Scottish terrier was the third most popular breed in Britain, with 5,800 puppies registered in 1947 – a figure more than 10 times greater than today. The 2023 Australian figures were 164, down from 186 in 2022. In 1879 the Scottish Terrier was officially recognised as a separate breed and the first Scottish Terriers were imported into Australia in 1889. The breed was used to control farm and estate vermin such as badgers and foxes and was selected by farmers for its gameness and hunting ability. (Source: Dogs NSW)

 

 

 

A working dog is a dog used to perform practical tasks, as opposed to pet or companion dogs.

Definitions vary on what a working dog is, they are sometimes described as any dog trained for and employed in meaningful work; other times as any dog whose breed heritage or physical characteristics lend itself to working irrespective of an individual animal's training or employment; and other times again it is used as a synonym for herding dog.

 

OSCA ID: 152999

Specialisations: occur to the breed of dogs.

Roles performed by dogs that sometimes sees them classified as working dogs include:

• Assistance or Service dog trained to help a disabled person in some way, such as guiding a visually impaired person, providing mobility assistance, and psychiatric service. Often overlap with Therapy dog used to provide companionship or to help people rehabilitate from injuries.

• Carriage dog historically used to provide protection to carriage passengers or merchandise

• Detection dog or sniffer dog, trained to detect for example drugs or land mines.

• Drafting dog traditionally used to pull dog carts. Now survive in modern age as a novelty or in Carting sport.

• Guard dog used to protect buildings or livestock

• Herding dog

• Hunting dog used to hunt wildlife or assist hunters. Are split into several varieties, including hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, catch dogs, bay dogs, or gun dogs.

• Military working dog trained in combat, or used scouts, sentries, messengers, mercy dogs, and trackers

• Search and rescue dog

• Sled dog

(Source: Uni Adelaide)

 

Working dogs are known as an Australian icon. They are prevalent in Australia due to the large agricultural industry. Working dogs can be seen herding cattle or sheep and are also used to guard poultry from foxes and cats. A report in 2019 stated that there were over 270,000 stock herding dogs in Australia. Some popular breeds for farm work include Border Collies, Kelpies, Maremmas and Australian Cattle Dogs.
 

   
Knowledge, skills and attributes

 

• Working dog breeders and trainers are responsible for the health and welfare of their dogs.

•  Working with dogs can be personally very rewarding

•  A number of farmers/farm workers breed and train working dogs as a sideline to their main work.

Muster Dogs Season 2 Official Trailer | ABC Australia
https://youtu.be/xrjK0zYnC2s?si=_K9HSGXoUTH2KtWJ

 

 

 

 

Duties and Tasks

• Selecting and breeding dogs

• Choosing and mating dogs from family lines that show good working characteristics and temperament.

•  Caring for dogs

• Feeding dogs a healthy diet, providing water, suitable shelter and looking after their health (vaccinations, worming).

•  Training dogs for work

• Teaching pups basic obedience and to follow commands (voice, whistle, hand/arm signals), introducing them to stock work and organising a training schedule.

•  Attending working dog trials

• Competing with dogs at trials and agricultural shows and demonstrating the working quality of dogs at field days.

•  Liaising with customers

• Assisting customers to select suitable dogs and providing ongoing support

•  Maintaining records

• Mating and breeding records, purchases and sales, feed and veterinary bills

 

Working conditions

•  Travel to working dog trials, agricultural shows and field days may be involved.

 
Education and training/entrance requirements

•  There are no formal national training requirements for people who wish to breed or train
  working dogs.

•  Courses are available through training organisations in some States

•  Some working dog studs now offer courses in dog education and training.

•  Dog obedience classes are available in most cities and towns.

•  Business skills would be necessary for breeders/trainers who wish to earn all or part of their income from working dogs

(Source: Puppy Tales)

 

 

An animal breeder is someone who mates animals in order to produce offspring with desired characteristics. Animal breeding works with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, and reptiles.

It is a combination of science and art. Breeders must understand animal genetics as well as have a keen eye for which physical traits are desirable.

Animal breeders work to improve the characteristics of animal populations. They achieve this by breeding individuals with desired traits.

The top careers of animal breeders include:

• Cattle Breeder
• Pig Breeder
• Poultry Breeder
  

 For pets, Breeders have a Breeder ID Number.
  
Alternative names: Breeder,
  
Specialisations: This can involve working with a variety of animal species, including cows, pigs, chickens, horses, and dogs.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Animal breeders are responsible for the care and breeding of animals. This can include anything from dogs and cats to more exotic animals like reptiles or birds. Animal breeders must have a genuine passion for the animal kingdom and a strong desire to help preserve animal populations.

Moreover, animal breeders must have a strong knowledge of animal care and husbandry. This includes an understanding of animal behaviour. Animal breeding is a complex and meticulous science. Animal breeders must have a thorough understanding of animal genetics. This includes reproductive physiology and animal husbandry.

They must be able to provide the animals in their care with the proper nutrition, housing, and exercise. Animal breeders must also be able to identify and select animals for breeding purposes. This requires an understanding of animal genetics and pedigrees.They also need to be able to make quick decisions and be comfortable with change.

Animal breeders must be able to maintain accurate records of the animals in their care.

They must also be able to work with other professionals, such as veterinarians and animal behaviorists.

Did You Know? CSIRO: The challenge Dehorning cattle is costly Most cattle, especially in Northern Australia, have horns. Hornless cattle are safer to manage due to reduced risk of injury from horns, between animals and the people handling them. Also, in Australia, beef cattle are often transported for long distances, which adds to the risk of injury from horns. Improving methods to breed cattle without horns will improve animal welfare and benefit industry. To reduce these risks, dehorning became a common husbandry practice in modern farm management. However, dehorning is a labour-intensive procedure, costly and has implications for animal welfare. An alternative management practice was sought to overcome the need or reduce the practice of dehorning. Breeding hornless cattle is one alternative solutions. Selective breeding of naturally hornless (polled) cattle also comes with its challenges. The way horns (or the lack of) are inherited from parents to offspring cannot be determined visually because two hornless cattle can have horned calves. A DNA-based test was required to reduce horns in any herd. The current Australian Poll Gene Marker test is used to determine if an animal is 'true polled', that is, it carries two copies of the polled gene, and naturally lacks horns. Initially developed for use in Brahmans, the test can now be used with a high degree of confidence across a range of tropical and temperate cattle breeds enabling breeders to reduce the presence of horns in subsequent generations. (Source: CSIRO)

Duties and Tasks

Animal breeders usually do the following:

• Select animals to be bred based on desired characteristics
• Breed animals using artificial insemination or other methods
• Inspect animals for signs of illness or injury - monitor the health of animals
• Administer vaccinations and other medical care
• Oversee animal births
• Wean animal offspring
• Socialize young animals
• Transport animals to and from shows or sales
• Clean animal pens and cages
• Order supplies
• Supervise staff
• Attend conferences and workshops
• Keep records of animal pedigrees and breeding histories
• Supervise animal care staff
• Train animals for shows or other performances
  

Working conditions

Animal breeders must be able to handle stress and work long hours. A typical day for an animal breeder may start early in the morning and end late at night (they may start as early as 5:00 a.m. and work until 10:00 p.m).

This schedule may vary depending on the animal’s needs and the breeder’s personal preferences.

Animal breeders typically work long hours, including weekends and holidays.

Animal breeders typically dress in casual clothing. However, they may need to wear protective gear when working with certain animals, such as gloves.


Education and training/entrance requirements

Work as an assistant animal breeder or in a related position.
Attend animal breeding seminars and workshops.
Join an animal breeding association.
Obtain a license if required in your state.

  
Employment Opportunities

Animal breeders may work on farms, in animal shelters, animal sanctuaries, zoos, or in laboratories. Some animal breeders work as self-employed contractors.

Science Career: Animal Breeder
https://youtu.be/YBCbUasKr7M?si=D5qC2dkLbZtqCW9R

 

 

 

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

Animal Attendant Trainer	Domestic Animal Scientist	Farmer Farm Manager	Horse Breeder
Jillaroo/Jackeroo	Kennel & Cattery Operator	Livestock Farmer	Livestock Transport  Driver
Pet Groomer	Veterinarian Veterinary Nurse

 

 

Materials sourced from

Indeed [How to become a Dog Breeder; ]
My Majors [Dog Breeder Skills;]
Honest Dog Breeder [What skills do you need to be a dog breeder; ]
Illinois Work Net Center [Animal Breeders; Working Conditions; ]
My Perfect Resume [Dog Breeder; ]
Role Catcher [Breed Dogs; ]
Dogs NSW [Become a Breeder; Why a Purebred; ]
My Job Search [Animal Breeder; ]
Career Discovery [Animal Breeder; ]
Wikipedia [Working dog types; ]
Woolwise [Working Dog Breeder; ]