[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by joeyandtanksmom

Hey, I also thought about breeding. I have two wonderful boys (but I'm pretty sure after research that one has pretty bad luxating patellas), one of which is AKC. I really wanted to breed, and started looking into what I needed to do in order to use my boys as studs or buy a female to breed to my akc boy. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent reading and talking to breeders...long story short, we have decided to fix the boys and begin fostering dogs as soon as we buy and get settled into a house. My view on it was why should I create more puppies when I could spend just as much time saving the lives of some of those who would otherwise be killed - simply because there are too many dogs and too few homes, you know? My husband and I are in the process of buying a home (we just need to find the right one and make an offer), so I will hopefully have my first foster in about 8 months to a year. I am so excited!!! I'm hoping and guessing that fostering will fulfill my needs to care for animals, and I cannot wait for that feeling when my fosters find their forever homes, and I will have made a difference in that animal's life. I would maybe consider fostering instead of breeding, but only you will be able to decide that. If you do decide to breed, I urge you to do your research, and prepare yourself as much as possible!

Great post and what a great suggestion about fostering!