Holistic Dog Breeders: All About Natural Rearing in Dog Breeding — Breeding Business (2024)

Holistic dog breeders and natural rearing in dog breeding follow a philosophy in which the dogs are conforming to a strict natural way of living. Naturally-reared puppies and holistic breeders stay away from vaccines, unnatural supplements, commercial dog food (even prescription ones).

A naturally healthy dog is a wonder despite a higher cost; and there is some pride to being a holistic dog breeder. However, there are disadvantages and some lethal ones at being rearing puppies naturally. Vaccines, dewormers, and other supplements, have been perfected over decades and helped increasing human and canine lifespans for a reason: they tend to be effective.

What Are Holistic Dog Breeders?

Holistic dog breeders feed their dogs a natural diet and avoid giving their dogs chemicals. They typically feed their dogs a raw diet. Often they do not vaccinate their dogs or treat their dog with the typical medicines for deworming and flea and tick prevention. They claim that the regimen makes their dogs healthier and longer-lived. Holistic dog breeders have been around for almost a century.

Many holistic dog breeders will cite the work of holistic veterinarian, Juliette de Bairacli Levy (1912-2009), as a guiding light in their philosophy. Levy studied and wrote extensively about the benefits of removing 20th-century chemicals from the canine’s body and feeding only what nature would provide. Her books are frequently referenced in publications advocating and advising on holistic veterinary medicine.

This group of dog breeders does vary in its adherence to the natural regimen. Most do not use commercially-prepared dog food. There are, though, commercially-prepared “holistic” or “organic” dog foods on the market. These products are labeled free of added colors, preservatives, and are typically grain-free. It is common for holistic dog breeders to feed their dogs raw meats like chicken necks, beef bones, etc. Those that feed a raw diet claim that their dogs have better coats and fewer autoimmune and allergy problems. Dogs like humans can have allergies to grains like wheat which are frequently added to dry dog food. Some breeds like Dachshunds, Labrador retrievers, and co*cker Spaniels are particularly prone to food allergies. These breeds can benefit from a more careful and hypoallergenic diet.

Many practitioners of the holistic dog breeding philosophy employ homeopathic treatments for illnesses and preventive medicine. In homeopathy, minute amounts of a natural substance which would produce symptoms of a disease are administered. Dogs may be given nosodes or small amounts of diseased tissue. The idea is that the dog will then develop a natural immunity to a disease. A substantial market has developed for both dog and human homeopathic medicine. Although the ideas are akin to the successful techniques used in the development of certain vaccinations and in the treatment of allergies, the research has not backed most of the claims of effectiveness. The bulk of these medicines fall into the realm of quackery — at least according to most veterinary researchers.

This group of holistic dog breeders, also, engage veterinarians that practice veterinary medicine using non-traditional treatments. Such practices commonly employ acupuncture, aromatherapy, essential oils and herbal treatments.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the Chinese method of treating various conditions by inserting needles into various parts of the body. It is based on the idea of various points of energy flow in the body. The use in dogs is not well studied. In humans, acupuncture has been shown to have some effectiveness in pain management.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses the smell of various flowers and roots. Essential oils use various flowers, roots, and herb and boil them down into a concentrated tincture. These usually pungent scented plants are then mixed with an oil such as olive or almond and applied to a body part or used in aromatherapy. They are said to be helpful in combating anything from stress to skin diseases.

Herbal treatments

Herbal treatments abound for all sorts of ailments. One of the most common are the herbal remedies to treat worm infestations. Holistic breeders do not use commercial dewormers but would give dogs doses of garlic or pumpkin seeds (among other things — and especially effective during a full moon).

[pullquote-right]Supplements for dogs, of all kinds, are not overseen by the FDA like human and dog foods are.[/pullquote-right]

Holistic Supplements

Oftentimes, natural rearers will use various supplements much as people do. Glucosamine is a popular supplement for humans suffering from arthritic conditions. Many holistic rearers will give this supplement to an aging dog that may have some issues with osteoarthritis. Multivitamins, too, are frequently added to a dog’s diet. Minerals like calcium can be given for dams to prevent eclampsia. The problem with these supplements is that the biology of dogs is not the same as humans and most of these supplements, if valid at all, are based on data designed for human, not canine, biology. Some of these supplements can actually cause harm to a dog.

Many people do not realize that supplements, homeopathic treatments, herbal medicines, and the like are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration like prescription medicines, treatments and vaccinations. Conventional veterinary medicine like conventional medicine is regulated and the drugs and treatments must be thoroughly tested, safe and effective. There is no federal oversight that a bottle of supplement even contains what it purports to contain much less than it remedies a disease or promotes some aspect of health. Some laws that regulate truth in advertising or deceptive trade practices may fill this vacuum but, in general, these health food concoctions are caveat emptor.

Breeders who want to do holistic rearing should align themselves with veterinarians that are knowledgeable in the nutritional requirements of dogs and be willing to do a lot of research. It is a big mistake for holistic dog rearers and breeders to apply human nutritional standards to canines. They simply do not translate in that way and what may be a healthy food for a person could actually be deadly for a dog. A simple example would be the many interesting human studies that encourage people to add an ounce or two of dark chocolate to their diet. For canines, chocolate and, in particular, dark chocolate is not only unhealthy it is toxic. Similarly, a glass of red wine for dogs is not going to do great things for a canine’s cardiovascular system. These are simplistic examples but it is surprising how many people are willing to force their vegan diets onto their dogs, or even decide to only use vegan treats.

Holistic Dog Breeders: All About Natural Rearing in Dog Breeding — Breeding Business (1)

Where to Find Natural-Rearing Dog Breeders?

Breeders who adhere to natural breeding can be readily located online, including on the website of the Natural Rearing Breeders Association. The problem is finding a natural breeder for a particular desired breed. Local breed clubs and holistic veterinarians may assist in locating a natural dog breeder for the breed of you you specifically want. Some locales may have more holistic breeders than others. It may be necessary to travel some distance in order to purchase a puppy or obtain a stud from a natural dog breeder.

NaturalRearing.com has a very useful directory of natural breeders which can be accessed by breed. For example, if a person wanted to find a standard poodle breeder and poodle was selected in the drop-down menu the names of fifteen breeders located in ten different states and Canada can be found. The directory, also, includes useful information as to the kinds of diets the breeders use and the vaccination regimens the breeders adhere to. Breeders can have themselves listed in the directory by just expressing a willingness to learn more about holistic dog rearing or may completely employ holistic methods with diet, homeopathic remedies, and an unwillingness to use any conventional methods in dealing with sickness or preventive veterinary care for their dogs. Less common breeds may have only one or two breeders listed. Expect this directory may also offer outdated information.

NaturalRearing.com, in addition, has herbal and homeopathic products available for sale. Various supplements and herbal products are for sale that assists breeders with normal pregnancy and delivery of their puppies. The supplement that promotes natural pregnancy and delivery contains three ingredients: Caulophyllum, arnica, and sepia. These plants have been used in human labor and delivery homeopathic medicine.

Those people interested in doing business with natural dog breeders need to be aware of the enormous commitment many of these dog breeders have to buck an entrenched veterinary system for the premium health of their dogs and litters. Oftentimes, these breeders will not sell a puppy to anyone who lacks their level of commitment. An element of fanaticism in delineating how a puppy will be raised shouldn’t surprise anyone. Frequently, these breeders will require purchasers sign a puppy sale contract setting out in some detail the diet and veterinary treatment that is expected to be continued after a sale. In general, the most stringent of these contract provisions may not be enforceable. A buyer should consult an attorney in the jurisdiction of the sale to find out whether the provisions of the contract would be enforceable. A contract provision, for example, that would require a purchaser to not vaccinate against rabies when the jurisdiction has a law requiring a dog owner do so would be a provision that would be void because it would be against public policy.

Price of Naturally-Reared Puppies

One may think that the price of naturally-reared puppies would be less because they are not given expensive commercially-prepared vaccinations, de-wormers, and flea and tick prevention. The opposite is usually the case: naturally-reared puppies tend to be more expensive than regular puppies.

The price of a raw diet can, in fact, outstrip the cost of kibble. Homeopathic medicines and treatments can cost substantially more than typical veterinary treatment. The other cost which may be hidden may be in the loss of young puppies because of the lack of appropriate veterinary treatment. Holistic dog breeders will vehemently deny that their philosophy can be detrimental to their dogs but the science does not bear out the effectiveness of particularly homeopathic methods to treat serious diseases like parvovirus or heartworms. Also, holistic breeders scorn the use of preventive interventions like dewormers. They advocate that the preventive schedules of veterinary medicines fail to acknowledge any positive benefits from worm (or helminth) infestation. The natural breeders will wait until a puppy is highly compromised by a worm infestation before initiating a chemical treatment. This approach will, unfortunately, lower a puppy’s ability to survive the ravages of a debilitating parasite infestation. When this puppy does not survive it becomes a cost that other puppies must absorb.

Are Naturally-Reared Puppies Healthier?

Naturally-reared puppies may have breeders that are more committed ideologically to health than the average breeder. These breeders may be very firm in their desire to force buyers of their puppies to agree to their stringent standards of holistic dog rearing. While some of their standards may have some solid science to back them up (like good nutrition for coat health), others can be dangerous and possibly illegal (like foregoing rabies vaccinations). In the middle ground are those puppies that have not have the usual deworming. Most puppies are born with worms. The strongest puppies survive them and the weakest can die from them. A breeder that doesn’t deworm may have some very vital and healthy puppies. The strongest puppies don’t die but the weakest just don’t make it to sale. The puppies that do not survive, though, aren’t a topic of conversation.

Some pesticides and industrial chemicals do have known health risks (in humans). Most industrialized countries do identify and ban these substances already. One risk that is frequently mentioned in literature for humans is the use of thimerosal a preservative in vaccinations. Thimerosal contains mercury, a known neurotoxin. Some people implicate it in the development of autism in humans. Holistic breeders will use the presence of thimerosal in dog vaccines as a reason to forego a vaccine. The problem with most holistic breeders is the lack of cost versus benefit analysis. The availability of vaccines has greatly reduced the mortality rate in humans and in dogs. The anti-vaccinators are a fringe group of people that are more invested in an ideology than the truth of what they are doing.

Holistic Dog Breeders: All About Natural Rearing in Dog Breeding — Breeding Business (2024)

FAQs

What is holistic breeding? ›

What Are Holistic Dog Breeders? Holistic dog breeders feed their dogs a natural diet and avoid giving their dogs chemicals. They typically feed their dogs a raw diet. Often they do not vaccinate their dogs or treat their dog with the typical medicines for deworming and flea and tick prevention.

Can you make a business from dog breeding? ›

For dog lovers with a talent for running a small business, starting a dog breeding business combines their passions and can be deeply satisfying on top of the financial benefits.

What is the most profitable dog to breed? ›

Check out this list of the most profitable dog breeds to sell.
  • French Bulldog. The French Bulldog has appreciated a long history as a companion canine. ...
  • Siberian Husky. ...
  • German Shepherd. ...
  • Golden Retriever. ...
  • Labrador Retriever. ...
  • Rottweiler. ...
  • Tibetan Mastiff. ...
  • Samoyed.
22 Sept 2021

What is naturally reared? ›

Natural Rearing is much more than just a diet; it is a holistic approach to life. Simply put… it's about utilizing the old time, natural ways, essentially caring for your dogs as closely to nature as possible. It's about eliminating inappropriate and toxic substances from every area of life.

How do I start a successful dog breeding business? ›

5 Steps to Start a Dog Breeding Business
  1. Understand the costs.
  2. Focus on a particular breed.
  3. Find a location for the business.
  4. Create a legal entity and name.
  5. Prepare for opening the business.
18 Oct 2021

How do I become a successful dog breeder? ›

How to Become a Dog Breeder
  1. Choose a breed and learn as much as you can about it. ...
  2. Talk with other dog breeders to get guidance and advice.
  3. Check your state's laws regarding kennel registration. ...
  4. Consider getting a kennel permit, especially if you plan to keep some of the puppies.
28 Apr 2011

What can I breed to make money? ›

The 8 Most Profitable Farm Animals
  • Chickens – Most Profitable Farm Animal for Small Homesteaders. What is this? ...
  • Goats – Most Profitable Animal to Breed. ...
  • Bees – Most Profitable Farm Animal for Hobby Farmers. ...
  • Quail. ...
  • Rabbits. ...
  • Cattle – Most Profitable Livestock for Those with Plenty of Acreage. ...
  • Pigs. ...
  • Sheep.
15 Jan 2020

How do you write a business plan for breeding? ›

How to Write a Business Plan for a Dog Breeding Business
  1. Give a brief overview of the dog breeding industry.
  2. Discuss the type of dog breeding business you are operating.
  3. Detail your direct competitors. ...
  4. Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. ...
  5. Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Can you breed dogs without a licence? ›

A breeding licence is required for anyone breeding three or more litters in a 12-month period and/or anyone that breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs.

Can I breed my dog without papers? ›

The dog breeder needs to prove that they are the legal owner, and therefore, they need a valid certificate of ownership. You will have to register it in your name and many legal services can do it for you.

Who is no 1 dog in world? ›

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the world's most popular dog. One of the many reasons for the Labrador's popularity is the big variety in which the dog comes along.

Do breeders make good money? ›

Professional dogs breeders with four female breeding dogs can make between $16,000-$40,000 and $40,000-$72,000 for small and large breeds respectively. That being said, your breeder pay could be significantly higher or lower, depending on your selling price and litter sizes.

How much does it cost to start dog breeding? ›

It is important to put together a dog breeding business plan. If you plan to start a small operation, you can probably do it for around $5,000. This is best achieved by starting with one female dog that you can breed in your home. Meanwhile, larger businesses that include many dogs can cost between $15,000 and $25,000.

How many times can you breed a dog? ›

The United Kennel Club and regulations in other countries limit registered litters to 4 or 5 from the same dam. The United States/the American Kennel Club actually has no legal limit on the number of litters a single dog can produce.

What skills do you need to be a dog breeder? ›

Skills for a dog breeder
  • Knowledge of dog breeds.
  • Animal care skills.
  • Patience.
  • Discipline.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Communication skills.
  • Marketing skills.
3 Jan 2022

Is breeding dogs a full time job? ›

Experts consider that you need to have enough savings to get on with your life and business for 6 months to a year. You can definitely work a full-time job at first if you are having puppies that cannot mate for the time being, and start being full-time breeder before your first or second breeding program and litter.

Which animal rearing is more profitable? ›

Sheep farming is also a lucrative and profitable business when you raise a good number of them. One can raise sheep for its milk, meat, fiber, wool, etc. Patience is required in this type of business and also good knowledge of it if you want to succeed in it.

What animals make you the most money? ›

Raising just a few heads of cattle each year can provide you with a good bonus income since beef and dairy products are always in demand.
  • 1 - Cattle. With a massive market for beef in the U.S. and Canada, raising cattle is at the top of the list for livestock. ...
  • 2 - Chickens. ...
  • 3 – Goats. ...
  • 4 – Bees. ...
  • 5 – Rabbits.

Is there money in breeding animals? ›

Well-worth every penny. There is money in breeding animals. Unfortunately, there are breeders out there running puppy mills, just allowing animals to get pregnant over and over because they are too cheap to spend money on sterilization, or they just don't have a clue what they are doing.

How many dogs do breeders have? ›

Over 500,000 Dogs Are Kept Solely For Breeding

Throughout the US, over half a million dogs are kept solely for breeding purposes, and over half of these are mothers.

Can anyone breed dogs? ›

They must have a licence, if they do either or both of the following: breeding 3 or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period - unless they can prove that none of the puppies have been sold as puppies or adults. breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs - as defined under the business test.

Do I need a licence to sell my dogs puppies? ›

Sellers need a licence if they are:

Breeding and selling five or more litters in a year. Advertising a business breeding and selling dogs. Selling dogs commercially, such as in a pet shop. Selling puppies under the age of 12 weeks, even if they are not the breeder.

What should a breeder provide? ›

A good breeder will always provide you the paperwork for your dog or cat, which must include not only breed registration papers but also paperwork from a veterinarian demonstrating that the animal has had an examination as well as all the appropriate vaccinations and dewormings.

How old should a dog be to breed? ›

In most cases, you should wait until your dog is at least one year old to mate him with a female. Keep in mind that large and giant breeds need more time to fully grow, so you should wait until your pooch is 18 to 24 months old to breed him for the first time.

What does full breeding rights mean? ›

Breeding rights cover your ability to breed and register the puppies of a bloodline born as part of the American Kennel Club (AKC) or other breeding clubs. These rights are mostly used by breeders to ensure their bloodline is developed properly when selling pups to outside parties.

Can you breed a puppy without papers? ›

Though reputable breeders only breed dogs that are registered with the American Kennel Club, thus verifying their lineage, each new puppy that is born must be individually registered as well.

What is the number one dog in 2022? ›

Top 10 most popular dog breeds for 2022
  • Labrador retriever.
  • Goldendoodle.
  • Golden retriever.
  • French bulldog.
  • Labradoodle.
  • German shepherd.
  • Shih Tzu.
  • Chihuahua.
22 Aug 2022

What is the most popular dog name in 2022? ›

Top 10 most popular dog names for 2022
  1. Luna.
  2. Charlie.
  3. Bella.
  4. Daisy.
  5. Milo.
  6. Lucy.
  7. Cooper.
  8. Bailey.
22 Aug 2022

Is being a dog breeder hard? ›

Breeding dogs takes time, patience, a great willingness to learn, the ability to be humble, and sometimes a little luck. Having a good eye for a dog does not hurt any, either. One of the most important things about being a good breeder is avoiding kennel blindness. It has been the undoing of many a good breeder.

How much money can you make off breeding dogs? ›

The salaries of Dog Breeders in the US range from $20,430 to $75,210 , with a median salary of $37,825 . The middle 50% of Dog Breeders makes between $32,117 and $37,797, with the top 83% making $75,210.

How do I sell myself to a dog breeder? ›

These are broad and general, but hopefully will help anyone who is searching for a puppy.
  1. Don't treat puppy buying as a financial transaction. ...
  2. Politely ask any questions. ...
  3. Show off your knowledge on the breed. ...
  4. Express your willingness to take guidance. ...
  5. Go visit. ...
  6. Be prepared to answer questions. ...
  7. Don't hassle.
14 Feb 2012

What's the most expensive dog? ›

What is the most expensive dog? The Tibetan mastiff is considered the most expensive dog, as it has sold for thousands and even millions. In 2014, a Tibetan mastiff puppy was sold for nearly $2 million in China, according to AFP, which cited a report in Chinese newspaper Qianjiang Evening News.

Do dog breeders pay tax? ›

Tax Returns for Self Employed Dog Breeders

You'll need to submit a tax return online (SA100 form) declaring your income and expenses once a year by 31 January.

How long is a dog pregnant? ›

› Lifestyle ›

I raised puppies for 15 years with my family. Corgis were our first love, but then half of us developed an allergy to their hair. We eventually switched to Fren...
Think you might want to breed dogs as a side hustle? Think twice. Although it's normal to pay hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for a purebred dog — a...
Each strategy can be executed in nuanced fashion but they are the three main ideas you are facing when you breed dogs with the ambition to make a profit. Most b...

What does holistic mean in agriculture? ›

This approach is designed to restore degraded grasslands using a method that integrates economic, social, and environmental variables (particularly movements of grazing livestock) into land management.

What is holistic marketing concept? ›

Holistic marketing concept considers all the different parts of a business as one single entity. It is based on the premise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. As such, there is a shared aim and purpose for all the activities related to a business.

What is holistic grazing management? ›

Holistic Planned Grazing––one of the planning procedures of Holistic Management––is the practice of charting grazing moves that consider the time that a plant is exposed to a grazing animal so that the plant's recovery is planned.

What is meant by holistic in philosophy? ›

Holism is the common term for the philosophical approaches emphasizing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. According to the approach, the whole cannot be understood by analyzing its component parts. The components that help us to see and to hear the reality constitute the whole.

What is the importance of holistic management? ›

Holistic Management, simply put, helps us make better, more informed decisions that balance social, environmental, and financial considerations, while leading us in the direction we want our lives to take.

What is holistic management role? ›

Holistic Management is a decision-making framework that ensures we make good decisions, decisions are economically, environmentally and socially sound - the triple bottom line. Holistic Management enables us to develop a clear vision of the future we want. Holistic Management has its roots in environmental management.

Why is organic farming considered as a holistic approach? ›

It is stated that organic farming is based on a holistic view where nature is considered as a whole with an intrinsic value of its own. Further, humankind is to take moral responsibility regarding the ecological, economical, and social aspects of agricultural production.

What is a holistic brand? ›

Holistic Branding means 'complete branding'. This epic wheel shown right here showcases the four-phases needed to build a great brand. Branding isn't just about its logo and identity. It is a long-term strategy that governs transformation, positioning, perception, recognition and loyalty.

What is holistic selling? ›

Holistic marketing refers to a marketing strategy that considers the whole of a business and all the different marketing channels as a system. Under this strategy, a business with different departments comes together in synergy in pursuit of a conscious mission, great customer experience, and a positive brand image.

What are the examples of holistic marketing? ›

Coca-Cola is the best example of Holistic Marketing. They drafted their entire plan of marketing on one goal – Happiness. They did not just market their product, but they marketed Happiness. Based on that one goal, Coca-Cola wanted to promote Happiness.

What are the benefits of holistic planned grazing? ›

It allows land managers to manage the complexity of their work while ensuring continued land regeneration, animal health and welfare, and profitability. Holistic Planned Grazing helps ensure that livestock are in the right place, at the right time, and with the right behavior.

What is the holistic management approach to ranching? ›

Holistic Management is a whole farm planning system that helps farmers, ranchers and land stewards better manage agricultural resources in order to reap sustainable environmental, economic, and social benefits.

What is a Silvopasture system? ›

Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources.

What is another word for holistic? ›

What is another word for holistic?
completefull
comprehensiveexhaustive
thoroughaggregate
broadexpansive
extensiveintegrated
16 more rows

What is a word for holistic? ›

comprehensive, integrated, aggregate, entire, full, total, universal.

What is the answer holistic? ›

What Does Holistic Mean? In simple terms, “holistic” refers to the understanding of the relationship between all of the parts of a whole. In problem solving, a holistic approach starts by first identifying an obstacle, then taking a step back to understand the situation as a whole.

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