About Breeding

This little guy did not make it.

I am often asked about breeding, especially after people visit our farm. Sometimes I can see the wheels turning..."so many puppies at this $ amount equals a nice reward". Please understand, breeding Great Pyrenees is NOT a money making enterprise. It is rewarding in other ways, a true joy for us! I would be dishonest if I said a small profit was not made some years, but the years we make a profit our expenses are still high. We have created an excellent habitat for the Great Pyr which is costly. That habitat or one similar is not necessary for every pet or livestock guardian, but it is for a breeder of livestock guardians. The dogs speak for themselves, as we do our best by providing a stimulating environment from birth to enhance the Great Pyrenees' natural characteristics and abilities. We invest personal time, money, and know how in our dogs as well as love.

The most important things a potential breeder must possess is a working knowledge and understanding of the Great Pyrenees, mating through post parturation, and TIME. I highly discourage anyone who would like to endeavor breeding Great Pyr who has not owned a few. They are not the average breeding dog! They are fantastic, but unique.

Know how is an imperative asset. Skills are required in a breeding program. From choosing breeding pairs based on genetics, conformation, and performance to health care, basic and advanced at times. (I plead with you, never breed your dog just because you know someone with a Pyr...do research on the dog to see if problems arise or if it is related to your dog). A breeder is the nurse and physician for their breeding dogs and any puppies they produce day and night. Knowledge about the body and medical care, as well as the ability to handle dire medical situations is important. Vets are often available, but a breeder cannot rely on the Vet to raise/care for your animals at all times. Clients rely on the breeders expertise and experience.

Consider some problematic, but realistic scenarios such as...What happens if the bitch you chose isn't a good mother or is affected by some circumstance during pregnancy. It happens. What if she doesn't do her part in the delivery, and clean the pups (breeder will have to). What if she rolls over them and smothers them (they will die). What do you do if a pup is unresponsive or begins to fade? What if your bitch gets mastitis and has trouble nursing, or you cant leave the pups with her alone to nurse because she will lay on them or leave them? And oh the weather...it can cause all kinds of trouble even when delivering indoors. These are just some of the problems that can arise, if a successful mating/pregnancy occurs.
If problems arise, the breeder becomes the nurse! Nurses are tough, do dirty jobs, are up all night, and always ready to do what's required (and sometimes cry later if needed). How do you feel about goo...Great Pyrs are big so lots of goo! Breeders have to take all actions needed such as removing pups from mother when at risk, stimulating their bottoms to pee and poop, then cleaning them, and feeding them or watch her nurse...and do this every 2 hours day and night for weeks. When will you sleep? Do you have the time? Can your job, marriage, bank account handle this? Do you have the patience?  Can you put your time and your effort into raising healthy puppies to occasionally loose them sometimes?

Dogs/puppies are living beings just as we are and life is uncontrollable. No matter how we plan, protect, prepare, and pray we loose some times, and it is hard. The pup pictured above did not survive despite all my efforts to save him. It was a long few days followed by a long long night. He would improve then fade, and back and forth we went until his nose was no longer bright pink, then gone. This happens, still births happen, accidents happen, injuries, failure to thrive, newborns can't maintain their body temp independently so a chilled puppy's on it's way out, and so on. Death is part of this. I know it, but still struggle with it especially after hours or days working on a pup with one of my mama girls and neither she nor I can fix it. It can be heart breaking. Its exhausting, and for those interested in $, your return on investment is now diminished.

Breeding a Great Pyrenees should something done with careful consideration. They are an amazing breed without many genetic problems such as hip dysplasia, blindness, cancer, etc, because good breeders have been responsible in choosing mating pairs. If we are not careful in the dogs we breed those genetic problems will show up in every breeding kennel and farm.

We are blessed to have genetically disease free Great Pyrs and I would like to continue to protect this amazing breed by only breeding health dogs.

I have been asked many questions and I appreciate all of them. Raising  GPs seems easy for us because we have great relationships with our dogs, and a working system. It's not easy; it's hard wonderful work! It is not as idealic as many think. That's only in pictures. Behind the scenes there's a lot going on. We have training. I have a bachelors degree in Animal Science, years of experience working at the Vet school, and we have built and maintain a farm that makes sense to the animals here, so things go as smoothly as possible. It takes all of us working daily to make this successful. Learning and training can be acquired many places, anytime. We are still learning and educating ourselves to be better. The best is plain ole experience. I have found that a farm is the best place to learn anything in life. 

I have only mentioned a few things to consider here. If you would like to start this journey, please contact us to become a puppy owner!

Good breeders are important, and we happy to support them! We would be glad to speak with you about making a Hilltop Guardian Great Pyrenees a part of your breeding program!