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Published: August 25, 2025
Breeding dogs is more than pairing two animals; it's a commitment to responsible breeding, the health of the mother and puppies, and the future of a breed. You need reliable, practical information to plan, whelp and raise healthy litters, avoid common pitfalls, and make ethical decisions.
This list of four must-read books and a practical whelping kit gives you practical, evidence-based guidance—from midwifery and neonatal care to business basics and the supplies you should have on hand—so you can approach breeding with confidence and care.
Category |
Product |
Price |
Score |
|---|---|---|---|
🏆 Best Overall |
Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery |
$19.59 |
90/100 |
🚀 Most Advanced |
$18.95 |
94/100 |
|
💰 Best Value (Supplies) |
$25.99 |
84/100 |
|
🎯 Best For Business Planning |
Starting a Dog Breeding Business: Step by Step How to Get Money, Supplies & Equipment |
$11.97 |
76/100 |
You want resources that combine accurate, practical information with clear instructions and real-world usefulness. We looked for: authoritative coverage of whelping, neonatal care and reproductive basics; clarity and readability so you can follow steps under stress; value for money and the breadth of topics covered; up-to-date practical tips or timeless clinical guidance; user feedback showing the resource helped breeders in real situations; and, for supplies, completeness and usefulness during an actual whelping.
We prioritized resources that help you keep mothers and puppies healthy and reduce emergency risks, while noting where more current veterinary research or mentorship is needed.
You’ll find this book feels like a seasoned breeder sitting beside you and talking through every step. It mixes practical, step-by-step guidance for planning a litter, troubleshooting delivery and neonatal care, and breed-specific notes gathered from experienced fanciers.
Use it as your daily how-to when a whelping is near, or as a calm reference if a difficult situation pops up. It’s written in an approachable, often humorous way, so the serious stuff is easier to digest.
If you’re on the fence about breeding or want a compact, reliable handbook to keep on the shelf, this is one I’d recommend.
Readers say it’s a go-to, down-to-earth reference that helps you handle common and unexpected problems; first-time breeders find it especially reassuring.
Overall Sentiment: Positive
🗣️ Charlette Osborne
I'd recommend this book to anyone considering breeding any breed of dog. The detailed instructions for problematic situations and techniques to eradicate them are invaluable.
🗣️ Anne Sheridan
Brilliantly written to appeal to both novice and professional alike. Really covers an amazing amount of information for it's size. Only reason for a 4 star rating instead of 5 is the age of the publication being 22 years.
Learning proper breeding, whelping and neonatal care can help you avoid emergency vet bills, reduce lost pups, and save time by following proven techniques instead of trial-and-error.
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Preparing for first litter |
Gives step-by-step checklists and clear descriptions so you know what to expect and can set up a safe whelping area. |
Complicated delivery |
Covers common delivery problems and practical troubleshooting so you can act quickly or communicate clearly with your vet. |
Neonatal care and feeding |
Includes recipes and guidance for puppy milk substitution and early neonatal care to keep vulnerable pups healthy. |
Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
Neonatal survival |
Clear neonatal care instructions and feeding guidance help improve puppy survival and early health. |
Problem recognition |
Practical tips to spot and manage whelping complications before they escalate. |
Breed-specific awareness |
Appendices summarize breed idiosyncrasies so you can tailor care to breed-related risks. |
You’ll feel more confident and less anxious knowing there’s a reliable, experienced voice guiding you through each stage of breeding and whelping.
This book is a compact, practical course in breeding basics and problem-solving — ideal for learning essentials quickly and revisiting before a litter.
Works across breeds and experience levels, and is available in hardcover and Kindle so you can use it at home or on the go.
The writing is straightforward and actionable; readers note it’s easy to use during real-life situations, though some wish for more modern genetics updates and extra diagrams.
Current Price: $19.59
Rating: 4.5 (total: 278+)
Get DetailsYou’ll find this book useful if you’re focused on the business side of breeding rather than the veterinary details. It walks you through writing a business plan, sourcing supplies and equipment, and exploring funding options like crowdfunding and grants.
Use it when you’re planning finances, setting up a kennel, or compiling supplier contacts — it’s a practical, quick-read companion to help you organize the nuts and bolts. If you want a friendly, business-first primer to get the admin and supply chain sorted, this is a sensible place to start.
Readers appreciate the compact, business-first approach — it’s a handy starter for getting finances, suppliers and logistics in order, though some say it won’t replace veterinary or breeding-specific manuals.
Overall Sentiment: Mixed
🗣️ Matthew Mahoney
Quick read but lots of useful information to start a business!
🗣️ Maddi 4
This book had a lot of helpful information. There was definitely helpful research done to aid someone new to dog breeding.
Getting the business basics right up front — budgeting, sourcing wholesale suppliers and thinking through insurance — can reduce early mistakes, avoid duplicate purchases and cut wasted time, which adds up over months and years.
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Writing a business plan |
Provides structure and examples so you can outline startup costs, revenue assumptions and growth steps without guessing. |
Sourcing supplies |
Points you toward wholesalers and equipment lists so you can set up kennels and buy staples more efficiently. |
Looking for funding |
Explains basics of crowdfunding and grants to help you explore nontraditional funding routes for startup capital. |
Scaling to commercial operations |
Covers logistics like transport and larger-scale supply needs so you can plan infrastructure rather than improvising. |
Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
Better kennel planning |
Advice on supplies and space planning can help you avoid overcrowding and reduce stress-related illness. |
Reduced emergency risk |
Guidance on insuring your operation and planning for vet access lowers financial risk if a health issue arises. |
Access to resources |
Includes web and training resource lists so you can find veterinary or neonatal care references when clinical detail is needed. |
You’ll likely feel more organized and less overwhelmed about the business logistics — having supplier contacts and a basic plan makes the next steps feel doable.
This book teaches the essentials of turning breeding knowledge into a small business: budgeting, sourcing, basic marketing and funding options. It’s a practical primer rather than a clinical breeding textbook.
Geared toward home-based and commercial setups, it’s useful if you need a business-first view and appears in paperback and audiobook formats for flexibility.
Straightforward and action-oriented for administrative tasks; readers note it’s quick to read and handy for planning, though you’ll need additional veterinary or breed-specific references for hands-on breeding care.
Current Price: $11.97
Rating: 3.8 (total: 200+)
Get DetailsYou’ll appreciate how this kit pulls together a bunch of neonatal basics in one compact bag so you don’t have to scramble during a stressful birth. It’s handy for planned whelpings and also for unexpected emergencies — think bottle feeding tiny pups, clearing mucus with the nasal aspirator, or using the thermometer and stethoscope to check a newborn. For daily use it keeps feeding gear and collars organised; for special occasions like a first litter or fostering, it’s a quick grab-and-go solution. I’d recommend it as a preparedness kit — know that some bits are lightweight, but overall it’s a convenient starter set that can save you time and panic when the little ones arrive.
People say it’s a life-saver during the first hours and days: the feeding tools are the right sizes for neonates, the aspirator and clamps are useful in emergencies, and having everything in one red bag reduces frantic searching when time matters.
Overall Sentiment: Positive
🗣️ Michi
This kit had everything I needed for the birth and the first weeks — bottles sized for tiny newborns, helpful instructions, and an organised bag that made a scary time much easier.
🗣️ Kimberley Wroten
Came with multiple bottle/nipple styles, tube-feeding options, a nasal aspirator and even a whelping pen. Great for large litters and useful afterward as a puppy pool or rescue kit.
Having a ready kit prevents rushed last-minute purchases and duplicate items after an emergency. Even if a few parts are basic quality, the set covers many one-off needs so you avoid repeated small buys that add up over time.
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Emergency birth |
You can clear airways with the nasal aspirator, clamp cords, and check temperature quickly without running to the store. |
Orphaned or rejected neonates |
Feeding tubes, multiple nipple sizes and a bottle kit let you feed tiny pups or kittens safely and consistently. |
Fostering and rescue |
The kit’s compact red bag makes it easy to grab for transport and has supplies for a variety of species and sizes. |
First litter preparations |
Record charts and basic monitoring tools help you track weights and timings so you can spot problems early. |
Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
Airway clearing |
The rubber nasal aspirator and mucus catheters help remove fluids that can block newborn breathing. |
Accurate monitoring |
The digital thermometer and stethoscope let you check for fever or abnormal breathing quickly at home. |
Safe feeding |
Feeding tubes and different nipple sizes reduce the risk of aspiration when bottle-feeding very small neonates. |
You’ll feel more prepared and less panicked when a whelping starts — having a kit ready gives real peace of mind during those first nerve-wracking hours.
The included charts and basic tools help you learn neonatal routines like weighing, timing feeds and spotting early issues, making it a useful hands-on learning aid for new breeders and fosters.
Useful across scenarios — planned whelpings, foster care, rescue work and even small livestock — and it covers both puppies and kittens so you don’t need separate kits.
Most items are ready to use straight from the bag, and the organised pouch makes it practical for home or travel; note that some users recommend buying a few spare gloves, better scissors and replacement nipples for repeated use.
Current Price: $25.99
Rating: 4.2 (total: 165+)
Get DetailsYou’ll get seminar-tested, nurse-backed advice from an author who’s both bred dogs and worked in neonatal human care. The book walks you through realistic scenarios — spotting when to intervene, how to support weak or "runt" pups, feeding tips and ways to lower C-section rates for natural whelpings.
For day-to-day use it’s a handy reference during pregnancy checks and whelping prep; for special occasions like your first litter or an unexpected emergency it’s the sort of book you’ll skim the night before and keep by the whelping box. I’d recommend it if you want practical, experience-driven techniques rather than just theory.
You’ll see readers repeatedly point to the book’s real-world, nurse-informed suggestions — they credit it with saving pups, calming the whelping process and giving confidence during first litters.
Overall Sentiment: Positive
🗣️ Schipperke mom
This is the most compassionate, practical advice on whelping I’ve read — she explains why a pup may be a so-called “runt” and gives concrete steps that helped me save a cleft-palate pup.
🗣️ John S. Terry
Her approach made whelping calmer for me and my dogs. Clear guidelines on when to intervene, feeding advice that worked, and tips (like the pudding to stimulate milk) that actually helped during a real whelping.
Learning how to spot problems early and manage whelpings at home can reduce emergency vet visits and lower the chance of costly procedures you might otherwise rush into. The knowledge pays off across multiple litters.
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Emergency at whelping |
You get clear steps for immediate actions—clearing airways, supporting breathing and using simple supplies to stabilise pups until veterinary help arrives. |
First-time breeder |
Detailed checklists and plain-language guidance let you prepare supplies, recognise normal versus abnormal labor, and feel ready rather than overwhelmed. |
Weak or runt puppies |
Practical feeding and supportive care techniques improve the survival chances of small or underperforming pups. |
Trying to avoid C-sections |
Guidance on when to intervene and when to trust nature can help you keep C-section rates down for suitable breeds. |
Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
Improved neonatal survival |
Practical interventions and feeding protocols help fragile pups stabilise and grow through the critical first days. |
Better maternal outcomes |
Advice on monitoring labor and when to act can reduce unnecessary surgeries and complications for the dam. |
Faster emergency response |
Checklists and simple techniques let you address common birthing emergencies immediately while seeking vet care if needed. |
You’ll feel more confident and less anxious during pregnancy and whelping because the book gives practical steps and real-life examples you can follow.
This is a hands-on learning resource: it explains not just what to do but why, using anecdotes and nurse-based reasoning that help you understand patterns and make better decisions.
Useful whether you’re a hobby breeder, a seasoned exhibitor or prepping for an occasional foster litter — the techniques are adaptable across breeds and situations (with breed-specific caveats).
Short, seminar-style chapters and checklists make information easy to find during a whelping; some readers suggest pairing the book with a basic supply kit for immediate use.
Current Price: $18.95
Rating: 4.7 (total: 313+)
Get DetailsYou should start with practical, hands-on guides that teach whelping and neonatal care, then add broader texts on breeding management. For immediate, day‑to‑day whelping and puppy survival tips you might begin with "Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care: The Seminar" (rated 4.7, priced at $18.95) because it focuses on compassionate, actionable advice for emergencies and weak pups.
After that, use "Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery" (rated 4.5, priced at $19.59) for a thorough midwifery reference and breed‑specific considerations, keeping in mind it was published in 1994 so some genetic and veterinary advances aren’t covered. Treat "Starting a Dog Breeding Business" (rated 3.8, priced at $11.97) as a supplemental resource only if you need a very basic overview of business setup, but expect to research veterinary and breeding specifics elsewhere.
You can rely on the practical principles and emergency techniques in these guides, but you should cross-check with current veterinary guidance and genetic testing recommendations. Reviewers note that "Successful Dog Breeding" is an excellent midwifery resource but dated (1994), while "Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care" (2010) offers modern, compassionate whelping practices.
"Starting a Dog Breeding Business" has mixed reviews and often lacks breeding‑specific detail, so don’t treat it as your only source. Always supplement books with recent peer‑reviewed articles, your veterinarian’s advice, breed‑club protocols, and current genetic test results before making breeding decisions.
You prepare the whelping area ahead of time and keep your kit handy so you can respond quickly; a typical kit (for example, the kewen Puppy Kitten Whelping Supplies at $25.99) contains feeding bottles and nipples, umbilical clamps, suction bulbs, gloves, a small stethoscope/thermometer and basic feeding/tube tools to help immediate neonatal care. Keep newborns warm, dry the pups, stimulate breathing with the bulb syringe if needed, and help with supplemental feeding only if the dam can’t nurse.
Call your veterinarian immediately if the dam has strong labor contractions for 30 minutes with no puppy, if more than two hours pass between puppies during active labor, if you see heavy or bright red bleeding, green‑black discharge before the first pup arrives, clear signs of distress in the dam, or if a puppy is weak and not improving with basic supportive care. Remember brachycephalic and high‑risk breeds commonly need professional attention or planned C‑section, so plan a vet check and emergency contact before whelping begins.
You’ll choose Successful Dog Breeding when you want deep, veterinary-focused whelping and midwifery guidance, opt for Starting a Dog Breeding Business when you need practical startup, legal and financial steps, and pick the kewen Whelping Kit when durable, ready-to-use tools and supplies are your priority. Overall, you’re looking for clear, step-by-step instruction, real-world reliability, and the best value for the specific stage of breeding you’re focused on.
These four picks give you complementary strengths: Successful Dog Breeding offers hands-on midwifery guidance and is a solid reference for whelping and neonatal care; Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care provides up-to-date, compassionate advice for tricky neonatal situations; the kewen Whelping Kit supplies practical tools you can use at the moment of birth; and Starting a Dog Breeding Business covers business basics if you need a quick primer. Use the book on midwifery as your foundation, supplement technical gaps with current veterinary guidance, keep the whelping kit accessible, and consult a vet or experienced mentor when in doubt. Pick the one that matches your immediate needs—health and safety first, then business and logistics—so you can breed more confidently and responsibly.
| Product | Image | Rating | Price | Key Highlights | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery |  |
4.5/5 (N+ reviews) | $19.59 |
|
|
| Starting a Dog Breeding Business: Step by Step How to Get Money, Supplies & Equipment |  |
3.8/5 (N+ reviews) | $11.97 |
|
|
| Kewen Puppy Kitten Whelping Supplies |  |
4.2/5 (165 reviews) | $25.99 |
|
|
| Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care: The Seminar |  |
4.7/5 (N+ reviews) | $18.95 |
|
|
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