# A Quantitative Exploration of Australian Dog Breeders’ Breeding Goals, Puppy Rearing Practices and Approaches to Socialisation

## TL;DR

This study explores how Australian dog breeders raise puppies, their motivations, and how they socialize them, offering insights to improve breeding practices.

## Contribution

The study provides new empirical data on Australian dog breeders' practices and motivations, particularly regarding puppy rearing and socialization.

## Key findings

- Most breeders aim to improve the breed rather than focus on producing companion dogs.
- Breeders recognize their role in shaping puppies' behavior and make decisions accordingly.
- Longer-term breeders with larger programs socialize puppies with humans less frequently.

## Abstract

Each year, thousands of puppies around the world join families, yet we still know little about how breeders raise them or what shapes their decisions. This study surveyed Australian dog breeders to learn more about their breeding program, how they choose their breeding dogs, what they know about early puppy development, and how they rear and socialize their litters. Most breeders were motivated by improving the breed, despite most puppies sold as pets. Breeders recognised that they have an important role in shaping their puppies’ future behaviour and made choices during breeding and rearing with this in mind. Longer-term breeders or those with larger programs appeared to socialize their puppies with new humans less frequently, although more research is needed to fully understand this. These findings offer insight into how breeders raise their litters and may be utilized to inform guidelines for the dog breeding industry, as well as in assisting breeders in making decisions that support puppy development and prepare them for life as family companions.

Millions of puppies are welcomed into the homes of families around the world each year. However, understanding the ways in which puppies are bred and raised by their breeders, as well as the perspectives and perceptions underpinning these practices, is still in its infancy. The current study administered an online survey to 200 Australian dog breeders to investigate their breeding program characteristics, breeding dog selection, understanding of the importance of early experiences in puppyhood, and the extent and diversity of their puppy rearing and socialisation practices. Results indicated that breeders were motivated by breed improvement and producing dogs for themselves rather than providing companion dogs, despite most of their puppies being placed in companionship roles. The participating breeders also acknowledged the important role they play in shaping puppies’ behaviour and temperament, which was reflected in both their breeding dog selection and in their rearing and socialisation practices. The majority of breeders housed their litters within their residence for the initial weeks of life but the socialisation experiences they provided were variable in type and frequency. Longer-term breeders and those with larger, more intensive programs reported providing human-focused socialisation experiences less frequently, though the correlational nature of these findings require cautious interpretation. Whilst future research should endeavor to explore these results more comprehensively among a more diverse sample, these findings provide valuable insight into the breeding, rearing, and socialisation process undertaken by dog breeders in Australia.