A veterinarian with many years of canine practice experience offers guidance to novice and professional dog breeders, emphasising the responsibilities of reputable breeders to their dogs and to the buyers of the puppies they produce. Topics covered include: the choosing, health, quality, and conditioning of brood stock; practical DNA use, and Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) surveys and data storage to scientifically improve the selection of healthy brood stock and puppies; potential breeding problems; artificial insemination; pregnancy and its duration; embryonic and foetal activity; pregnancy nutrition; physical changes during pregnancy; stages of labour; normal and Cesarean-section births, and how to assist in both; nutrition of dams and puppies and how to recognise and prevent potential problems in both; neonatal puppy care; lactation and weaning the puppies; socialising the puppies; pedigrees, registration, and titles; and much more.