Like most people, I have a lot of friends with dogs. That’s where a lot of similarities end.

I was raised in a household that stressed rescuing animals. We rescued domestic animals, livestock, wild critters through Sierra Wildlife Rescue – we did it all. We certainly never bred our dogs just for the sake of breeding, so the fact that people I know want to do just that has been surprising to me as I’ve gotten older.

Now I totally understand wanting to have a puppy experience, I really do. The squirmy little guys are just adorable, and though they require a lot of care and checking up on, it’s a fun experience to have. There are inherent problems with breeding your own dog, though.

First and foremost, if you have the female, you’re putting her life and health at risk. It is entirely possible for births to go wrong and have complications, especially if you’re not a seasoned breeder and know what to expect. Are you going to be able to pay a massive veterinary bill if she needs a c-section or something happens? You also have to bear in mind that you don’t know what traits you’re breeding into this group of puppies, whether it’s a health problem or bad personality trait.

Most people who want to breed their dogs intend on keeping one of the puppies, and that’s great. But what about the rest? Do you know if they’re going to good homes? What happens if you can’t find homes for all of them, what will you do with them then? It absolutely is something you should think about before putting more dogs out there in the world.

Fortunately, there’s an awesome alternative to this.

If you want the puppy experience, foster a pregnant rescue dog. There can never be enough foster families, and dogs of all breeds and sizes regularly come in to rescues and shelters expecting a litter. A crowded shelter is a terrible place for any pet to give birth, and the risk of disease is high. If the dog can give birth in a quiet, private environment, it’s so much better for her and the puppies as well.

Instead of intentionally putting more dogs out into the world and putting your dog’s health at risk, you’ll be doing a massive service to multiple lives. There’s no obligation to keep any of the dogs, the rescue will do the work in finding adopters for you. You get to have the experience, and you’ll know you did something to help puppies that might not have had a chance otherwise.