Dog Breeding Software for Serious Breeders
Managing a dog breeding program means tracking cycles, planning breedings, managing genetics, communicating with buyers, and running a business—all while caring for animals that depend on you for everything.
This page explains when software helps and when it doesn't.
The moment when hobby becomes chaos
Most breeders hit a wall somewhere between 5 and 15 dogs. The signs are predictable:
- • Multiple breeding females with overlapping cycles
- • A waitlist longer than you can hold in your head
- • Health testing records scattered across emails and files
- • Buyers asking questions you've already answered three times
- • Invoices disconnected from the animals they're for
- • That creeping feeling you're forgetting something important
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And you're not failing—you've just outgrown your current system.
The tools breeders start with
Spreadsheets (Google Sheets, Excel)
One for animals, one for litters, one for contacts. Formulas that break when you add a row. No connection between sheets. Hours spent on data entry that should be automatic.
Notebooks and wall calendars
Heat dates circled in red. Notes that only you can decipher. Lost when you need them most. No backup if the notebook gets wet or the dog eats it.
Memory and hope
"I think she was in heat around Thanksgiving." "I'm pretty sure I told them about the deposit." "I know I wrote that down somewhere."
Facebook groups and text messages
Buyer communication scattered across platforms. No record of what you promised. Scrolling through months of messages to find one detail.
These tools work. Until they don't.
Why spreadsheets fail for dog breeders
Dog-specific biology creates complexity that generic tools can't handle:
Reproductive cycles
- • Estrus cycles every 6-7 months (varies by individual and breed)
- • 63-day gestation with critical developmental windows
- • Progesterone testing timing determines breeding success
- • Split heats, silent heats, and irregular cycles happen
- • Puppy socialization windows (3-12 weeks) are non-negotiable
Health testing requirements
- • OFA hips and elbows (timing requirements by breed)
- • PennHIP evaluations
- • Breed-specific genetic panels (different for every breed)
- • Eye certifications (annual renewal required)
- • Cardiac clearances
- • DNA profiles
What spreadsheets can't do:
- • Calculate next expected heat from historical data
- • Remind you when progesterone testing should start
- • Connect a breeding to its resulting litter automatically
- • Show you which females will have overlapping litters
- • Let buyers see their puppy's progress
- • Generate an invoice linked to a specific puppy
- • Warn you when a health certification is expiring
A spreadsheet can store data. It cannot think for you. And when you're managing multiple litters, juggling waitlists, and trying to give every dog the attention they deserve, you need a system that thinks.
The system serious dog breeders need
This isn't about BreederHQ specifically. This is what any proper breeding management system must do:
Animal Management
- • Every dog with complete records in one place
- • Pedigree visible to any depth needed
- • Health testing results attached to the animal (not in a separate file)
- • Titles and competition history tracked
- • Photos that stay organized and connected
- • Ownership and co-ownership properly recorded
Breeding Operations
- • Cycle history per female with pattern recognition
- • Breeding calendar showing all females at once
- • Automatic date calculations (expected heat, whelping, weaning, placement)
- • Genetics tracking for coat color and health markers
- • Collision detection when litters will overlap
- • Stud service tracking for outside breedings
Client Management
- • Every contact and their history in one place
- • Communication log (not scattered across platforms)
- • Waitlist with position, preferences, and deposits
- • Contracts and agreements stored and accessible
- • Notes that don't get lost
Business Operations
- • Invoicing connected to specific puppies
- • Payment tracking without separate accounting software
- • Deposit management that doesn't require a spreadsheet
- • Expense tracking for tax time
Buyer Experience
- • A way for buyers to see their puppy's progress
- • Access to health testing documentation
- • Communication that doesn't require you to repeat yourself
- • Professional presentation that builds trust
BreederHQ was built for this
Dog-specific cycle calculations that account for individual variation. Pedigree tracking with genetic health markers. A breeding calendar that shows you what's coming before it arrives. Waitlist management that doesn't require a separate spreadsheet. Buyer portals so you stop answering the same questions. Invoicing that connects to the actual puppy.
All of it connected. None of it requiring you to become a database administrator.
BreederHQ is built for dog breeders who:
- • Have 5+ dogs (or plan to get there)
- • Produce regular litters (not one-time accidents)
- • Do health testing and want to track it properly
- • Have a waitlist they're tired of managing manually
- • Want buyers to see them as professional
- • Are spending more time on admin than they want to
- • Value their time at more than $0/hour
BreederHQ is probably not for you if:
- • You have 1-2 dogs and no plans to grow
- • You had one accidental litter and won't have more
- • You prefer paper records and that's working for you
- • You're not doing health testing
- • You don't have a waitlist to manage
There's no shame in any of these. Software isn't always the answer. If a notebook works, use the notebook. If a spreadsheet handles everything you need, keep the spreadsheet.
BreederHQ exists for the moment when those tools stop working.
Questions dog breeders ask
Can I import my existing pedigrees?
Yes. You can enter historical data and connect generations. There's no limit on pedigree depth. If you have records going back 20 generations, you can enter all of it.
Does it handle co-owned dogs?
Yes. Ownership can be shared and tracked. Co-owners can have appropriate access levels.
Can buyers see health testing results?
Yes. The buyer portal shows what you choose to share. You control visibility.
What if I breed multiple breeds?
No problem. Animals are organized however you want. Many breeders work with multiple breeds.
Does it integrate with AKC or UKC?
BreederHQ tracks registration numbers and information. It doesn't submit to registries directly—you'll still use their systems for official registration.
Can I track progesterone testing?
Yes. Results can be logged with dates and values, helping you see patterns over time.
What about stud services?
Whether you're using outside studs or standing your own males at stud, the system tracks it.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. 14-day free trial with full access. No credit card required to start.