Dog Business In Nigeria Can Make You Money!

Thinking about starting a dog business in Nigeria?

If you happen to pass through developing sites, GRA neighborhoods, or streets where rich men settle down, you will notice that if not all, almost all have a dog in their compound for security reasons.

While that can be a reason for keeping dogs it is not limited to that. Some have dogs in their homes to serve as pets or companions.

In that wise, the demand for dogs in Nigeria is fast increasing. Talk about one of the most profitable business ideas in Nigeria, and you’ll find dog breeding business on the list.

As new and strange as it may sound to some people, if you are passionate about breeding or keeping dogs, then you can actually start up a dog business in Nigeria or otherwise known as dog farming.

This can fetch you millions of naira yearly with a little amount of capital.

According to Wikipedia, here are some terminologies about dogs

• The term dog typically is applied both to the species (or subspecies) as a whole, and any adult male member of the same.
• An adult female is a bitch.
• An adult male capable of reproduction is a stud.
• An adult female capable of reproduction is a brood bitch or brood mother.
• Immature males or females (that is, animals that are incapable of reproduction) are pups or puppies.
• A group of pups from the same gestation period is called a litter.
• The father of a litter is a sire. It is possible for one litter to have multiple sires.
• The mother of a litter is a dam.
• A group of any three or more adults is a pack.

Dog Breeding

Dog breeding is the practice of mating selected dogs with the intention of maintaining or producing specific qualities and characteristics.

When dogs reproduce without such human intervention, their offspring’s characteristics are determined by natural selection, while “dog breeding” refers specifically to the artificial selection of dogs, in which dogs are intentionally bred by their owners.

Breeding relies on the science of genetics, so the breeder with knowledge of canine genetics, health, and the intended use for the dogs attempts to breed suitable dogs.

Depending on location and market strategy an adult dog can be sold for 600, 000 naira and above.

Imagine breeding tens of dogs that sell at that price the figure you will be having in your account.

Now let me present you with the basic information needed on how to start up a dog breeding business.

Starting a Dog Business Nigeria

The information presented in this article can guide you on how to write a proposal on dog farming and it can be used to source for the fund through grants, loans or sponsorship programs.

Dog Breeds

There are so many recognized breeds of dogs. The most common include Alsatian, Boerbull, Rottweiler, Samoyed, Lhasa, Caucasian, German shepherd, and Pit Bul.

You also have local and crossbreeds. It is very important to make a market survey in your locality and know which of the dog breeds has higher demands.

The above-mentioned breeds and others fall under the following grouping and classification of dogs as listed under Christa Dog Project in westby-norse.org:

• Herding
• Sporting
• Non-Sporting
• Working
• Hounds
• Terriers and;
• Toy breeds. 

They all have different purposes and based on uses and characteristics, these different groups are used as a way to identify dogs.

Did you know that in America before a type of dog breed is established there are some criteria to be met?

According to American Kennel Club their list currently includes 190 dog breeds while worldwide, the FCI (World Canine Organization) lists 360 officially recognized breeds.

These don’t include experimental breeds that have yet to achieve official status. Official lists also don’t include mixed-breed dogs, like the Goldendoodle (a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle) or the Puggle (a mix of beagle and pug).

Herding Dogs: A Herding dog is described as a dog that is easily trained to help with herding purposes. 

Some of the dog breeds that fit under this category would be the Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and Old English Sheepdogs among others. 

These dogs are great for herding for farm purposes among others, but require lots of space to run around and exercise.

Sporting Dogs: Dogs in the Sporting group are often used for hunting, fishing, and other fields/outdoor activities. 

They have great instincts and are able to use their talents for activities like tracking. The dogs in this group also require a lot of exercises because they are regularly very active.

Non-Sporting Dogs:  Non-Sporting dogs are commonly known as dogs developed for purposes other than sports.

These dogs range in size, appearance, and definitely personality-wise. Some of the breeds in this group include the American Eskimo Dog, Poodle, and the French Bulldog.

Working Dogs: Working dogs are bred in order to assist humans with different tasks such as pulling sleds, protecting/guarding property, and even police and rescue work.

Many of the breeds in this class are not desirable for many families of pets.

Hounds: Hounds are most typically used for tracking because they have a fantastic sense of smell. They also have great stamina. 

Terriers:  Most Terriers are very energetic and have very little patience and tolerance for other dogs. 

There are 25 different breeds in the Terrier class that are recognized breeds by the AKC.  Terriers are dogs that dig into the ground to capture their prey.

Toy Breeds: Dogs that fit into the Toy breed class are those that typically weigh between 1 and 7 kilograms.

They tend to live longer lives and are easier to keep in a smaller area because of their size.  Pugs, Lhasa, and Samoyed all fit into the Toy Breed group.

Heating Period

When a female dog reaches puberty, it will start having the estrous cycle (like the menstrual cycle in humans), and as such its body prepares it for pregnancy.

It is crucial to know the month of the heating period for your dog. The heating period can last for 12 days.  

The period is semiannual, which means a dog can give birth to puppies twice a year.

In order to notice the period quicker and earlier, make sure the floor where they sleep is concrete and not sandy.

Make sure you get a healthy breed well demanded for in your area and it is advisable to buy puppies instead of an adult in order to study their life patterns and physiological developments.

The female dog – bitch – comes on heat between 10 and 12 months old.

Experts advise that it should not be mated at that point but should wait for the second and third heat periods so that it would be well developed before bearing offspring.

It takes roughly between 58 and 68 days with an average of 65 days for a pregnant bitch to give birth.

Unlike the goat farming business, the number of puppies you can get from a female dog is amazing. It ranges from 4 to 8. Isn’t that amazing, considering money to be made?

A female dog can give birth to seven or more puppies depending on the breed of dog. The first vaccination is done between four to six weeks.

You should also avoid crossbreeds, as they may be difficult for you to sell.

In mating the female, stick to one male so that you do not mix puppy breeds.

You can start your dog business in Nigeria with one male and two females. Later when you have gained considerable experience in their management, you add more stocks.

Uses

Dogs are bred for several purposes. As mentioned earlier the most common is for security reasons and companionship.

Dogs provide security against thieves, armed robbers and against intruders. Many rich men and women in Nigeria use dogs to complement security efforts by humans.  

Apart from security dogs, many others are kept for companionship and as pets. In this category are toy dogs such as Pugs, Samoyed and Pekingese.

Dogs are also used for sports. Yet many other rear dogs, especially local breed, as special delicacies.

When starting your dog breeding business, be certain to consider your target audience and their needs when it comes to having dogs.

The welfare of the dog

There are certain equipment and materials needed for effective dog breeding. They include dog cages or kennels, chains, dog beds and beddings, dog-clothes, water and food bowls, dog toys, dog clinic kits, dog soaps and towels, disinfectants and appropriate dog feeds.

To rear healthy breeds, you need to ensure a high degree of cleanliness in terms of managing the litters.

As a start-up, you may need to engage the services of a veterinary doctor to ensure regular medical check-ups for the dogs and their vaccination and immunization against common diseases, such as viral and fungal infections as well as protozoa diseases.

To get the best from your dogs, you need to feed them very well. Consult a professional breeder or a veterinary doctor for appropriate feeds and feeding methods.

To keep your expenses at a reasonable level and not run at a loss at the end of the day, their feeds can be a mixture of both foreign dog food being sold and foods that you eat.

How to Market Your Dog

There are several effective ways of marketing your dog. You can do this while you take your dogs to the veterinary clinic for checkups and treatment.

If you use public transport, you may meet a potential customer that you can advertise your products to.

Any dog lover who sees how well nurtured and neat your dog is will be attracted to it. You can either sell the puppies, they are matured enough to be sold at the age of four weeks.

A puppy of the high breed goes for between N60, 000 and N200, 000 depending on the locality and the type of breed being sold.

And you can also sell a matured dog at age 3 years and above for prices ranging between N400, 000 and N700, 000.

You can also contact dog vendors to get buyers. The information you should give out should include breed type, sizes, ages, colors, sex and prices of the puppies.

You can as well advertise them on social media, magazines or newspapers. Do your research well in your locality about the prevailing prices and breeds in the market.

Another means of making money in the dog business in Nigeria is through mating. People will bring their female dogs to your farm for male dogs to mate with them at a fee.

Imagine having five to seven puppies to sell and three mature adult dogs, the profit earned is worth venturing into the dog farming business.

Conclusion on Dog Business in Nigeria

Do you like dogs? Are you passionate about dogs? If the answer is yes, you can turn dog breeding into a booming business.

Why don’t you try dog breeding with the information you have gotten here for your financial breakthrough and see the positive result!

Did you find the tips here useable and helpful? Let’s have your opinion in the comment box. Also, don’t forget to share this piece.

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