Leaving A Legacy — The Importance of Estate Planning For Your Breeding Program

As preservation breeders, we pour our hearts, time and resources into raising healthy and well-socialized dogs, carefully developing our bloodlines and preserving the integrity of the breed. While we meticulously plan breedings, whelpings and show careers, many of us overlook one of the most critical responsibilities of all — what happens to our dogs and their legacy when we are no longer here to oversee them?

Without a clear plan in place, our dogs, frozen semen and carefully curated pedigrees could end up in the wrong hands, lost to time or even dispersed without consideration of their value to the breed. Just as we create contracts for our puppy placements, we must also take steps to ensure our own dogs and breeding legacies are properly cared for in the future. By taking some time to designate a trusted individual to handle your breeding program’s assets in a will, breeders can provide stability for their dogs, protect the future of their bloodlines, and enable their life's work to be handled with the care and respect it deserves.

Why You Should Plan Ahead

Life is unpredictable. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow or need emergency surgery with months of recovery time. While no breeder wants to think about what might happen in the event of their passing or incapacitation, responsible planning is essential. In the absence of a designated inheritor your dogs may end up in shelters, rescues or with family members who lack the knowledge or resources to care for them properly. Frozen semen could be discarded, sold to the highest (and not always best) bidder or lost entirely. 

Beyond the practical concerns, failing to properly plan for the future could also mean the dissolution of years, even decades, of careful breeding work. Bloodlines with genetic and historical significance can disappear and dogs may be bred irresponsibly if left in the wrong hands. By formally designating a responsible and knowledgeable individual to inherit your breeding program, you take control of your legacy, ensuring that your dogs receive the care they deserve and that your contributions to the breed continue long after you’re gone.

Recently, there have been a few reports of breeders passing or being hospitalized that lacked a living or regular will. In one such case, the breeder's dogs were confiscated by animal control, desexed and rehomed before their friends and co-breeders could take possession of the dogs. In another instance, quality frozen semen from an influential stud in the breed was left to a family member with no dog experience. Let’s hope it ended up in good hands, and not used to create “champion bloodline” doodles. 

Choosing the Right Person

Selecting that special person to trust is a decision that should not be taken lightly. They will be responsible for ensuring the well-being of your dogs and the preservation of your legacy. The ideal candidate should be someone who shares your values in ethical breeding, understands the nuances of your breed’s care and has the knowledge and commitment to continue your program — or at least ensure the dogs and any frozen semen are placed appropriately.

Start by considering a longtime mentor or mentee, a trusted fellow breeder or a dedicated handler who has a proven track record of responsible dog care and breeding decisions. A close family member may seem like an obvious choice, but unless they are involved in the dog world they may not be the best fit. It’s essential to have open, honest conversations with potential inheritors to gauge their willingness and ability to take on the responsibility. Discuss your expectations for the dogs’ placements, frozen semen and potential breeding rights, and ensure they fully understand the commitment involved. 

Additionally, life circumstances can change, and someone who is willing today may not be in a position to accept the responsibility in the future. It’s wise to establish a backup inheritor or even a small network of trusted individuals who can step in if necessary. Especially if you have a larger program or multiple breeds to consider. The key is to choose people who will honor your vision and ensure that your dogs and program assets are managed with care and expertise.

The Legal Necessities of Making It Happen

Once you’ve chosen who your designated inheritor will be, the next step is to ensure your wishes are legally documented. Simply expressing your intentions verbally is not enough. Without formal legal arrangements, your dogs and any assets could be left in limbo or distributed according to standard estate law, which more often than not doesn’t align with your wishes. 

The most effective way to secure your dogs and program’s future is to include them in your will and consider setting up a pet trust. A will allows you to designate who should inherit your program, but a pet trust offers even greater protection by providing funds and detailed instructions for their care. Many breeders include stipulations in their pet trusts about breeding ethics, co-ownerships and their direction for use of frozen semen to prevent misuse or exploitation. 

It is essential to consult an attorney familiar with estate planning in your state. They can guide you on how to legally transfer ownership, set up funds for ongoing care and ensure your wishes are enforceable. Legal planning may seem overwhelming, but taking these steps ensures your beloved dogs and carefully built bloodlines are protected, rather than left to chance. 

Additional Considerations

Beyond designating an inheritor and handling the legal aspects, there are several practical steps breeders should take to ensure a seamless transition. 

The first critical consideration is keeping detailed records — including registration papers, pedigrees, breeding agreements, health testing documentation, medication needs and behavioral history — so your inheritor has everything they need to manage your breeding program assets responsibly. Without these, even the most well-intentioned successor may struggle to manage your program effectively.

Another would be planning for retired breeding dogs and those not suited for future litters. If you have older dogs who are no longer part of your breeding program, it’s important to specify whether they should remain with your inheritor, be placed in pre-approved pet homes, or returned to co-owners if applicable.

For those with frozen semen, clear instructions should be left regarding its intended use, including whether it may be sold, transferred, or used only under specific conditions. It’s also wise to document where it is stored and how the inheritor can access it and to complete forms about successors provided by the semen storage facility or leave written instructions for the storage facility to follow.

Consider the financial aspect of caring for your dogs. If possible, set aside funds to help cover veterinary expenses, food, and ongoing care, especially for senior or special-needs dogs. A pet trust can be structured to provide financial support for your inheritor to use solely for the well-being of the dogs.

One of the most important, but often overlooked parts, are the dogs you’ve produced who are not in your possession. In the instance that a puppy you’ve produced and placed needs to be returned after your death or incapacitation, who will be responsible? 

Lastly, review and update your plan periodically. Over time, your breeding program may evolve, certain dogs may no longer be in your care, or your chosen inheritor’s circumstances may change. By revisiting your estate plan every few years, you can ensure it remains aligned with your current needs and priorities.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, our responsibility to our dogs doesn’t end when we are no longer here to care for them. Just as we carefully plan each breeding and meticulously select homes for our puppies, we must also take steps to ensure our own dogs are protected for the future. Providing security for our dogs and safeguarding the legacy we have worked so hard to cultivate is one of the most meaningful acts of love and responsibility we can offer the breed.

The best breeders don’t just think about the present—they think about the future. By planning ahead, we ensure that our contributions to our breeds continue to be honored, respected, and carried forward for generations to come.