Dog breeding is the practice of
mating selected dogs with the intent to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics. When dogs reproduce without such human intervention, their offsprings' 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. A person who intentionally mates dogs to produce puppies is referred to as a dog
breeder. Breeding relies on the science of genetics, so the breeder with a knowledge of canine
genetics, health, and the intended use for the dogs attempts to breed suitable dogs.