diff --git a/server/db/init.js b/server/db/init.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42bfcd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/db/init.js
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+
+function initDatabase(dbPath) {
+  // Ensure data directory exists
+  const dir = path.dirname(dbPath);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) {
+    fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+
+  const db = new Database(dbPath);
+  
+  // Enable foreign keys
+  db.pragma('foreign_keys = ON');
+  
+  console.log('Initializing database schema...');
+
+  // Dogs table - Core registry
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS dogs (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      name TEXT NOT NULL,
+      registration_number TEXT UNIQUE,
+      breed TEXT NOT NULL,
+      sex TEXT NOT NULL CHECK(sex IN ('male', 'female')),
+      birth_date DATE,
+      color TEXT,
+      microchip TEXT UNIQUE,
+      photo_urls TEXT, -- JSON array of photo URLs
+      notes TEXT,
+      is_active INTEGER DEFAULT 1,
+      created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+      updated_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Parents table - Relationship mapping
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS parents (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      dog_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      parent_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      parent_type TEXT NOT NULL CHECK(parent_type IN ('sire', 'dam')),
+      FOREIGN KEY (dog_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+      FOREIGN KEY (parent_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+      UNIQUE(dog_id, parent_id, parent_type)
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Litters table - Breeding records
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS litters (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      sire_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      dam_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      breeding_date DATE NOT NULL,
+      whelping_date DATE,
+      puppy_count INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
+      notes TEXT,
+      created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+      FOREIGN KEY (sire_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+      FOREIGN KEY (dam_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Health records table
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS health_records (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      dog_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      record_type TEXT NOT NULL CHECK(record_type IN ('test', 'vaccination', 'exam', 'treatment', 'certification')),
+      test_name TEXT,
+      test_date DATE NOT NULL,
+      result TEXT,
+      document_url TEXT,
+      notes TEXT,
+      created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+      FOREIGN KEY (dog_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Heat cycles table
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS heat_cycles (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      dog_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      start_date DATE NOT NULL,
+      end_date DATE,
+      progesterone_peak_date DATE,
+      breeding_date DATE,
+      breeding_successful INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
+      notes TEXT,
+      created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+      FOREIGN KEY (dog_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Traits table - Genetic trait tracking
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS traits (
+      id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+      dog_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
+      trait_category TEXT NOT NULL,
+      trait_name TEXT NOT NULL,
+      trait_value TEXT NOT NULL,
+      inherited_from INTEGER,
+      notes TEXT,
+      FOREIGN KEY (dog_id) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+      FOREIGN KEY (inherited_from) REFERENCES dogs(id) ON DELETE SET NULL
+    )
+  `);
+
+  // Create indexes for performance
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_dogs_name ON dogs(name);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_dogs_registration ON dogs(registration_number);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_parents_dog ON parents(dog_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_parents_parent ON parents(parent_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_litters_sire ON litters(sire_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_litters_dam ON litters(dam_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_health_dog ON health_records(dog_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_heat_dog ON heat_cycles(dog_id);
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_traits_dog ON traits(dog_id);
+  `);
+
+  // Create trigger for updated_at
+  db.exec(`
+    CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS update_dogs_timestamp 
+    AFTER UPDATE ON dogs
+    FOR EACH ROW
+    BEGIN
+      UPDATE dogs SET updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE id = NEW.id;
+    END;
+  `);
+
+  console.log('Database schema initialized successfully!');
+  
+  db.close();
+  return true;
+}
+
+function getDatabase() {
+  const dbPath = process.env.DB_PATH || path.join(__dirname, '../../data/breedr.db');
+  const db = new Database(dbPath);
+  db.pragma('foreign_keys = ON');
+  return db;
+}
+
+module.exports = { initDatabase, getDatabase };
+
+// Run initialization if called directly
+if (require.main === module) {
+  const dbPath = process.env.DB_PATH || path.join(__dirname, '../../data/breedr.db');
+  initDatabase(dbPath);
+}
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