@james1131 I do not have any answers for owning a bitch/whelping a litter but I do own stud dogs as a hobby!
I feel like getting a male to learn about showing or sports is a great idea, it often means a co-ownership if you're able to get on good terms with a breeder, and often times they will be willing to mentor you or help you find a breeding mentor. Owning stud dogs is a good way to see a wide variety of breeding programs of others and figure out what puppy raising practices you do or do not like.
I believe every breeding dog should have at least a conformation title unless the breed split is wide between working and showline. No one looking for a reputable breeder will go to a kennel with no confo titles, and no good owners would want to stud out to a bitch with no titles. I also think showing my boy has been the most rewarding and fun thing ever, I've gotten a new prospect since my first failed his health testing, and even though he's a working line I went out of my way to get a puppy that can play in conformation. Even if you do one or two days of a show every few months, you'll be able to get somewhere.
I really recommend looking into UKC instead of AKC as a new handler as well, it's a lot more beginner friendly and the judges tend to be looking at the dogs instead of the flashiness of the competition, I've gotten amazing feedback many times.
I also believe preformance titles really make your breeding program look a lot nicer, including therapy work. More people looking for service/working dogs will gravitate to your program. In my breed, German Shepherds, if a male dog doesn't have a performance title it wouldn't even be considered.
Please let me know if I'm missing things or if you want to discuss anything, I've been in the same spot as you before and have really gotten a lot out of the purebred dog world