BYB information --> not a war of words please

[sammiec]

*** this thread is to help provide information, not bash any members or opinions of members***

This has become a major thorn in the side of members that feel very strongly about the safety, health and welfare of animals.

Keep in mind that is an open public forum that is accessed by anyone. People can search to ask questions about how to breed their dogs and a thread such as this would show up giving them reason NOT to. That is the reason, not to bash, not to cause fights, not to name call. Please lets be mature as this is a very important issue.

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Responsible versus Irresponsible Dog Breeding

What makes a breeder good or bad? What distinguishes responsible handling of breeding from irresponsible or even borderline abuse? Here are some basic definitions to start with:

Back Yard Breeder: Any person(s) perpetuating the poor quality pure bred "pet" producing puppies that are not of a higher quality than the breeding pair that does not test for genetic disease or disorder or pursue a general improvement of the breed for the purpose of fun or profit.

Puppy Mill: A person or organization that produces more than the standard number of litters per year (Which is 2) with more than two breeds of dogs that does not test for any diseases or disorders or attempt to produce puppies of a higher quality than the breeding animals for the purpose of profit.

Responsible Breeder: A person who breeds for the betterment of the breed, who tests for genetic disorder and disease and strives to reduce it's occurence through careful selective breeding producing puppies of a higher quality than the breeding pair for the purpose of improving the breed.


Recognizing and Ethical Breeder: See here

WHAT A RESPONIBLE BREEDER WILL DO....
"A Responsible breeder will...

Insist the dogs being bred are good breed representatives in body and mind and have proven it by competing is various competitions.

They breed first for their own needs. Puppies not meeting the breeder's desires will be carefully placed in pet or performance homes with a spay/neuter agreement.

They will test for hereditary issues as well as Brucellosis (which can be devastating).

They will require the same standards of dogs they breed to.

They will research pedigrees to try and improve upon their own dogs as well as add to the breed as a whole. Responsible breeders have a goal they breed towards, they do not breed just to see what will be produced.

Has a working knowledge of the genetics behind the dogs (colors, health issues, etc.)

They accept the financial risk and rarely make money off of litters when all the expenses from tests (some must be done annually), feeding, medical care, etc. are tallied up. Responsible breeding does not equal money.

They accept the emotional risk: which include the possible death of a puppy, puppies and/or the mother.

They accept long term responsibility. If for any reason at any time, a buyer cannot keep the dog bought, the breeder will want it back - even if the dog is twelve years old!

If at any time a hereditary issue that was previously unknown to the breed shows up, the breeder will inform all puppy buyers as well as alter the breeding program to prevent the issue from being passed on to any other dogs.

Makes sure all puppies go to carefully screened homes. If there is no home out there, the puppy is kept until one is found. NO puppy ever goes to a pet store or animal shelter. Responsible breeders do not add to the thousands of unwanted pets that are in shelters."


WHAT AN IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDER WILL DO...
"What an Irresponsible breeder does...

Breeds just for the sake of having a litter. Overall quality of the dogs is secondary. The owner may not even know what a proper breed specimen should look or act like.

Breeds so the kids can witness the miracle of birth. They forget that the children can also witness the miracle of death. What of the mom has trouble? Complications that make an already uncomfortable situation very painful or requiring medical intervention? Do you want you kids to see this?

Breeds just because the have a registered purebred - regardless of whether or not the dog is a good representative.

Does not realize the importance of a pedigree.

Breeds because people have commented "I'd like a dog like that." More often than not, when the puppies are born, these people no longer want one.

Does not look into the health and background of the dogs to be bred.

Does not prove the dogs deserve to be bred.

Will not take long term responsibility. Once the puppies are paid for, they feel the responsibility is out of their hands.

Takes shortcuts and does not provide proper pre and post natal care.

Does not screen homes and will place puppies through newspaper ads, sell to pet shops or dump at shelters if the work gets too much.

Does not temperament test puppies or do any medical care on them (like puppy boosters at 6 weeks)."

Some excellent sites to visit:
Small Paws Rescue
Wunderpuppy
Comparisson of Backyard Breeders vs. Responsible Breeders