A COMPARISON
OF:
|
Traits of Responsible
Breeders
|
Traits of Backyard
Breeders
|
"Into" Dogs (shows, training, clubs,
etc.)
|
Not "into" dogs (has "pets" around
the house)
|
Belongs to dog clubs and organizations
|
Is not involved in the "dog world"
|
Proves quality of dogs and suitability
for breeding by competing for titles and certificates in conformation, obedience,
agility, field trialing, Schutzhund, herding, tracking, earthdog trials, etc.
|
Quality of dogs is almost always
substandard, however, he does not test his dogs in shows or trials (Dogs are
just pets or "breeding machines")
|
Pups' pedigrees are filled with
dogs who have obtained show titles/working certificates; never breeds dogs
without "papers"
|
Pedigrees mostly a list of pets
bred by backyard breeders; pups may not even have "papers"; may be mongrels
(Cockapoos, etc.)
|
Supports rescue groups; knows his
actions inevitably play some part in pet overpopulation and euthanasia (one
of every four dogs in shelters is purebred). Even with all his efforts to
stem over- population, he knows "cracks" will lead to canine deaths
|
Honestly believes that because
he places/sells all his pups, he does not contribute in any way to the needless
slaughter of millions of dogs per year in shelters (Does not see his role
in his pups making pups and them making more pups and so on)
|
Knowledgeable in every facet of
breed, including that of health issues/defects; researches genetics when choosing
mates
|
Not particularly educated about
breed, often not aware of his own breed's genetic defects; does not consider
mate's genetics
|
Knowledgeable about house breaking,
training, socializing, breeding, health; constantly reads dog-related materials
|
Has own ideas which may not coincide
with professionals' opinions; won't bother to read any of the hundreds of
dog books available
|
Can and will help and educate puppy
buyers re these issues Says "Goodbye" and "Good luck" Willing to give
you his references
|
Has no references
|
Knows his puppies' ancestry
|
Knows nothing about the other dogs
on puppies' pedigrees
|
Follows up on puppies' well-being;
collects health information affecting his dogs
|
Does not concern himself with
the puppies' well-being or how puppies' health affects his breeding "plan"
|
Breeds to improve his own dogs,
his bloodlines and the breed
|
Breeds just to breed or make money
or see his "great dog" procreate
|
Rarely breeds as he does not use
dog breeding as a business and strives for quality, not quantity
|
Breeds regularly if for money or
if puppy mill; if for ego, breeds once in awhile, or "just once" before neutering
or spaying
|
Rarely repeats a breeding
|
Often repeats breedings, mainly
those that are cheap and convenient.
|
Breeds only dogs which meet breed
standard
|
Dogs used for breeding rarely meet
breed standard
|
Breeds only dogs with stable temperaments
|
Breeds shy/aggressive dogs with
poor temperaments
|
Breeds only dogs over 2 years old,
and a limited number of times
|
Breeds dogs at almost any age,
and any number of times
|
Mate choice could be anywhere in
the country (almost never breeds his own males to his own females)
|
Mate choice is that which is convenient,
cheap, local (very often owns both sire and dam)
|
Does all genetic testing and will
provide proof; does not breed animals with genetic defects or which are carriers
of defects
|
Does no genetic testing; ignorantly
breeds defective animals or those which are carriers, thus, perpetuating disease
in breed
|
Puppies are sold from waiting list
created before breeding even takes place
|
Puppies are sold after birth in
the local newspaper, first-come, first-served
|
Puppies are sold with health guarantees
|
Puppies are sold with no guarantee
|
Pet-quality pups generally cost
$500-600+ (£250-£300) (show-quality costs more)
|
All pups are pet-quality and are
relatively cheap, usually $200-$400 (£100-£200)
|
Puppies are sold with contracts
|
No contracts; does not care what
you do with puppies
|
Requires pups back if new homes
don't work out
|
Says "Find them good homes"
|
Dogs on property are friendly,
socialized, trained
|
Dogs on property may be aggressive
or shy, and untrained
|
Does not own more dogs than he
has room, time or money for; Dogs are groomed, exercised, healthy, happy
|
Puppy mills are overloaded, "warehoused"
dogs are not groomed or exercised, don't look healthy or happy
|
Will show you pups' parents if
available, or if not, will have pictures
|
Might have to "lock up" pups' aggressive
or shy parents (dogs that should never have been bred)
|
Raises puppies indoors
|
Raises puppies outdoors
|
Stays home to care for puppies
|
Dam and pups are alone for long
hours
|
Feeds only premium dog food
|
Feeds cheap, grocery store dog
food (containing 4D meat/chemicals)
|
Visitors remove shoes and wash
hands to prevent spread of parvovirus
|
Has no understanding and takes
no precautions to prevent puppy-killer disease
|
Keeps pups with mom and litter
a minimum of 49 days to ensure sibling socialization and important lessons
from pups' mother
|
Doesn't know leaving litter earlier
can cause lifelong temperament problems or staying too long can hurt bonding
with humans
|
Socializes pups by systematically
handling them and exposing them to various noises, children and other animals
before sending them to new homes
|
Does not understand or want to
be troubled with any kind of training; just tries to keep puppies quiet and
contained until sold
|
Tests pups to match their temperaments
and drives with buyers' personalities and lifestyles
|
Knows nothing about puppy-testing
or matching puppies with buyers; allows buyers to pick the "cutest" one
|
Can honestly evaluate pups' quality
|
Says all pups are high quality
|
Never sells to "impulse" buyers
|
Is not concerned about buyers being
prepared for pups
|
Never sells two pups at the same
time to a novice
|
Would consider this killing two
birds with one sale
|
Interviews prospective buyers,
checks home and references, refuses to sell to substandard homes
|
Sells first-come, first-served
to whomever has the cash; does not find out which homes are substandard
|
Wants to meet whole family; won't
sell if children are abusive
|
Does not consider anything past
obtaining the funds
|
Sells only to buyers with disposable
income (AKC reports it costs $1327 (£650+) per year to properly care
for a dog)
|
Is not concerned whether or not
buyers can afford to properly care for pups
|
Waits for buyers who offer lifelong
homes (Knows that only 30 percent of all dogs stay in one home throughout
their lives)
|
Does not reject high-risk buyers:
(renters, young people, those with poor track records, low income, other pets,
dogs kept outdoors)
|
Understands dogs are "pack" animals;
sells pets only to buyers wanting to make pup an indoor dog and part of the
family
|
Doesn't care if pups live
as outdoor dogs or chained dogs, being unhappy or anxious being isolated and
separated from "packs"
|
Sells only to buyers who make pup's
safety a priority
|
Does not consider pups' best interests
|
Encourages or requires buyers to
spay/neuter pet-quality pups
|
Encourages buyers to breed, regardless
of quality
|
Encourages buyers to train pups;
refers to good trainer
|
Shows no concern for pups after
sale; knows no trainers
|
Makes sure buyers understand pup's
considerable need for time, attention, exercise and training
|
Does not provide even his own dogs
with enough time, attention, exercise or training
|
Responsible Breeders
Improve the Breed
|
Backyard Breeders
Damage the Breed
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