|
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 |
|
Pet-quality pups generally cost $500-600+
(show-quality costs more) |
All pups are pet-quality and are
relatively cheap, usually $200-$400 |
|
Puppies are sold with health guarantees
|
Puppies are sold with no
guarantee |
|
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 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 |