I had a question on one of my posts earlier that made me realize the terms I use can be confusing to people outside my line of work. I wanted to clarify those terms and also let everyone know that I do not hate all breeders. There are so many puppy mills and irresponsible breeders that it may seem as if I do but I personally know several people who breed their dogs and, while I will always advocate for adopting, I have no problem with what they do. Here are some of my personal definitions of the terms I use to describe breeding operations: Puppy Mill / Backyard Breeder - these are the people who are usually breeding multiple types of dogs and always keep them in horrific conditions. The animals are caged their entire lives and receive no routine vet care. They sell their dogs to anyone who has the money and sell them on the internet, flea markets and sides of roads. Their animals are nothing more than products and are killed, abandoned or dumped at shelters when they are no longer profitable. Irresponsible Breeder - these animals may be kept in better, more sanitary conditions but profit is still the main motive. The animals may get out of their cages or kennels for short periods and are generally better kept but are in no way household pets. These breeders will still sell to anyone who has the cash. You will also find them breeding for unusual colors (i.e. white danes) that are genetic mutations. The gene that causes the color comes with a host of medical issues for the unsuspecting buyer who thinks they are getting a special or rare animal. Same goes with micro breeds. So even though they may take good daily physical care of their product, money is the motivator....not the health and well being of the puppies. Responsible Breeder - Breeding is a hobby not a business. They will have a limited number of breeding pairs that are also their household pets and usually show quality dogs. They either know the buyer personally or have a contract and home inspection prior to purchase. They want to know where and with whom their dogs are going. They breed because they have an affection for a specific breed of dog. They are proud to show you both parent animals and will have extensive vet records for them. The motive is love of a breed and not profit. They actually dont make a whole lot of profit because so much money is poured back into the care of their animals. Some will require you sign a spay/neuter agreement and promise to return the puppy to them if you cant keep it at any time during its life. Truly responsible breeders are few and far between but they are out there. I know several. I hope this helps clarify what I mean when I use these terms.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 04:21:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015