Why does everyone dislike "backyard breeders"?

Question

I bought a pet from a "backyard breeder" and to those that think these dogs are not healthy is just not true. You say illnesses will pop up when they get older but my dog "Buddy" is 4 years old today and has never been ill. He is the best dog and when the breeder breeds again I am going to buy another one as he is such a wonderful dog. I don't regret buying him. You say go to the shelter and get a dog and "save a life". Well I did several years ago and that dog got sick three days later. Took it to the vet and it had pneumonia. I was out of alot of money. Then they found out she had intestinal parasites. When I got that payed for her hair started to fall out and she had scarcoptic mange with the vet said was hereditary. I was out of $600.00 on my "dogpound dog" so if you want get a dog from the pound then fine but I will never do it again. Yeh to backyard breeders as there dogs are not always sick or get sick as people say on this board.

Don't you SILLY people know that buying from a so called "registered breeder" does not GUARANTEE the dog will not become ill. There is NO WAY you can weed out sickness no matter how much genetic testing you do! NO matter what you say there will always be back yard breeders out there so just get over it.

Answer 1

There is a lot of disagreement as to what all these terms mean. What is a puppy mill? What is a backyard breeder? What is a professional breeder?

I breed dogs. My kennels are in my backyard. I strive toward healthy pups & dogs that are home raised with lots of socialization, training and love. I breed for pets only although all my dogs are registered.. Some of my dogs have competed well in different competitions & this makes me proud. I breed to the standards & would never breed a sick or inferior animal. All my dogs are in tip top shape & 2 years old before any thought of breeding occurs. I care for all my pups & dogs providing vaccines, a clean environment, healthy food and regular parasite control. Any questionable pups (health issues, temperment, etc) I keep and have spayed or neutered. I will take any pup back at any point in its life, no questions asked. And many, many people that come to me seeking a pup, I refuse to sell to.

I have seen puppy-mill pups. There is no thought to the care of the parents or the pups. This is a for profit operation only. And many unimaginable horrors are occuring as I write this. And I have been given pups from "back yard breeders" that were so ill that I almost lost them. It doesn't matter if the parents are pure bred or not, these folks have no business owning a dog let alone breeding one. This is generally a for profit venture also. And there are lots and lots of both types of these folks out there. How else can you explain some of these poor specimens of different breeds? Toy poodles are starting to look like bassett hounds. Not even close to the standard. Huge Rottweilers with curly hair. And the genetic problems! Hips, eyes, allergies, deformations, It is a total mess.

So what is the difference in these 3 operations - intention. Are you intending to further develop the breed or are you in this for the money?

Answer 2

Sorry my answer is kind of long so bear with me. This is one of my pet peeves so I have a lot to say. I'll try not to be too preachy.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with shelters. That is the worst case senario, and it usually doesn't happen like that.
There are a few problems with backyard breeders. First, you were lucky to find a good one. Most are hell on earth for the dogs, and do sell sick and badly bred dogs, that will develop problems later in life.
Second, (and the most relavent reason) there are millions of dogs (and cats) dying in shelters. MILLIONS
There are just too many of them to find homes for, so "breeders" are adding to the problem by creating more of them. Even if they find homes for the ones they breed, there is no guarantee that the animal will keep that home all it's life. Many adult pets wiind up in shelters for a variety of reasons. Also, for every puppy bought from a breeder, that is one less home looking to adopt one from an over-crowded shelter.
Dogs are not rare animals. No pet dog breed is on the endangered species list. I have had people tell me that if there were no more breeders, then there wouldn't be anymore purebreed dogs. That just is not true. Responsible breeders have standards they breed to and only breed one or two litters from parents that meet those standards. Back yard breeders are in it for the money and could care less if the puppies up to standard, so long as they can charge an arm and a leg for one.
So thats my opinion, sorry again for being so wordy.
Cheers.

Answer 3

So because of your personal experiences, the millions of contrary experiences are wrong??

"Yeh to backyard breeders as there dogs are not always sick or get sick as people say on this board." No, they aren't. But BYB are not typically breeding quality dogs. It's a fact. They don't go through the guidelines set forth by the AKC and by ignoring those, BYB dogs are more likely to have genetic problems. Just because your dog has been around 4 years doesn't mean he won't develop one.

As for your "dogpound dog" - I'm sorry it worked out that way. This is why I rescue my animals from groups who have histories that I trust. There are millions of people who have had the exact opposite experience. And nothing says that a BYB dog won't have health problems. Theese breeders tend to do less work to keep them healthy since it cuts into the bottom line.

If you have to buy a dog, you should at least use a reputable breeder. BYB seriously contribute to the number of dogs who are killed because they can't find homes. To cheap out and use one only for money usually means that you get what you pay for.

I guess that some people just love animals more than others and care for their welfare.

Answer 4

I do not like them, and this is why.
You may have had a great experience with them and I am sure that alot of people do but these people are not breeding to better the breed, earn a title or compete in any sort of working trial, these people breed for $$$$$.
When you do this there are dogs that are breed because they are pure breed, they may or may not have papers , you may say whats so big about papers, well this is, you can trace your dogs linage. Many problems with Pits today is that they are the most over breed dog in the world. THat is a fact. With careful breeding only the best dogs with temperments and confirmation are breed that over all produce the best dogs for familys and show purposes. SO you can do what ever it is that you want but remember when you do this, you encourage BSL's and bad dogs, and kill a dog that needs a good home. The unfortunate thing is you got a sick dog, you based the value of that dog on what you had to spend on it not wether it was worth it as a companion. with that I am not sure you should have a dog period.

Answer 5

I'm sorry that you had bad luck with a shelter dog, but people should not breed dogs indiscriminately because there are far too many dogs as it is and pets should always be spayed or neutered. I don't know that backyard breeders breed unhealthy dogs, but they often overbreed dogs and there are far too many dogs as it is. You shouldn't "buy" a dog--you should pay adoption fees for a dog that is already alive and who desperately needs a home. But you sound ill-informed and overly emotional, so maybe a dog would be worse off with you than with somebody else. When my dogs have health problems, I take them to the vet regardless of where I got them, and I won't neglect their health or gripe over the fact that they're sick because they're my babies and I love them and I want them to be healthy. You sound petty and stupid. Ugh. I dislike backyard breeders and I dislike you, too.

I can't really see myself shelling out big bucks for a purebred dog, but if they are properly bred, they can make good pets and show dogs. You might want to check out a rescue organization if you are leery of shelter dogs--if dogs are kept in foster homes, they might not get shelter sicknesses. SPAY AND NEUTER!!! DON'T BUY FROM BACKYARD BREEDERS!!!! SAVE SHELTER DOGS!!!!

Answer 6

Puppy mill$ is right--they are monstrous!!! Puppy-mill dogs, or "backyard breeders'" dogs as you call them, are FAR more likely to carry crippling genetic defects, which may or may not be visible in puppyhood. Shelter dogs are vet-checked, all shots up-to-date, and almost always tested for temperament and genetic defects. A licensed shelter must provide vet care for animals before placing them for adoption, unlike a "backyard breeder" who doesn't have to give them the slightest bit of care and is money-motivated. He/she is not placing an animal in a loving home, but just selling property, and so has every reason to deceive the buyer. Don't buy from puppy mills, pet stores, or "backyard breeders" if you love dogs and want to get a good one. Adopt a shelter dog!

Answer 7

You had a great experience with a "backyard breeder". The problems stems from thousands of these breeders are not knowledgeable or prudent enough to anticipate problems or give appropriate care to the pups.Anytime you buy a pet, there are risks. Even a reputable breeder can have a batch of epileptic pups. Try not to dismiss the pound completely. if you quit with every bad experience you encounter in life, prepare not to enrich your life much. Congratulations on acquiring Buddy.Have a great day.

Answer 8

a backyard breeder is usually someone with out much experience and wants to breed once. I prefer them to breeders who usually have many pets and their dogs are just for breeding.
Just make sure the ***** is well taken care of and has had preventive care.

Answer 9

I agree, my dog is also from a "backyard breeder" and she is pregnant for the second time, matter of fact a lady that took one of the puppies from the last litter brang the dog back so we could see that he was well taken care of and he's gorgeous! Good luck with you and your dog.

Answer 10

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