Legit breeders vs. amateurs - Is it still all about money?

Question

Do you think deliberate breeding by the pros is necessary to continue the purity of breeds, or should breeding be even more tightly regulated? How do you feel about fines for non-registered (Backyard) breeders who breed just for cash? Any informed opinions out there? My granddaughter is writing a paper for school about pet overpopulation. Thanks for your input.

Thanks to MJ and St.Lady for "the rest of the story." We need to hear what it's like in other parts of the U.S. We have no leash laws in this county, and loads of backyard breeders. My grandaughter lives in the country, where unwanted animals are constantly drowned, shot or dumped out to fend for themselves. Her family has 16 dogs because of this, all breeds and mixed. Only one AC officer for the entire county.

As for GitEm, I'm not doing her homework for her, moron. She's 11 and not allowed on internet forums like this because of jerks like you. I do the post, she does the work, you provide the harassment, it proves my point to her.

Answer 1

I guess some would consider me a backyard breeder. I own Saint Bernards. I am one of only a few breeders in my state of Pa. I certainly don't do it for the money. I have spent THOUSANDS more on my dogs than most do on their children. I only breed a dam twice in her lifetime and only to top quality sires that I feel best match to the standard. I may go years without a litter. I don't throw away puppies. If I cant find suitable homes I keep them. I also have included in my sales agreement any unwanted pup is to be returned to me. I have even bought them back. Any animal I own that is not to be bred is fixed and kept as a family pet. I currently have seven dogs, five are fixed and pets only two are for breeding and they wont be ready for another year. It will cost me much more than I could make on the pups. I do it because I love the breed, NOT to make money. I will not purchase a dog from anyone if I feel they are in it for the money. I do feel more breeders should register their dogs as limited. If the breeders don't take more responsibility in this area all breeds will be of lower quality.

Answer 2

Of course breeding is neccessary to continue the breeds.

The problem with regulations or fines is that they mostly punish the reputable breeders.

1. The uncaring owners will still not care, you cannot legislate ethics or morals. They well still let there dogs roam and breed on the street, and they will still let Fifi have puppies. If caught they will just say "its not MY dog" or "its a stray we took in". They don't CARE if their dogs are seized. WHY would you think they would comply with such laws?

2. The thugs do not care if they are within the law or not and will continue breeding. WHY would you think they would trot on in to comply with such laws?

3. The good, concientious breeders, who love their dogs and are law abiding citizens, will mostly try to comply. THAT is who is hurt by such laws.

If you want an example of anti-breeding laws, look at LA county. There are STILL unwanted litters/dogs, the numbers aren't dropping! The AC can't bother ENFORCING the leash law so dogs are STILL making their own breeding decisions on the streets. The uncaring owners and the thugs are NOT trotting on in to comply. And the show/performance breeders are having to HIDE OUT LIKE COMMON CRIMINALS for fear of their dogs being seized!!! Is that FAIR???

So now that breeding is becoming rare in LA, they have a HUGE problem with smuggled sickly mexican puppies. Well, DUH!!! People WILL buy puppies somewhere! I am not a big fan of commercially bred puppies, but better a CB or BYB puppy than one from a country with little or no laws against abuse/neglect.

And how do you decide who is in it for the money? Do you have AC go from door to door to look at receipts? How much money made is to much, $10? $100? Do they have to be show dogs? Then what about the people that breed for performance sports? What about rare breeds who are not yet recognized by AKC and can't be shown at AKC events?

What does work is ENFORCING the already existing LEASH LAWS! Do you know that (country wide) the number of purebred (purposefully bred) dogs in shelters is 7%? The rest are from irresponsible owners, most of which get pregnant while roaming the streets! Do you also know that some shelters don't have enough adoptable dogs and have to import dogs from other shelters? Do you know that some shelters have very high demands (like the owner being home 24/7) from potential adoptees which makes adoption impossible for many people? If the shelters were more reasonable, less people would be turned down, resulting in more adoptions.

The REAL problem is not breeders. It is irresponsible owners who let their dogs wander and make yet more unwanted dogs. And the owners who give their dogs up to the shelter because they are to stupid or lazy to train and care for their animals. An ENFORCED leash law would drop the numbers drastically. It would also have a huge impact on the number of dog attacks, many resulting from dogs that have been reported as roaming and dangerous, yet AC does NOTHING about them!!! If they had HUGE fines and a court appearance for a wandering dog getting picked up, you BET they would keep their dogs confined. And the people who don't bother getting their dog back from AC, probably shouldn't have a dog as they are the uncaring owners who are part of the problem.

Go after the REAL problem, I am sick and tired of hiding out with my dogs and fighting anti-dog laws like you are proposing! I know your heart is in the right place, but anti-breeding laws just do not work.

Here are some links you might find helpful.

Petlaw.com
naiaonline.org
animalscam.com
activistcash.com

Answer 3

Amateurs breeders are there for the money. They don't have any interest on the dogs other than the profit. The more they breed, the more profit they get.

Professional breeders tend to care more about the animal and the breed, the dangers involved in overbreeding, and normally these are people that do it for the love of the breed and they profit of training and kennel fees.

Good Luck on your paper!

Answer 4

Your granddaughter has a great theory --- fine the b---t----ds!!! I am not overly fond of the Big Boys, but at least they take care of the unwanted pups and strive to keep the medical problems down. Backyard breeders are strictly in it for the money, and don't care if the pup they sell dies tomorrow, or bites a kid, or costs the new owner a fortune in vet bills, or if the six unwanted ones wind up at the pound, (or in my shelter.) I think it would be great if they were held responsible. I have no idea how it would be enforced, but get your granddaughter working on it :-)

Answer 5

I agree with Jake, there's a lot of "pros" that are just in it for the money as well. I had an aunt that was into some breed, the shows, all that stuff. She knew a lot about the dogs, but it was all about the money. She jacked her prices up so high, couldn't sell the dogs. It's sad......

Answer 6

First....tell the kid to DO HER *OWN* HOMEWORK!!! You're NOT doing her any favor!!!

Second.....REPUTABLE breeders do *NOT* make money.They LOSE IT!!! Pouring back any pup sales into feed,vet bills,show entries,handling,advetising, grooming,improving stock,stud fees,maintanence....

Remember that "Manhattan" GSD? His owner spent *MILLIONS* to make him the ALL-TIME TOP-WINNING GSD!! ***MILLIONS*** & KNEW she'd NEVER come close to getting that back!

Answer 7

they both want money! but the professionals understand medical conditions that are genetic (or should). amateurs just know what is cute!