Why do people have a negative outlook on breeding dogs?

Question

Why is it that when I say that we want to breed our pug puppy when she gets older do people think that we are irresponsible? We are well educated, people who love the breed and want to take the time to do this right! My father breeds Corgi's and hears the same thing.

There are responsible breeders of dogs out there.

Answer 1

Because most people (especially the people who come onto this forum asking breeding questions) are *not* responsible. They don't know the first thing about their breed's function/purpose, or why this matters to how you breed, they don't know anything about the potential genetic problems in their dog's pedigree, or what they should test their own dog for -- and they don't want to know.

Why? Because determining any one of those things could prove the point that their dog should not be bred, and they don't want to hear that. If their dog is purebred, and "has papers", they think it should be bred.

It's not as simple "How do I breed my dog?", and "How do I take care of puppies?" -- there is much (MUCH) to be learned before you even get close to that step, but most people don't want to hear about that. They want puppies now, and they want to sell them, and that's pretty much where it starts and ends.

We see this EVERY DAY, both in this forum and in the myriad phone calls/emails we receive about our breed, and it gets old.

I applaud you for wanting to "take the time to do this right". I really do. But if that's true, you need to take several steps back from "I want to breed my Pug puppy when she's older" and start thinking about this:

1. How do you know she should be bred?
2. What do you know about her pedigree?
3. Do you have a mentor, someone in the breed that can help you answer these questions?
4. What are the most common genetic problems in Pugs, and what tests should your female have to prove that she's not afflicted with them?
5. If she does have a genetic problem or is not a good example of the breed (again, how do you know? Have you researched her pedigree? Shown her? Proven her worthy of breeding?), are you willing to accept the fact that she shouldn't be bred and spay her?

Why does it matter if she's a good example of the breed? Because there are THOUSANDS of Pugs and Pug mixes sitting in shelters right now, and there is no reason to make more if they aren't well bred. She may be an awesome pet, but there are plenty of those sitting in shelters, too.

Answer 2

Yes, there are responsible breeders out there. But as Loki Wolfchild said so VERY well (FANTASTIC ANSWER) many of the folks asking questions here are not responsible.

While there are people who believe that dog breeding is wrong until there are NO homeless dogs left, I am not one of them.

Breeding to improve the breed is the ideal and I realize that not everyone is going to do that. I do think, however, there is a bare minimum for responsible breeding.

I believe that if you choose to breed you should do everything in your power to insure the dogs will have long, healthy, lives and NEVER wind up homeless/in a shelter, pound or rescue.

That means a breeder will make sure the dogs meet the breed standard and have no health issues or carry any genetic health problems and that the ancestors/relatives of the pups are clear of health problems, too. The dogs should also be of good temperament and disposition and so should their relatives.

That also means a breeder will take back a dog at any time for any reason and even be willing to seize a dog that is being neglected/abused. And yes, you can put it in the puppy contract that you have the right to take the dog and make the new owners pay any legal fees.

THAT is being responsible.

Answer 3

Because way too many people are of the backyard breeder variety, especially on here. They don't x-ray hips to check for hip dysplasia or do any other of the proper health and genetic testing. They don't research pedigrees to ensure a good match of sire and dam for a breeding. They're not willing to take a puppy back like a reputable breeder will do, at any time, any age, for any reason. Once the puppy leaves, they don't care what happens, it is no longer their problem.

Many feel that this is not the place to be learning about breeding dogs in the first place. The reason is that you really don't know the qualifications of advice given by some. Lots here say it's okay to breed at 1 yr, but in reality, a dog can't be OFA checked until at least 2 yrs and so until that is done, breeding should not take place.

I can be okay with breeding for "pet quality" if the proper steps are taken to ensure a healthy litter and the breeder is getting someone from the outside, who is an expert on the breeds standard, to verify that the breeding dogs are actually a good example of their breeds and free of faults. Even if you are not showing a dog, you still should be striving for the breed standards in breeding and looking to improve anyway.

Backyard breeders are responsible for so many dogs in rescues and shelters each year. The unethical practices and the desire to make a profit is what causes this mostly. If you breed ethically and do all the proper things, you won't make a profit. That's why so often you hear that "reputable breeders breed for the love of their breed and to better it", because there is no profit in breeding. If there is, then that person is doing something wrong, or not doing something they should.

If you wish to get into breeding, you should find a reputable breeder who will mentor you and help you learn what it takes to do it ethically. YA isn't really a good place to start, but many do anyway.

Answer 4

A lot of people are hostile towards breeding dogs, because sometimes it seems like dogs are being exploited to provide puppies for profit, rather than living a full and happy life. Many have heard stories about a friend of a friend who knew a guy that was abusive to his animals whilst breeding them, and this perhaps makes them resentful to the entire practice of breeding.
I personally believe that so long as the breeders are responsible and good to the dogs then breeding is a respectable and friendly profession.

Answer 5

Simple-many breeders do not breed for the betterment of the breed. So many pure bred puppies are being born with health problems that show up later in life that could have been prevented if the breeder had been responible and had genetic testing for health certificates. You cannot base breeding stock on how beautiful a dog is. One must consider long term health and temperament also.

Answer 6

You can be a good person and responsible about he way you raise your dogs and I will not fight that. BUT. There are enough homeless dogs in the world. Unless you are keeping every one of the dogs you breed, you are providing more puppies to the market, which causes less people to rescure the puppies in shelters. While you are pampering these new lives you have created and making money shipping them off, there are great dogs in shelters, pedigreed or not, who were brought into the world for someone else's whim and now have to sit in a tiny cage for the rest of their life. If you truly cared about the breed I would say adopt all your dogs, and if you must breed, keep the puppies for the rest of their lives. If you are financially capable of that, bravo to you. But don't add to the problem and claim to be a person who cares about dogs unless you are doing something about the problem as well.

Answer 7

It has nothing to do with your education or the fact that you guys are responsible. It has to do with the fact that there are THOUSANDS of dogs in homeless shelters. People that breed ANY type of dog are just adding to that number, also allowing other dogs to be euthanized because shelters can only hold so many and afford so much. Maybe you don't know...? Please, go visit a shelter. See all of the wonderful loving dogs that are already here that NEED love. Then ask the shelter visitors why there are so many... Please reconsider breeding dogs. Stop trying to make money off of these animals, because that's ALL it's about. Don't try and tell me different because I've seen full bred Corgi's at shelters, I've also seen full bred Labs, boxers, and beagles..... Please go visit a shelter and find a new way to make money or pull in extra income.

Answer 8

The problem first arose when unique breeds were first created. To select for one trait, others issues arose, and the more inbred the breed of dog, the more health and genetic problems there are. There are very good breeders out there who track relationships and try to inbreed as little as possible. There are also many people who breed with no regard to the dogs' health just to sell the puppies (puppy mills).

There are also MANY dogs (and cats) that have no homes and often wind up in dog pounds where they end up being euthenized because of overpopulation. Both arguments often arise when "the man on the street" meets up with someone who breeds animals for a living.

Answer 9

Have you done genetic testing of your lines? What kind of health guarentee will you offer? How will you screen your buyers? What is your purpose in breeding? Is it just to make money? "Responsible" breeders know that they will probably lose money or if they're lucky, break even on most of their litters because of the costs involved. People have a negative outlook because there are so many dogs in shelters, and rescue agencies that need good homes. If you want to do a breed a favor, take in those that are already alive instead of creating more.

Answer 10

Geee Thanks YoLO...LOL

It's not the thought that you are considering breeding that aggrevates alot of people. It's the fact that most "pet" owners have no idea what is involved in raising healthy quality pups.

Are you aware of the general health issues that afflict the pug? How about breed specific health issues? Genetic testing that should be done prior to even considering breeding? Did your pup come from health tested parents?

Just because a dog is capable of having puppies and homes have been found for them, that does not make one a responsible breeder.

Below is a link that might give you a little insight into somethings you might not be aware of.