Do you find it acceptable for a breeder to put down puppies who do not come up to standard?

Question

(Not up to standard in appearance)

For example according to breed standard a boxer should not have more than 1/3 white coloring as the white coloring has been bred out of them by design. Is it ok with you that white boxers or too much white boxers are sometimes put down. (May I add that they are not albinos). This is done for the "betterment of the breed", a phrase we see a lot on this forum.

Answer 1

I believe they should be spayed or neutered at an early age (and I normally don't agree with juvienile neutering and spaying) and sold as pet quality. It keeps them from being bred back into the gene pool. However, I also think the genetic background of the parents needs to be explored because they shouldn't be producing mismarked offspring. Once they figure which parent is contributing the mismarking, he or she (or both) should also be spayed and neutered. That would satisify both sides of the arguement (betterment of the breed and animal rights).

Answer 2

*Most* boxer breeders haven't done this for decades. The only exception are some of the old timers in teh breed. Many years ago, it was against the breed code of ethics to sell or even give away whites are they were a breed disqualification. This did not stop breeeders from quietly and secretly giving awaying those pups. It was hoped that the white could be bred away from, but this was a result of not understanding color genetics. Now, puppies are allowed to be sold and placed by the parent club, but not as breeding animals since they do not meet the standard for a boxer. A breed standard is necessary if you are to keep all our wonderful breeds of dogs, for without the breeding guideline to adhere to, we would lose the great breeds we all love. As far as putting otherwise healthy pups down, I would never and I know no other breeders that would ever do that. Speuter them, yes, but kill? no.

Answer 3

I think most would be appalled to know a breeder may put down a dog that did not meet standard. Unfortunately, there probably are those backyard breeders and puppy mills that destroy less than desirable specimens: ones that may not be the right color, or mildly deformed or blind or deaf. And whats sad is they usually end up that way Do To POOR BREEDING in the first place!
Which is why if someone is looking for a purebred dog, always do your research and find a reputable breeder- every time time you buy a puppy from a store or backyard breeder, you are condemning more litters to be born into miserable conditions and probably be sickly dogs.

Most reputable breeders don't put those types of dogs down, they sell them as "companion" dogs- keeping the best that do meet the appropriate standards for show and breeding purposes. These companion animals are usually sold on a spay and neuter contract to help control and ensure the breed standard continues.

Answer 4

What you all fail to realize here is that a breeder will cull a puppy or an entire litter if need be and if he is a responsible breeder because he does not want to create more crap dogs for people to deal with. It is also his reputation as a breeder that is no the line. If people see these types of dogs being produced by him, then what does that say about his breeding practices? People need to wake up and realize that breeding crap dogs and allowing these dogs to go on and reproduce does not do the breed a favor. And stop being so hypocritical. When you talk about breeding ONLY to better the breed, what does that mean? That you allow dogs that have problems to go on? That you will let these dogs be sold and maybe breed more of the same crap dogs? Bettering the breed means that you WILL cull puppies and litters if these puppies are not up to the standard. And I am not just talking about colors, I am talking about more then that. And for those of you that are comparing humans to dogs, realize that we are not the same, never will be.

Answer 5

Absolutely not, but some people get away with murder, quite literally. The only acceptable reason to put down a dog is due to health problems as far as I am concerned, or a viscious dog that is a danger to others. As stated earlier, the parents are carrying the "bad gene", so putting down some of their offspring is not going to make any difference, since all the offspring from that mating can carry the gene to the next generation. It's time that breeders were held responsible for their actions, maybe some of them should be put down, or at least out away.

Answer 6

No I do not think it's morally acceptable to put a dog down for appearance. Health issues, like a pup with a cleft palate who can't nurse and is slowly starving to death, is a completely different ball of wax. To "better the breed", the breeder would be better off spaying and neutering the parents, as well as insisting ALL offspring be fixed (not just the overly white ones)-as throwing too much white is genetic and will happen again in future litters. Just killing off the white ones is pointless, the littermates also carrry the white gene and will pass it on, as will pups from any future breedings.

Answer 7

I think it is wrong to put a dog down under those circumstances. That puppy does not change the blood line if the breeder finds it does not meet standard so chooses not to breed that particular puppy. I know two breeders that immediately fix any puppy that does not meet standards. They then sell that puppy for a lesser price to a good home. Technically that gene is going to be there in that blood line no matter how many you put down, or fix. It will show up later on down the line. So should we put down the entire blood line when one comes out wrong?? Simply fixing the animal will produce the same adjustment in the breed over time.

Answer 8

I personally believe it is unnecessary to breed these poor animals to fit the standards of what is in style and what crap the judges are looking for. The not up to standards could be fixed and given to people for pets or even sold for the price of the neutering. It is wrong to breed dogs to fit styles and show rings. Look what they have done to German Shepard's and rotties etc.Just because some fruity tooty says it is in style for poodles to walk with a limp this season doesn't mean it has to be done.Get a life dog show people and stop the abuse of these animals. Look at the hip problems etc. in dogs bred only for show.That is cruelty and they should be charged.I used to breed Border Collies and when they showed no desire to herd or could not be trained as herding dogs I had them fixed and sold or gave them away as loving loyal pets and not as herding dogs.That was my idea of betterment of the bred. That may not be every ones solution but I didn't slaughter them off because they had a colour issue.Dog breeding for show is wrong anyway and has destroyed some beautiful breeds.

Answer 9

I think that is just cruel. If they dont want the pups all they have to do is put an ad in the paper and sell them for 1/2 the price of the ones they want to sell for more money. Or even find them a good home for free. I just feel that is animal cruelity.

Answer 10

I myself could not do it, BUT I do understand the reasoning for it. If I, you, or any person who bred certain breeds and they came out with wrong colors you can't sell them for full price, and if sold as AKC you can't do so because of the rules and regulations about coloring, size, and body frame. (I bought a deaf Great Dane from a breeder and I could have taken him back but I didn't) I assumed what could have happened, either he could have resold, kept him or god forbid, put down. Oh, yes and my question to you would be what would you do with the ones you cannot sell and you cannot take any more to the shelter because you took a few too many from the other litters ? [ I had a stray cat that kept having litters in my trash cans, and after I took the Lil fellas to the shelters, BUT after I took the second group, they told me that after the second group they told me I would be put on a list of cat breeders ummmm not my cat and I ain't breedin' em.]