Argh...backyard breeding....?

Question

You wouldn't consider this to be a backyard horrible breeder would you?

-Cares for each puppy as own
-Does not show.
-Has the dogs inspected by vet and checked.
-Does NOt NOT NOT breed for money.
-Checks up on the puppies every month after they leave and make sure that if the new owners cannot keep the pup it returns straight back.
-Has healthy dogs and pups
-Only breeds their female once every two years.
-Takes the pups to the vet for check ups or if they become ill.
-Helps the female deliver pups if needed.

Also nothing to do with breeding but shows they understand what happens to pound dogs.
-Volunteers at the local shelters.
-Donates and raises money for the shelters.

Would you consider that to be a horrible self centered backyard breeder?

Yeah this happened to me...

I guess some people are too quick to judge on here without letting me explain everything.

Thanks you guys, I was getting worried.

I know I don't show my dogs..but I'm going to get into here next year.

Basset hounds. I only have a litter a year or every two years.

My adults are in perfect conditions. They have never had a health problem in their life. None are under or over weight. Which is surprising because most people who have Bassets have an over wieght one. But I work hard and excercise mine.

Answer 1

Two main faults I see: 1) Does not breed dogs for any other purpose besides the fact that they make "good companions". 2) There has been no genetic testing done. In our society where there are several million dogs and cats euthanized each year, it's crucial that dogs are bred for a working/show purpose. Note, that does not mean conformational shows are the be all end all. Working dogs, such as Schutzhund dogs, have every right to breed as a show dog. However, with unprecedented cases of CHD and other illnesses, it's imperative that a good breeder genetically test their dog. THIS is what real breeding is about - breeding the BEST specimens you possibly can to improve the overall breed.

Basset hounds are prone to several problems:
CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia) - Statistically, out of 186 Basset Hounds tested, 36% had clinical signs of CHD. That is *frightening*. There are several ways to test for CHD, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (offa.org) and PennHip (UPenn's Hip Improvement Program).
Eye problems - can be prevented from continuing in a bloodline via testing through the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (www.vmdb.org/cerf.html).
von Willebrands - a genetic blood disorder (can be detected in an antigen test)

You may not read this in its entirety, but I want you to understand that these are the diseases you are potentially passing on to future generations with every litter that you do not test. It's obvious you love Bassets, so please do the right thing and breed the right way. I hope you read this, and I hope you continue posting!

Answer 2

You have to understand that the people who yell the loudest about back yard breeders are just greedy ones who want to make a profit off their own dogs. Ignore them. If you take care of your pets and they are pets then you are fine. I get kind of frustrated when I see the breeders who treat dogs like livestock. I would take a "Backyard breeder" any day over the professional ones who only breed livestock not pets. You are fine.
And nobody breeds for money. Goodness! I have a revolving charge acct at the vets! I spend more on dogs than I do on my mortgage.

Answer 3

Sound like you care for the dogs, but another part of being a good breeder is to try to improve the breed. Have you had your dog's hips, knees, elbows, eyes checked? The ideal job of a breeder is to choose the best (most genetically sound) dogs and breed them together to get a better dog. Otherwise, why would you be doing it, since there are some many puppies in shelters.

Answer 4

In working dogs, whichever form the working line takes is usually the way the dog looked and behaved 100 years ago and is the way the dog should remain. The show line dogs should be taken out of the breeding gene pool because a working dog, who can't work, isn't a breed of dog, it's useless. A lab that can't retrieve ducks isn't a lab, it's a mongrel that looks pretty similar to a lab. A border collie with 30 pounds of fur topping in at 80 pounds and is afraid of sheep isn't a BC, it's as useful as the giant pomeranian you mentioned! God I wish we could forcefully take over the presidency of the AKC!!! LOL!!!

Answer 5

I would consider them a good but misguided person with good intentions. While their intentions may not be too add to the problem but to preserve a breed or whatever other intention they may have, they are in fact taking away homes that could go to other homeless dogs (which include most pure breeds along with mutts). Dogs are gassed at shelters, homeless on streets and in pounds or rescue groups with no where to go (but testing labs, cruel abusers, the streets, or the back (death) rooms of shelters. Bringing more dogs into the world filling homes that the homeless dogs could fill instead doesn't seem right even if it is good that the person is aware of the aspect of how the breeding world SHOULD be in a perfect world (if there weren't already animals in need) and aware of the current problem and helpful and sympathetic to it, though they still shouldn't add to it even if their heart is in the right place or especially if it really is in the right place.

Answer 6

The fact that *your* particular Bassets "have never had a problem in their life" (how old are they?) is immaterial. Do you know what kind of genetic problems exist in their pedigree?

Are you 100% CERTAIN they aren't carrying those problems? How do you know?

3DogMom gave you great information. I can't respect any "breeder" who doesn't do genetic testing. Breeding just for pets doesn't make sense to me, either (how do you know what you're breeding is correct if you don't show or work it?), but I can accept it much easier if the dogs making those "just pets" have been through genetic testing.

Answer 7

Kind of depends on what you are breeding? How many? And what is the health of the parents? You never mentioned them at all.

Are you creating "designer" breeds like Labradoodles (ridiculous).? Are the parents vet checked and healthy?

Caring for the puppies is one aspect...but there is a lot more that needs to be thought about.

Why do you ask?

Answer 8

I find nothing wrong with this scenario. Show breeders only breed a small percentage of pet dogs. If we only relied on show breeders for puppies there would not be enough to go around. I think as long as the person is knowledgeable and takes care of their dogs there is nothing wrong with it. Many people have come by loving pets from breeders such as you are describing.

Answer 9

my question is.. why arent they showing? Are these working dogs? If they arent show or work, they should not be bred. There's no reason to use a dog for breeding if you cant proove that it meets its standard, or can do what its bred to do.

Going to the vet is good, but is she doing genetic health testing? OFA, to check for things like hip displasia or luxating patella? CERF to check for eye problems like PRA and luxating lens? Howabout Optigen?

Sounds like she's doing everything right otherwise.

I am assumming taht she will take the pups back ANYTIME, even as an adult.

Some good things to see too:

minimum 2 year health guarantee
microchipping
altering any "pet" pups (if feasable), or at least requiring a s/n contract

Answer 10

some people love dogs, some peolpe love money. it's good you can love puppies and you understand the meaning of a dog. but some people out there (puppy mills) are just horrible