If you breed a litter of dogs what and how much do you feel is appropriate to "give back" to dogs?

Question

OK... don't know if that made sense. But I know that a lot of responsible breeders say things like "I've rescued more dogs than I've bred" or "If you breed dogs you should also be helping with the pet overpopulation problem."

So I'm considering getting a dog. This would be a show dog who would be bred (after titles and genetic testing). I'm at the very early stages of even considering this, but I want to make sure I know precisely what I'd be getting in to.

This is a personal question. I know that nobody can say for someone else what is "enough" in terms of "giving back" to dogs when you've produced a litter of puppies.

But I do agree that if you produce a litter of puppies you should be responsible for those pups for their life and also do something for homeless dogs.

So, for you, what do you think is appropriate to give back to dogs when you breed?

Answer 1

I do not have any room to foster dogs in need of homes but the local shelter does have my number and I have placed dogs on my website and found homes for a few of them and have even driven to meet new owners half way on a few occasions. I do not give back in regards to homeless dogs as much as I wish I could but I will not cut my own plans, dreams, hobbies short to clean up others messes. I do what I can with out bringing them home.
What I do in terms of giving back is a lot of breeder support and educating people of all breeds how to be responsible owners. I have spent god knows how many thousands of hours on the phone with total strangers discussing vaccines, feeding, training and proper care and anything else I have learned over the years that they might want to know. I have helped plenty of people see the light about breeding. Many others, refuse to be educated but now and then someone actually listens and makes it all worth while.
I do not like it when a breeder or a group of breeders make these criteria that if you are going to breed then you have to rescue. There are many other ways to give back and not only do I not have the time or room for stray/homeless dogs. I do not want them at my house with my show dogs and or newborn litters bringing in god knows what kinds of diseases to my yard. Most rescues have little history. If I did not show or breed, I would bring in dogs all day long to help re-home them. But I do and like I said, I will not let other peoples messes destroy what I want and what I am doing.
I stick to trying to educate people for my 'giving back' and of course I take responsibility for my pups for their entire lives and build friendships with all new owners.

Answer 2

First, I'd like to say it is so refreshing to hear that someone wants to go above and beyond what they already know they should do. I agree with previous answers that the best thing you can do is to make sure through extremely careful screening of owners that your pups get good, permanent homes and that you are willing to take back any dogs that have to be returned or act as a resource so that returns can be averted. If you feel like you want to do even more for homeless dogs that were not bred by you, you could sponsor dogs at the local shelter to buy them some time, you can donate food or dog supplies, or volunteer to work at adoption events. Contact a shelter or a rescue group and ask in what ways you could help, and I'm sure they will have something for you. Good luck with your breeding!

Answer 3

First, any puppy that I place as a pet is required to be spayed/neutered. If I deem it a pet and the people only want a pet, then there should be no problem with everyone being in agreement about sterilizing that pup.

I don't breed often, have had gaps of 2 years up to 20 years between litters that I produced.

I am also very, very involved in rescue of my breed. I am President and co-founder of two organized rescue groups in two different states. I always have rescued foster dogs at my home, currently there are 6. I try my best to educate people about the benefits of spaying/neutering pets, helping with the over population of unwanted pets by not making more, and, when interest is there, I will mentor someone wanting to get into showing dogs.

I also work part-time in a grooming shop so my life is pretty much dogs 24/7.

Answer 4

IMO, you can give back to dogs by making sure they get the best possible home with people who are experienced with dogs and have a stable family (not a couple who may get divorced, a single person who works all of the time, people who want a dog because "it's what you do when you have a family") therefore, you won't be contributing to the pet overpopulation and you won't have to worry as much about the pups ending up in shelters.

It's up to you whether you decide to give back, if you are looking into breeding and showing (which is very costly, time consuming, but very rewarding) you may not have the space or expenses to rescue a lot of dogs to try and 'make up' for all the litters you produce.

Answer 5

You need to do what you can. But only what you can, or it is not fair to your own dogs, to yourself, and even to the rescues that you have if you stretch yourself too thin.

My resources are limited at the moment, space, time and money, so I can't do a lot of fostering etc, but I will not turn away a basset in need. I have taken in unwanted bassets at the drop of a hat and worked through the rescue to place them in new homes.

The only exception would be if it put my own dogs at risk, like if I had puppies at the time and the dog might carry illness. Even then I'd try my best to arrange something to make sure the dog was safe.

If you can't take in dogs or foster, perhaps you can get involved in transports, or screening homes, or volunteering at fundraising events, or get into the administrative side of rescue. If nothing else, you can send a bit of money every now and then, or donate items for use by the rescue or for raffles and draws, and refer people looking for a dog of your breed to the rescue whenever appropriate.

It's the responsible breeders that help to clean up the mess left by the BYBs and puppymills.

Answer 6

I would say donate what you can. This doesn't have to be a money value. It could be your time at a local shelter or vet clinic. It could be food or supplies. Every little bit helps. I think that even people that don't breed their dogs should do this. I know I help when I can.

So I suggest giving what is in your means. Contact your local shelter, rescue groups, and so on to see what help or supplies they need. There's no real number I or anyone else can really give you. Just help when and where you can and as much as you can and often.

Answer 7

I show and breed, always have my puppies back if there is a problem, and am there on the end of the phone or in person (difficult with one dog who went to Spain!) to offer help and advice.

What I also do is take in mainly dogs of my breed and re-home them after a period of assesment. I pride myself on the fact that I know where every one of my 34 puppies and the 8 older dogs I have had in are - I recieve photos and updates from them all on a regular basis and if the owners don't get in touch with me I get in touch with them.

I feel that by taking in and re-homing dogs of my breed I am giving something back and it does give me a huge amount of satisfaction.

If you go down the breeding and/or rehoming route you need to make sure you have plenty of room and possibly a range of outdoor kennels as you never know how many dogs you will have in at any given time. It is of course easier with small dogs, but as my breed is large breed I have to accept that I can't keep every dog who comes into me in the house. Also, you may not be able to sell your puppies - I am lucky in that I have waiting lists for my pups but I know of breeders who still have puppies unsold at 6 months old. This is something you need to be aware of.

Answer 8

Interesting question.
The main thing that springs to mind, though, is, by all means carefully choose a line - breeder - litter - dog with the intention of showing. Hopefully you and your pet will do well in the ring......but bear in mind that just because you own a good show dog, there is STILL no reason for you to 'have' to breed from it. I think it is slightly poor taste to be thinking of your dogs litter(s) before IT'S parents have even mated!
lol But I love the fact you are thinking carefully about the whole thing. I don't know the answer - you must do what feels comfortable to your conscience. =)

Answer 9

I believe you have a responsibility to give back to the breed you are producing. So, I work in purebred rescue specifically (although I also work with about any dog that catches my interest... lol).

Some breeders donate the price of one puppy to purebred rescue. Some assist the rescue with training, fostering, vet appointments, grooming etc... I'm one of the people who will take off work to go help look for a stray (someone saw a Samoyed living in the woods... I brought a b*tch in season... Viola!!! caught him!). I choose to work on the things I'm best at... right now that means training and grooming.

Edit: Erin, people who want a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder do NOT go to shelters.

Answer 10

i think of human beings would desire to enable the issue drop. by using bringing it up many times, you're basically bringing greater interest to the undeniable fact that persons are springing up those canines - and undesirable interest is comparable to reliable interest. i think of the completed themes would desire to be no longer the canines themselves, or the undeniable fact that they are mutts, however the completed theory that folk can get a canine from everywhere and basically breed, breed, breed. even although impressive high quality breeders have spay/neuter contracts as do maximum shelters, there is often the thank you to get a "purebred" canine and bypass it with yet another for earnings. i think of human beings would desire to concentration greater on spreading the be conscious approximately how risky and severe priced breeding somewhat is, and take a check out to locate the thank you to make THAT total theory disappear. If unethical breeders have been to be worn out, we does not have this issue. And by using worn out i propose no longer able to acquire canines to reproduce - no longer kill! yet which would be a hard feat to end and can in all probability require the government moving into out lives yet all over returned....