Why would you breed puppies?!?

Question

Sorry if you're a dog breeder, actually I'm not! Why would you breed puppies when there is hundereds and hundreds, probably millions of abandoned and unwanted dogs in the world!? I have four rescue dogs and they are so sweet!!!!!

Answer 1

Because I work my dogs and require that they have the type (structure, size, amount of coat etc..) and temperament suitable for their job. I also require that I know how they are raised. I cannot afford to spend hours and hours training a dog (usually worth $15,000-$20,000 after training.. and I give them away) only to find out its hips or temperament were not strong enough to do the work.

Answer 2

I am very active in rescue efforts and agree there are too many bad irresponsible breeders and puppy mills, but I don't think not breeding at all is the answer to the problem. (Gonna put some things in caps, due to my passion, not being mad, it is a really great question you ask:) )

I WANT TO HAVE IT MADE ILLEGAL TO SELL PUPPIES FROM PET STORES. I also wish more people would go to shelters, but I also wish there were more GOOD REPUTABLE BREEDERS out there would work to breed healthy stable dogs and keep good lines of their chosen breeds alive. Without planned breedings those great dog lines would be lost. A good breeder cares about the home their dogs go to and will inform the buyers about the best breed for them. If they stopped breeding all together because of full shelters, there would only be bad BYB making new pairings and litters happen. Good breeders always are willing to take back a dog they sell, and if people still dump them in the pound it is not their choice. A strong spay/neuter contract can go a long way to stopping unwanted litters from ever happening. Often owners don't bring the dog to the breeder because they don't want to admit they're at fault. To not breed at all? That solves nothing.

I would love to see a time where all puppy buyers got their dogs from wonderful educated breeders that screened the buyers and were a source of information to keep going back to for help if needed. I HAVE WORKED IN SPCA SHELTERS AND MOST OF THE YOUNG DOGS IN THE SHELTER WERE SURRENDERED BETWEEN 8M AND 1 1/2 YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO TRAINING. A good breeder will educate the buyer on training needs of the breed and be a good person to turn to if problems arise. They will not sell a dog to someone without giving them lots of information on the breed they buy. Most breeders I know are also involved in breed rescue and will be happy to help re-home one of their dogs or suggest a good private breed rescue, rather then see it end up in a shelter.

The main reason I hear people tell me why they got their dog from the pet store or BYB was because they knew the exact breed they wanted and could not find one in a shelter or rescue in a reasonable amount of time, or had a lot of trouble finding a puppy. It is often less frustrating to just hand over the cash to the pet store or BYB then search endlessly for a Pom pup, or young GSD they are dreaming of ect. People have a habit of following the path of least resistance.

IN FACT I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE MORE BREEDERS OF THE BEST KIND, THEN LESS, EVEN NOW AS SHELTERS ARE STILL ADOPTING ANIMALS. I wish the practice of searching out a breeder who works to protect and improve the breed was the norm, not the exception in this country. If there were more good breeders, and a ban on pet stores selling dogs, we would have fewer and fewer puppy mills that way.

Answer 3

Reputable breeders breed their dogs to improve the breed. They chose only the best specimens to breed, dogs that conform to the breed standard, have the correct temperament, have been tested for genetic issues known in the breed, etc.

Rescue dogs make great pets, but aren't from the best breedings (both mutt and purebred rescue dogs). Many people want a purebred dog for specific reasons, such as a dog that was bred to do a job. For example: If you want a herding dog, you'll have a much better chance of being successful if you get a dog that is from a breed bred to do that job and also that came from a pedigree of relatives that also excelled at the job.

Reputable breeders do not contribute to the animal shelter population. A good breeder takes responsibility for all animals they produce, and has a contract that the animal should *never* go to a shelter, if the buyer no longer wants the animal, it goes back to the breeder.

Many breeders support rescues as well. I know the breeder I got my dog from has a link to a papillon rescue group in the signature of all the emails she sends out.

Educate people about puppymills and backyard breeders, which is where most of these dogs come from. Don't blame the reputable breeders for a problem they didn't create.

EDIT:
RE: "Even with the best of intentions, there is no way of knowing what happens after they sell an animal!"
> Actually, my breeders (the owner of the sire and the owner of the dame, 2 different people) know exactly what is going on with my dog. Good breeders keep in touch with the people they sell their puppies to.
.

Answer 4

Because some people show and compete in dog events and want a certain breed to do that. Some people also want to start with a puppy, and NOT an adult dog.
I breed, I am active in my breed rescue, and I work at a shelter. I do my share for the homeless and unwanted animals. There are too many and always will be unless people spay and neuter their PETS.
I breed a litter every couple years. Last one was in 2005. I am not the one filling the shleters.
Getting a shelter or rescue dog is great, but it does not have to be the choice for everyone. If dogs were bred with more responsibility, there would be way less of them. If BYB were REQUIRED to take lifelong responsiibility for ALL the puppies they produce, you would see a lot less BYB!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

This is an awesome question that a responsable breeder will not be offended by, however will have an answer to.

I admire people who do rescue. I have done rescue all along up until about a year ago. I actually bought a pure bred puppy. I am glad that i found a responsable breeder who does not take breeding her dogs lightly. She considers it very serious, takes lots of time with perspective buyers and does not hesitate to turn people away no matter how green their money is. She is not in it for money, she is in it to breed better dogs. I admire that as well. Her females are only bred a couple of times in their lives, and if one of her dogs does not fit the ideals of the breed, they are altered and placed in pet homes where she keeps in touch and they are loved.

She does it for the bettering of the breed.

Why people breed mutts... i do not know for sure.

I always have done rescue. Pug/lab from abusive home. German shep from abusive home. Yellow lab mix from kill shelter. Lab/ coonhound mix from kill shelter.
I fell in love with the Rhodesian Ridgeback about ten years ago, and it has taken me this long to get to a place in my life where i felt i could handle another big dog. I have no regrets that i did not do a rescue this time. I am glad his breeder bred him. I wish more breeders would be as responsable... then there would more than likely be less puppies in the world, and they would all have homes.

For new dog owners, i always recomend an older rescue. It is a great way to start.

Answer 6

ok well....it is ok to breed ADULT DOGS if you are trying to help the breed but it is NOT ok to breed just because you want to or because you "need money" if you do it the right way more times than not you find your self practicly broke! why? because breeding is a HOBBY not something you have live off of!!! You have to PROVE your dogs aer good breeding stock!! The only way to do that is by showing it and getting it's OFAs done and renning all the tests possable! Then when the time comes to breed and you have been responsable enough to prove them as good quality then you find a stud to breed to and be sure that the stud has been proven as well! THEN when you have puppies bring them to vet and have the all checked out and the dam of the litter then when they are ready to go to new homes you screen the homes and make sure the dog would be a good fit for the famialy and then if it is pet quality you sell it on limmited registration and a spay/neuter contract and a return contract (so if things don't work out the dog gose back to you instead of the pound!) then if they are show quality (it will take longer to find them dedicated show homes) but you find someone who is willing to show the dog and again put the dog on a return contract! THEN you will know how hard it is if you do it the right way! these BYBs are puppy mills are in it for the money none of there dogs are proven or have std tests and shots the puppies somtimes have there 1st shots (if you are lucky) and they are selling for way more than the dog is worth because they do not care at all what happens to the puppies when they go to new homes!

Answer 7

Well, if people would spay and neuter their dogs that aren't registered and purebred, we wouldn't have so many strays. I love mutts and yes, I feel so bad that there are so many unwanted animals that are euthanized every day! However, I also have a great passion foro purebred dogs and I would like to become a breeder. Some people have both purebreds and mixed breeds. It's just so important to spay and neuter all mixes and spay and neuter purebreds that you don't plan to SHOW or BREED or if there is a risk of them being bred by a neighbor's dog. People just need to be more responsible. The biggest problem is these idiots that breed dogs TO MAKE MONEY! To me, breeding dogs shouldn't be anything about that. It should be to breed purebreds that have wonderful breed characteristics and/or extremely wonderful personalites. And breeders should only have the amount of dogs that they can give tons of individual attention to and not be a "puppy mill"! I have 2 Shelties. One is a boy and the other a girl. They aren't fixed and I just bred them. I don't have to work so they are like my kids and I'm around them 24/7. The one is show quality and has a great tempermant while the other isn't as show quality but is extraordinary in agility and obedience and has an unusually outgoing, loving personality. They compliment each other well. I will keep a pup and have homes lined up for atleast 3 of the pups without them being even born. These people agreed to spay/neuter them (limited registration). So don't tell me that I don't love dogs, that I'm stupid and don't know what I'm doing because these two dogs will have wonderful puppies! I am also looking into being a foster parent for Sheltie resuce groups. You did a wonderful thing by adopting rescue dogs but please don't prejudge me by the fact that I am choosing to breed ONE litter and only have TWO dogs. I would never have more dogs than I couldn't give enough individual attention to. Alot of the breeders that criticize me, think of their dogs as moneymakers or have way too many in hopes of producing that one "PERFECT SPECIMEN". In the meantime, they have like 15 dogs or more and you know they aren't getting a lot of individual time. The dogs are usually very reserve and some are just used for breeding and are never played with. That's sad. There are also lots of GOOD BREEDERS who treat their show dogs like household members. I THINK PEOPLE ARE WAY TOO CRITICAL ON THIS SITE ABOUT BREEDING DOGS. YOU CAN'T EVEN ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION ABOUT BREEDING WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU OR YOUR DOGS! IT'S GOT TO STOP! IT IS TRAGIC THAT SO MANY DOGS ARE EUTHANIZED. HOW MANY OF US SPEND $ on non-necessities like flat screen tvs, $300 purses, fancy cars, make-up, you name it when that $ COULD BE GOING TO SAVE DOG'S LIVES! YOU CANNOT TELL ME THAT ANY OF YOU HAVEN'T SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON A FRIVILOUS OBJECT, SO NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO PREACH! AND ALL BREEDERS START SOMEWHERE! I don't mean to be so blunt but I'm so sick of people thinking that I don't care for shelter dogs when I have owned them and I have donated. Right now, I just want to have Shelties and have one litter and take it slowly and see what happens. I will always keep the animal's interests first in mind and that's a promise.

Answer 8

As a response to this, I will insert a letter that was written to the editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch by a terrific breeder and veterinarian in response to an article that was written which painted breeders in a negative light. This is pretty much where I stand on the issue as well.


Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I take exception to Robin Starr's assertion that "any sort of intentional breeding is irresponsible." It would be more logical to say that unintentional breeding is irresponsible.

Why are breeders like myself -- who produce one or two carefully planned litters a year, from health-tested, purebred dogs who have both conformation and performance titles, are certified therapy dogs, and whose puppies go to carefully screened buyers -- held responsible for shelters being filled with unwanted dogs?

Perhaps Starr should more rightfully fix responsibility for the population of unwanted animals where it belongs -- on irresponsible people who allow intact animals to breed without supervision, planning, or thought. Specifically, those who produce mixed-breed dogs due to neglect or those who produce purebred dogs without regard to health, soundness, or temperament, or do not carefully screen buyers. I submit that if the only people breeding dogs were those like me, Starr would be out of a job from lack of need.

Joanne V. Baldwin. Richmond.

Answer 9

I occasionally breed puppies because like a lot of people, I'm passionate about my breed which happens to be endangered. When I have a suitable ***** who I think has something to offer the breed, I will breed her. I take full responsibility for those pups for the rest of their lives, I have plenty of experience and know whether they are good examples of the breed and I like to give responsible people who are similarly passionate about the breed the chance to own a puppy.
Similarly, if I buy a dog, I want a puppy which I can train for particular purposes in my own way. I want to buy a breed which I know has a good chance of being able to fulfill the purposes for which I want it. I don't want to take pot luck on a rescue dog, although I understand that some people are quite happy to do that. The puppies that are in rescue are not from breeders like me, they are from thoughtless dog owners who will not take responsibilty for their actions.
Like any dog lover, the number of rescue dogs there are makes me mad , but I refuse to be made to feel guilty because I occasionally breed top quality puppies.
I am also quite happy to share my 30 yrs experience with any like-minded person.

Answer 10

Ask that to the people who are breeding mixed breed dogs. Or breeding dogs that are not registered. Or breeding dogs and not being responsible and taking back dogs that don't work out. Ask those that aren't vaccinating, worming, keeping puppies til they are at least 8 weeks of age. Ask those that aren't making sure that they verify people and try to put the dogs in the best home possible. Ask those that aren't able to help their puppy buyers because they are so ill informed. Ask those that are producing litters and they can't sell them, and they dump them in the woods or in the shelter, or dumpster etc. Ask the irresponsible breeders why they are breeding more mutts when the shelters are full of them.. Responsible breeders do not have their dogs sitting in the shelters or breed rescue waiting for a new home.. It's the irresponsible breeders that are causing the problems.. Ask them why they continue to breed ( for the $$$$ ! ) when shelters are so full..