BYB Vs. "reputable" breeders?

Question

Everyone gets all mad at back yard breeders because of the overpopulation of dogs. Many dogs in shelters etc.. What about these reputable breeders????? What makes them better?? They should stop breeding too shouldn't they? Are they not contributing to the problem?? But because they are registered with the rich snobs etc... at the AKC its ok for them to do exactly the same thing that everyone gets on these BYB for. Sounds like a double standard to me.

BTW: I've never bred dogs nor plan to.

youlnever: You kind of proved my point about snobs, thank you for that

Dog trainer: It wasnt my intention to offend anyone. But I don't care what anyone says Showing dogs is an elitist pastime. Maybe not everyone involved in it is but most are rich douches. Im not even talking about their incoome more the disgusting snoby attitude many seem to have. They are frequently on here even saying how wonderfull they are and how some people who post are such bad pet owners etc...

Answer 1

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
At least I have found someone else on the internet who also gets it!
ANYONE breeding, be it puppy mill, backyard, or "responsible", anyone who brings more dogs in to the world is adding to dog overpopulation!!!
I cannot tell you how irritated I become when these so-called responsible breeders say they breed responsibly so they are not adding to the problem.
NewsFlash!!!: ANYONE breeding, thus adding more dogs to an already overpopulated world, IS indeed adding to the problem!!
Why do they think they are exempt??
-I do not even have an answer for this. I guess they consider themselves high and mighty because their dogs have "titles".
I have been in the dog show world, and yes, if your dog is an exceptional example of the breed, with Ch. and health certs, then yes, maybe it is a breeding-worthy dog. But they also need to take a look around, at the breed they work with, and consider if just maybe their one more little is truly necessary to carry on the dog's line. Consider the Golden Retriever, or even the Yorkshire Terrier. So terribly overbred and inbred, and now the breeds are inundated with terrible genetic disorders run amuck. The only reason these breeds are so unhealthy and overbred is because they keep on breeding them! Even if these breeds were no longer produced from puppy mills and backyard breeders, the "responsible" breeders would still think they deserved to breed their dogs!
I say with these such breeds, and every other overbred breed, we need a moratorium. Pick one or two lines that are truly fantastic and nearly genetic disorder free, and continue only those lines! All others are spayed and neutered!!

I do not care if a breeder breeds run of the mill Yorkies or Ch, health certed Yorkies...they are STILL contributing to overpopulation, whatever way they spin it.
To carry on a line and keep up with demand, there are only a few puppies needed per year.

So I totally agree with you...
The AKC breeders and show people are NOT exempt at all when it comes to being blamed for dog overpopulation.
While us at the rescues and shelters clean up their messes, they continue to burp out the puppies by the thousands.

In a perfect world, everyone would be required to get their dog from a shelter or rescue group, and we would implement a program that assigned no more than five dogs of each breed per year to produce puppies of each particular breed.
Rare breeds should remain rare, and popular breeds NEED to be bred 90% less.

All in all, breeding should be cut back by 95% overall.

Thank you for this post. I am starring it.

Answer 2

Many BYBs are also registered with the 'rich snobs' of the AKC.

The difference is that a reputable breeder is trying to improve the breed by weeding out bad temprements, genetic faults (like hip displasia) and genetic illnesses. They show their dogs and often perform in trial work (hunting, agility) to prove that their dogs still live up to the standard they were created for.

BYBs don't care about any of that. I've seen Danes that look like Labs. Labs that are WAY bigger than the breed is supposed to be (and have met few people who realize that a lab ISN'T supposed to weigh 150 pounds). There are labs and Goldens aplenty who have lost their 'gentle' nature because people over breed them without care about the parent temprement.

BYBs are the reason why, when any dog movie comes out, the shelters are suddenly flooded with a particular breed. It gets really popular and then people realize 'oh, I can't handle that kind of dog' where as a reputable breeder never would have let them have the dog in the first place.

Another very important detail is that most reputable breeders don't breed unless they already have a waiting list of people wanting puppies. BYBs often let their dogs breed every time the female comes into heat, which is very bad for the female, and produces a lot of puppies, sometimes before the last litter has even been completely rehomed.

Answer 3

The reason that the reputable breeder are NOT adding to the problem is that they are responsible for the puppies that they breed FOR LIFE. What that means is that at any time during the life of that puppy, it can be returned to the breeder, who will accept it back. There are even some breeders, myself included, that microchip all of their puppies, then register the microchips to themselves, so that they would be alerted if the puppy ever ended up in the pound. They run the proper tests, they have purchase contracts, and they screen all potential buyers.

BYB's won't usually be responsible for the puppy until they are 8 weeks old, much less for life! They don't do genetic testing and most of the dogs aren't breeding quality. Most of these BYB's don't even know the names of the people who buy the puppies! These people are the reason that so many dogs are in the pounds

There is a major difference between reputable breeders and BYB's.

Answer 4

What is a responsible breeder?

Someone who....

Breeds for the purpose of improving the health and temperament of their breed.

If breeding purebreds, goes to shows. They will only breed from dogs that are top quality in terms of their breed.

Is EXTREMELY knowledgable about all things dogs - their proper care, behaviour, training, genetics, health, breeding etc.

Has ALL of their dogs tested for ALL relevant hereditary diseases. Only breeds from those with the best health and fitness, and those who come from strong, healthy lines. They won't just breed from a healthy female, they will also look at the females parents, littermates etc. They will also have their dogs well trained and temperament tested.

Has all of their dogs registered with the appropriate kennel club, and is a member of the breed club.

Will spend a lot of time carefully researching and selecting a suitable mate for their dog. They will also make sure both dogs are checked by a vet and in good general health before mating them.

Will keep all their dogs in excellent conditions - primarily as much loved family pets. All dogs will be properly fed and exercised, get lots of attention, vet care where necessary, will be microchipped and insured etc.

They will take a lot of time and effort in raising a litter. Puppies will be raised in their home, well looked after and be properly socialised.

They will not sell to any old person. They ONLY sell direct, NEVER through a third party like a pet store or online. They insist on meeting potential owners and vet them carefully. They ask lots of questions like why they want a dog, what they know about the breed, what their home is like, how long the dog will be left alone etc. They watch to see how people interact with their adult dogs, and make sure people really know aht they are doing. They will not sell a puppy to anyone who they do not think is completely suitable and trustworthy.

They provide new owners with plenty of detailed accurate advice on how to care for their new puppy. They will always be available to anser any questions.

They will keep in contact with buyers, have a spay / neuter contract, and take back any dog that a new owner can not keep.

They will breed only a very small number of top quality litters. They will NEVER breed a dog (male or female) that is under two years old or over 8 (maybe younger depending on the breed), and NEVER on consecutive seasons.

Their puppies will be outgoing, friendly, well socialised, healthy and expensive. Breeding is not cheap if done properly, and many responsible breeders sell them at a loss.
If a puppy is cheap, don't buy it!

They will only keep dogs, and breed litters, that they know 100% that they have the time, space, money, ability and willingness to care for perfectly.

They aer aware of the problem of overpopulation and try to help, maybe by supporting their breed rescue.

A BYB is anyone who does not fit every part of this!

Generally, there are very few responsible breeders out there. Most breeders do it for the wrong reasons, cut corners, or even neglect their dogs.

I agree that ALL breeding is a problem at the moment because of overpopulation. Every puppy born - whether to a responsible breeder, BYB or mill - causes the death of another dog in a shelter. Really, we shouldn't be breeding at all while their are so many dogs needing homes.

But, if we can end BYB and mills, we can overcome overpopulation, then leave the breeding up to the experts.

Answer 5

A reputable breeder is primarily motivated to improving the breed. They know the lineages of the dogs they are breeding and will not breed dogs that are suspected of having genetics problems. They can look at a puppy and know if they are going to be good representative of the breed or if they should not be bred.

Some breeds have inherent problems that can be traced to particular lines. A reputable breeder will not knowingly breed a dog from one of those lines.

BYB tend not to know or care about these issues and as a result can produce puppies that are going to grow up with health problems

A dog is a huge emotional investment and a dog owner deserves a dog that isn't going to develop hip problems at a young age, or suffer from arthritis, etc. They deserve a dog that has the best chance of having a long and healthy life and a BYB just doesn't know enough to produce such a dog.

If you were buying a used car would you rather get the car from someone that truly cared about cars or someone who was primarily motivated by money?

Answer 6

Reputable breeders breed, at max, twice a year. They don't breed for money; very rarely do they break even, much less make a profit. They have the parents up to date medically. They only breed purebreds that are show standard, with excellent lines. They make sure every puppy has a good home, plus backups in case something doesn't work out, and they'll always take a pup back. What you see in the classifieds under "Dogs for Sale" are not the product of reputable breeders.

BYB breed as often as they can, using those poor b!tches chun out puppies for money. They don't treat the dogs as dogs, but as puppy factories. Very rarely do they have the dogs checked for medical issues, other than the basic yearly shots, if that. Rarely do they breed purebreds. They unethically sell mixed breed puppies for purebred prices, using such monikers as 'teacup' for the runts, and using designer names to make even more money. Trust me, it's not a double standard.

Answer 7

Perhaps if you'd seen the results of backyard breeding of the disreputable kind as often as I have you'd understand. I've been rescuing them for 50 years!!!
The people on here that ask the questions aren't 'reputable' breeders because if they were they wouldn't need to ask the stupid questions they do! Yes accidents happen and people need help but if the asked for it at the start of the pregnancy and not half way through the birth when no help will save the pups, don't you get angry? I do!
To a point I even agree that there should be less breeding all round but lets at least stop the people who produce a good looking dog pure or mixed that drops dead of a heart-attack before it's 6th Birthday or one that's not 4 years old but nearly crippled with arthritis! and that's just one pup from a litter of 8 perhaps! Lets at least support the 'good' people on here whose only wish is to stop the heart-ache people like me go through when we own the 'losers' in this situation........ the dogs!
I think you actually miss the point of dog shows all together! It's not all Crufts and Westminster, It's muddy fields miles from home just in the hopes that the dog will be placed high enough. It's not only show dog breeders who get mad at BYB's it's the Working dog breeders and more than anything else it's the dog rescuers like me! 75% of dogs in rescue world wide are mixed breed doesn't that tell you ANYTHING!

Answer 8

Those "rich snobs" that show dogs LOSE more money than they earn showing their dogs. Its because reputable breeders are trying to solve problems like hip dysplasia and they test their dogs to PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING. My golden was from a BYB and my mother was going to breed her but she had such bad hip dysplasia she cannot jump. BYB dont usually test thier dogs for things like that and produce puppies that are like my Reba who has such bad hips she has almost no ball and no socket. If a reputable breeder ended up with a dog like that they would fix it so that its puppies would not have to be put to sleep if they were born without any hip joints at all. Thats why people show their dogs because not only does it help keep all the dogs to the same standard (my golden isnt even close to standard) but so that they can find good mates that are 9.5 times out of 10 already health tested and STD and genetic disease free.
If I met a BYB that tested their dogs but didnt show I wouldnt be as upset because they at least care enough to make sure their dog doesnt pass on bad traits or STDs.
Thats the problem I have with BYBs its that they are only in it for the money and anyone but anyone who makes money showing dogs and breeding them makes me suspicious. Like we say in the dog world "If you want to be a millionare showing dogs start with 2 (million)"

Answer 9

It sounds like you have already made up your mind but I would like to add some things to this discussion.

I have been involved with dogs for many years. In the past I have been involved in conformation showing and have owned both mixed and pure-bred dogs. ALL of the people I have met both during showing and obedience work have been ordinary people who love their dogs. The image of snobs and their pampered pooches is a stereotype that does not fit into what really happens.

I currently own a pure bred dog that has many champions in its bloodline. I saved for some time to buy this dog but this does not mean that she is any more special than our last dog who cost us $30. All it means is that the breeders had spent many years living with and selectively breeding these dogs to try and achieve the breed standard, both in appearance and temperament. Why does this make us snobs?

EDIT - there seems to be a lot of confusion between what is a 'reputable' or 'responsible' breeder and those who simply breed pure bred dogs. As has been said time and time again, just because a dog is papered does not mean that it is a great example of the breed and should be bred. These people are NOT responsible breeders and to lump every person who breeds pure bred dogs into the one box is just ignorance!

Answer 10

There are people who want a specific breed, for the love of the breed. A lot of people want to purchase high quality dogs for show and breeding. The difference is reputable breeders are improving on the breed, BYB are "just breeding". I love the Shar-Pei, and this particular breed almost went extinct. Reputable breeders insure the existence of a purebred high quality breed. Not like the BYB who just put money in their pocket. Reputable breeders "spend money" on vets, shots, worming, microchips, going to shows, keeping the standards, and offering well bred, high quality, HEALTHY dogs for those who want them. And even then, we are very scrupulous when it comes to whom we will let buy our dogs. BYB don't care about any of this, and that makes a BIG difference to me...

Answer 11

Reputable breeders have owners for the puppies before the litter is born. Most will take the puppy back if it doesn't work out. They are knowledgable about the breed standard and bloodlines. They understand the genetics behind the cross. They are NOT in it to make a quick buck. I understand that not everybody can spend hundreds or even thousands on a purebred dog, but if you're just looking for a pet, why not adopt from a shelter?