Breeders? Do you cull puppies if you have too many?

Question

I just read something about this in another question. Is this something that is done by all breeders or is it just for some breeders. Why is this done? How is this done?

I am just curious about it.

Answer 1

god ive never heard of such

Answer 2

Some breeders kill 'extra' or 'inferior' puppies because they just don't want them or don't want people to know they produced such a dog. How it is done varies. Some drown them, some break the neck, some hit the head really hard, some humanely euthanize, and I don't even want to know what other methods there are. IMO there is practically no good reason to do it. If someone brings them into the world, they are responsible for them regardless of how many there are or what they look like. The only way I'd agree is if the puppy was so unhealthy that it would suffer (SOMETIMES can be determined at birth) or if it was so fearful/aggressive that it would be dangerous to place it (can't be determined at birth).

Answer 3

First of all, reputable breeders wouldnt have such a problem, at least not often. They only breed top of the line dogs to keep the good qualities in the breed.

BYB(backyard breeders) are the ones you have to watch out for because they are only in it for the money. They dont care about the animals. They just want to line their pockets. Therefore will kill a puppy in horrible ways if they feel they couldnt sell it.

Also, Puppy Mills(commercial dog breeding facilities) auction off the diseased, disabled, and suffering dogs so they can get a little more out of them than killing them. Even then, they sometimes take them out back and shoot them, boil them, throw them against a wall, stomp on their heads, break their necks or slice their throats and let them bleed out.

Shelters kill 4 to 5 million animals a year countrywide because there are way too many animals that need homes. They dont like this at all but they have to because people keep breeding their animals for money or are just stupid and dont fix their pets and accidents happen.

Answer 4

No. This is something that was often done years ago, when the pet market was smaller. It is sometimes still done in areas where there is no pet market and the breeder is focused on working dogs (i.e. some sled dog kennels in remote Alaska/Canada).

However, in this day and age, puppies that do not conform to the breeder's idea of the Standard, or who lack working ability, are sold as pets -- on a spay/neuter contract.

Puppies with crippling genetic defects are euthanized shortly after birth.

How is it done? I have no idea, and frankly I'm not comfortable thinking about it.

Answer 5

If the litter were too large for the mother to feed successfully, I'd supplement rather than cull. If I had a pup with a severe impairment, I'd cull it. However I do NOT believe in bucketing the pups. I will take them to a vet for a lethal injection. Thank God I haven't had to make that decision.

Answer 6

No. "Less than perfect" puppies are called PETS and sold the same as show puppies, but on a limited registration and spay/neuter agreement.
Why would breeders "give away" pet puppies. That is what most people are looking for.

You "cull" (as in euthanize) puppies with severe genetic/congenital defects.

But by selling pet puppies, you are "culling" them from the breeding program.

Answer 7

Reputable breeders sell the pups that aren't show quality with a spay/neuter agreement. That's how I get my pets, I'm not interested in showing or breeding, I just want healthy pups.

Answer 8

Well, it is a horrible thing. I would never cull any dog, unless it was going to suffer and I'd put it to sleep. But some do it by breaking their neck, drowining them, or anything else.

Answer 9

From what I've heard, if there are pups that are less than perfect, they are neutered and given away. Otherwise, perfectly good pups can always used for breeding (or working if it's a working breed) if they don't all sell.

Answer 10

NO! i would never cull puppies.