The difference in breeders?

Question

With all the talk of BYBs (Back yard breeders), puppy mills, show breeders, professional breeders... where do we draw the line?
Which is better and how do we distinguish one from another?
.......
This was sparked in my mind when I read that "we should leave it to the professional breeders!"
Is a professional breeder someone that makes their living from breeding and/or showing dogs?
What is the training/education that makes them a professional? (I dont think our local college offers a 'dog breeders' degree).
Would the person raising 40-50 litters a year be considered a professional, since they are doing it for a living?
Is the small hobby breeder that owns a few acres and keeps a few purebred dogs, showing his best when he can find time and afford to do it a BYB?
AS far as show dog breeders go (I am speaking of the AKC), who determines what is right or wrong, when deciding where any one breeder falls in the dilemma?

At one time the AKC considered a breeder raising 50 litters a year or less as a hobby breeder.(yes, I agree -YIKES!).
If a professional breeder is one that has campion dogs, going out and buying a champ makes you a professional? I dont think so....
When breeding ANY animal, if you are not breeding to improve, then you are not doing it right!
If all breeders are terrible, then where would we get dogs in the future? (Pluto? hehehe)
Would we consider those breeding hybrids (cockapoos, labordoodles, pitbulls) as BYBs and/or puppy millers?

Answer 1

a good/professional breeder doesnt breed becoz he/she is bored.
they do it to better the breed. they do all the needed test to ensure that the dam and sire are both perfect (hip scores, KC reg, good health and temprement....)

a byb or a puppy miller breeds for money, or breeds for the sake of, (something i have read alot around yahoo answers) becoz they want there bitches to experience how motherhood is. in my opinion this is just a stupid excuse.
THIS is how soooo many unwanted and un-homed puppies and dogs come about.

EDIT:yes i would consider hybrids/mutt/mixed breeds to be bred by puppy miller/byb's becoz like i sed above breeding should be done to better the breed not to make DESIGNER DOGS =)

Answer 2

there are already a lot of good answers that I have to agree with, and a few that I will disagree with.

One thing that I don't see on any of the answers is how these pups are raised. Too many times in both BYB and reputable breeders is raising the pups somewhere other than right in the middle of life in the family. I also don't like how some people call themselves reputable and say to people the litter was planned when infact the litter like the others prior were WHOOPS.

I hear so many times that if you don't show your dog (AKC event) that you are not improving the breed. But what about all of the other events out there or other qualities too add back. I don't show and have not purchased a female that was a show litter. But have purchased a male that has been bred for his show ability but you know what those lines are so tight that it bother's me.

Answer 3

There are always gray areas but here are a few things to look at:

Do the dogs have at least all the common health checks for the breed? If not they are not interested in the well being of the breed.

Is the breeder a member of their national parent club? If not why not. I know personally I left the one club of one of my two breeds because the President decided to publicly declare I was an @ss with more money than brains because I did health checks on my dogs. Of course this same person was using a dysplastic dog as the foundation for their breeding program. I'm Sec'y, chair of the health & rescue committees in the parent club for my other breed.

Has the breeder signed their national parent clubs Code of Ethics? If not why not. Find out what they don't agree with and then decide.

Is the breeder breeding with the goal of improving the breed or are they hoping to make sure pocket change? If their goal is $$ then the are not a good breeder.

Does the breeder have an other source of income? If not then odds are they are cutting corners and probably aren't a good breeder.

Does the breeder give you a written contract that clearly spells out what is expected of each of you? If not they aren't a good breeder and a problem develops you are on your own.

Is the breeder there to answer your questions? If not they are not a good breeder.

Does the breeder want to make sure that you are a good match for their breed and their pup? If not they are not a good breeder.

If they take the dog back any time during its life? If not they are not a good breeder.

There are many more things but these should give you some ideas.

Answer 4

Any professional breeder will tell you that it's certainly no way to make a living.

40-50 litters a year? Yikes! More like 2-4 depending on the number of dams.

Small hobby breeder does NOT equal BYB IF the hobby breeder does their research, has genetic testing done on their dogs, and isn't just in it for profit but to better the breed.

Edit: No, going out and buying a champ doesn't make you a professional. But carefully breeding and having one of your pups become a champion? Yes.

Breeders who purposely breed and sell crossbreeds (not hybrids, hybrid is 1 species + another species) are BYB's/puppy millers in my opinion. Why deliberately breed a mix, slap a cute name on it, and charge a ton of cash when there are tons of accidental mixes in shelters?

Answer 5

I think what draws the line is the purpose of breeding. For bybs and puppy mills, their purpose of breeding is money motive. Although some may argue that bybs don't always breed for money, their purpose is not to improve the breed. For show breeders, they want to breed to obtain a future star, a future champion. A good and responsible breeder should not breed to make a living. They breed because they are passionate about the breed they are showing. The purpose of breeding should be the betterman of the breed.

Answer 6

BYB Breeders are people who have a few purebred dogs and breed them.(Yes the small hobby breeder would be considered a BYB)

A Puppy mill will breed purebred and mix bred dogs just for money. All of you designer dogs (you multi poo and cuck-a- poo type dogs ) come from puppy mills they do not breed dogs for any other purpose except for money. and most of the dogs that are used in puppy mills live in very poor conditions and are breed many times. Puppy mill dogs are usually very neglected animals.

A reputable breeder is some one who owns proven show dogs and who will only breed for the betterment of the breed.
and will only breed 1 to 2 litters a year if that many.
As for professional breeders that is just a fancy name given to puppy mills. The only people who make money off of breeding is a puppy mill.

Show Breeders are people who will only breed the champion show dogs to each other and who will only sell their dogs to people who intend to show the dogs.

I hope this answers your questions

Answer 7

the difference is KNOWLEDGE. A good breeder will research and keep up with the breed's standards they are producing. They will not line or in-breed. They want to produce the best of their breed. I am not against people who want to mate dogs. It's the people that do not have a concious and mate for sport or for financial purposes and do not care what is produced. As long as they get what they seek. That's why we have so many pups in shelters. Anyone who breeds, should know what their doing and have a "humane" reason why they are producing.

Answer 8

Professional breeders show dogs and breed dogs to improve the breed. They are experienced, have a lot of experience with the breed and are dedicated to improving it. They test their "Breeding stock" (who are family pets as well) for genetic diseases so that they're not passed-on to the puppies. They care about where the puppies go and often have carefully found homes for them before they are conceived or born. They require that all of their puppies are spayed/neutered by their new family, and require that the family return their dog to them if they ever can't keep him/her.
As far as breeders go, this type is rare...but the only type you want to get a puppy from. Their dogs are well cared-for, are not bred every heat cycle, and are an exceptional example of their breed standard. Their pups are deliberately well-socialized from birth, kept healthy with good food and proper vet care, and started on house training.

A Backyard breeder is someone that has oh, I'd say 2-10 dogs. They breed for fun, out of irresponsibility (don't do anything to prevent their female from getting pregnant), or for pure profit. They're called backyard breeders because they often have a shed out in their backyard where their dogs are kept to breed. Or, they keep their dogs out back and that's how they get pregnant. They do not test for genetic defects, don't protect against in-breeding, etc... Their dogs may or may not be healthy and/or socialized, will probably have no training, and may or may not have seen a vet at all.

A puppymill has several dogs. Maybe 40, maybe 400, or more! The larger facilities usually have kennel-hands working there and are typically licensed by the USDA to raise and deal "livestock". The dogs are usually de-wormed and vaccinated (if ever) by the kennel hands themselves and don't see a vet for a checkup. Their dogs are not tested for genetic diseases. They're typically kept in a small enclosure...possibly with a other dogs...existing solely to pop-out-puppies until they get too old to produce 1-2 times per year. They sell-off old stock and unwanted/sick dogs and puppies to research labs. Their puppies are not socialized, not usually healthy, grow up in urine and feces so are difficult to housetrain, are taken from their mothers at 4-6 weeks of age, and are often sick and malnourished.

You can get a great, healthy, happy dog from all 3 types of breeders, but why buy a puppy at all when there are so many literally dying for a home in shelters?

Answer 9

I don't like the term "professional"...The term byb and pm are animal rightist terms coined to spark emotion from the public. Those that want to end ownership and breeding alltogether want a division of "us" vs "them".....but for everyone to keep their rights as property owning (yes, pets ARE property) Americans, we can't afford to seperate ourselves into groups. (as much as that sickens me.)

Breeders are either "ethical" or not. Anyone breeding for ANY reason other than to better the breed shouldn't...
Breeding is a science and an art form. Ethical breeders spend years of blood, sweat and tears striving for better type, health, temperament, etc,....they have only the best interest of their breed in mind when producing a litter, as well as the future of the puppies.

It's easy to "label" breeders as this or that, I'm guilty of it myself...but NOW more than ever, ALL breeders (whether ethical or not) must stand together and fight for our rights to keep, train, and breed.
There is no way to "police" what is right and what is wrong...no one person or one body should have that authority.....The best that we *the responsible and ethical** dog people can do is to educate the pet buying public on the dangers involved in buying a dog from anyone who doesn't health test, or show their dogs to some sort of breed worthy title. We can guide them, give them info....but now is not the time to divide breeders into groups...that's what the AR folks want...divide and conquer...pass laws to make it impossible for the little ethical breeder to breed quality dogs, and all that will be left are the unethical ones who don't care anyways....then more legislation that will wipe them out too...

Answer 10

Here are some good guidelines:

http://members.aol.com/cokicola/breeder.htm

Responsible Breeders DO:

****Breed in order to improve the breed and produce the best puppies they possibly can, and usually plan to keep at least one of them.****

*Ask as many questions of you as you do of them.

*Show evidence of at least two or three years of serious interest in their breed, i.e. dog club memberships (the AKC doesn't count!), show and match ribbons, and Championship and/or performance (obedience, agility,tracking, field, etc.) titles. [note - "the AKC doesn't count" means that while the dogs may be AKC registered, that only means that they know who the parents are. It doesn't mean that they're actively involved with the breed. Look for participation in breed clubs AS WELL AS being AKC registered!]

****Breed only dogs that closely match the breed standard and are free of serious health and temperament problems.****

*Tell you if they think you would be better off with another breed of dog, or no dog at all.

****Provide referrals to other breeders if they don't have anything available.****

*Use a written contract and guarantee, or at least an oral agreement, when selling a dog, with clear terms that you can live with.

*Provide a registration slip, a pedigree, and up-to-date shots/health records with every puppy they sell.

*Honestly discuss any special problems/requirements associated with the breed.

*Offer assistance and advice on grooming, training, etc., ***for the life of the dog.***

****If, for any reason and at any time, you cannot keep the dog, will take it back.****

****Normally breed only one or two litters a year, max!****

*Have dogs that are clean, healthy, happy, and humanely cared for


Responsible Breeders DO NOT:

*Appear overly eager to sell/"get rid of" a puppy

****Breed simply to produce puppies to sell****

*Breed a ***** on every season, or more than once a year

*Have breeding stock that consists of a "mated pair"

*Claim that all of their puppies are "show/breeding quality"

*Claim that their breed has no problems (some have fewer than others, but every breed has at least a couple)

****Sell puppies to pet stores or to anyone that they have not met/screened personally****

****Sell puppies that are less than eight to ten weeks old****

*Sell puppies without papers (registration slip and 3-5 generation pedigree), or charge extra for papers

****Have more than one or two litters at any given time, or litters of multiple breeds****

*Guarantee their dogs, or if they do, attach such unreasonable conditions to the guarantee, i.e., "dog must not be spayed or neutered, must never have been bred, and the ears must stand correctly," that it is unlikely that they would ever have to honor it