If I bought my dog with a lady who used a certified breeder?

Question

Does it still consider back yard breeding? and what's the defination of a puppy mill exactly? He's pretty cheap price wise, is that a red light?

Yes, I bought him already, he's my avatar. I'm just wondering I used the right route

No, there was a box on the floor, with puppies and mom, just one breed, the mom whom had gave birth. She look very well cared, and groomed

Answer 1

There is nobody that's "Certified" except by the USDA, no respectable breeder NEEDS to be certified by the USDA, they won't own enough dogs to need to be certified. Many puppymillers will have their dogs on another property and sometime won't even have the right "parent" with the puppies. They will have a different better looking dog. If I saw certified, I would run the other way. Instead I look for a breed parent club affiliation, not a guarantee of anything but it's a start. I have even called other breeders in the area from the club and asked about them. Most show/quality breeders won't be so competitive that they give you an honest opinion and if they all seem to have a consensus about the breeder I'm checking out they're usually not lying. Certified is bad, affiliation is good.

I said FDA first, meant USDA so I changed it... my bad

Answer 2

Price has nothing to do with it. I've known good breeders who have charged nothing for a puppy (because that paid for the stud fees) or they had dogs that were retired that they wanted to find good homes for. Another breeder I highly respect just gave away a beautiful puppy who was deaf. The new owner was a vet tech who already had a deaf dog so the breeder knew that this dog would be going to an appropriate home. So no, price has nothing to do with it.

1. A puppy mill generates a lot of puppies. They just shut down one here in Virginia that had over 1,000 dogs. Most puppy mills aren't that big but basically they mate females whenever they go into heat so they're throwing 2 litters every year (while a responsible breeder often mates their female once every two years). Puppies aren't socialized, often never make it out of the crate until purchased or headed to a petstore. Puppy mills are about numbers--cranking puppies out as fast as possible.

2. A backyard breeder doesn't generate as many puppies, often creates a litter accidentally, often has the best of intentions but is breeding for the wrong reasons and hasn't done their homework. A good breeder does lots of health testing (x-rays for instance). But once you've got good stock, they they seek to get performance. So a good breeder will generally have dogs that have done well in conformation or agility or some other canine activity. Just because a dog is well-behaved, a good pet and comes from good genes doesn't mean they should be mated. A good breeder will also ask you to fill out an application, research you and then be willing to turn you down. Also, a really good breeder should pick the dog out for you because a good breeder will know their dogs and litter and what pups will fit particular owners better than a new buyer would. A good breeder will probably have done two years of research before trying to breed. They will probably ask their female to carry only 2, maybe 3 litters max before they retire her. If they produce a puppy that they don't believe advances the breed (by making it faster, stronger, smarter or some other element) than it gets labeled "pet quality" and they'll insist that you neuter or spay the puppy as a condition of buying it (so that you don't mate it and perpetuate the puppy's flaws).

If your breeder doesn't do those things I've listed for good breeders than they're likely a backyard breeder. Just because I buy a dog from a good breeder and then mate that dog doesn't make be a knowledgable breeder who knows what I'm doing.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as a "certified breeder". You didn't really give us enough information to say if the person was a backyard breeder or puppymiller. Since they are making up terms then honestly it doesn't look good as to having come from a responsible breeder. You've already got your dog so at this point all you can do is hope for the best and try to educate yourself before you get your next dog.

Answer 4

You say a certified breeder. I wonder "certified by who ?" I have never heard of a certified breeder. I would look for show, obedience or working titles on the parents. Also ask for OFA certification from both parents. I am not going to get into the argument of what is a puppy mill or backyard breeder. Enough people on this site will give their opinions about that.

Answer 5

Probably is a backyard breeder. A puppy mill is a breeder who breeds many dogs, or different breeds of dogs, indiscriminately, and under terrible conditions, with the main concern being to make money and no concern for the welfare of the animals. If you haven't purchased yet..don't. You can find wonderful purebred dogs at www.petfinder .com that are desperate to find loving homes, save a dog's life... and the rates are usually quite reasonable. Good luck in finding your new best friend!

Answer 6

many have answered the puppy mill/BYB question for you.

Now a true breeder (example AKC) is one that is currently or in the past has shown multiple dogs to Championship status in one of several Catagories. Conformation, Herding, Tracking, Obedience etc.,

Now saying that some Show individuals do become BYB just by sheer volume of puppies produced and no longer showing dogs in the ring.

Individuals that show are trying to meet the current guidelines and standards as set forth by the mother clubs on what a dog should look like in its conformation, behave in temperment and what abilities (retrieving, field trial work) he should be capable of. A purebred is just that one that should at least meet the minimum standards as set forth by the parent club.

Mix breeds are just that mixed and you do not have the ability to judge them as to how they 'should' behave and look.

Good luck with your puppy.

Answer 7

is she a registered breeder? she can not get regristration papers for her litter of puppers if she is not registered - unless that certified breeder she used is getting for her. Is she within driving distance? if she is - go there and check out the pup and living conditions - puppy mills usually have a HIGH amount of dogs contantly breeding kepts in small cages - just enough room to stand and caked in feces. backyard breeders are not al bad - but u do need to get all necessary information. Have a contract drawn up that guarantees health defects for at least year - most breeders cover genetic defects for at least a year - check the pup and parents temperaments, I got my last pup very cheap but he was in excellent condition when he arrived - in different circumstances, the breeder would be considered running a puppymill, but they were actually state and US certified - with a facility with ac and heat, they clean the building 3 times a day with a vet on call who comes to their facility onces a week. my pup came to me free of parasites and with a list of instructions and things to watch out for. If the breeder is not very informative and does not really answer your questions then i'll say forget it. A breeder should follow up with the owners to make sure the pup is doing well. You may want to ask for references if you are really skeptical.

Answer 8

What kind of certification??

In the source box I've provided a link to puppy mill info. I've also listed a link to a webpage that compares responsible breeders to backyard breeders (i.e. puppy pimps)

Answer 9

What do you mean certified breeder???
The only certification I know of are from those who breed large number of dogs and are commercial breeders. Yes it is still a BYB or a Puppy mill.

Answer 10

I assume you refer to USDA certified breeder. They are mostly puppy mill operations. I think your pup is probably from either backyard breeder or puppy mill. Puppy mill is an operation which dogs are bred without any proper vet care, nutrition and poor living environments. Puppies are usually poor quality with sicknesses.