BE A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER!

I am still deeply upset with my experience over the weekend. Visions of the poor puppies and the 2 adult females keep playing in my head and I have not been able to even sleep properly. I am at the moment seriously contemplating reporting the matter to the SPCA. My only reservation is that my friend may get into trouble if the breeder suspects that it was him who made the report...I am not sure that this particular breeder is a nice person considering that he can be so horrid to those poor animals. Has anyone reported animal cruelty to the SPCA? What exatcly happens when you do?

Anyway I have extracted an article from www.goodpooch.com on responsible breeding. I hope that everyone reading this will think twice before breeding your dog and ensure that the Code of Ethics for breeding is adhered to when doing so...

Thinking of breeding your pet?

Even if the breeding and birth were successful, there are other important issues you should consider first.

As much as 65% of available puppies come from “one time” backyard breedings. It used to be believed that puppy mills were the main source for irresponsibly bred dogs. Sadly, they’re second only to backyard breeders. These people aren’t experienced show veterans who enlist the help of other knowledgeable professionals (I.E. dog show judges and reputable breeders) in determining whether or not a given adult dog is breeding quality. Backyard breeders will pretty much mate any two fertile dogs together. It is rare to find a backyard breeder who does any kind of pedigree screening or health tests to reduce the risk of passing on inheritable defects. Many of them feel that because it’s “just one time” they’re not having an impact on the pet overpopulation problem. But all those “one time” breedings add up.

There is a Breeder’s Code of Ethics for every breed. Do you plan to follow it? If not, there is a good chance you’ll create substandard animals. You’ll be harming the breed you claim to love by producing inferior specimens.

It is extremely rare to find one responsible breeder who owns both the sire and the dam in a well-planned mating. The sire's specific faults should be balanced by the dam's specific strengths, and vice versa. More often than not, one breeder owns the championed dog and another breeder owns the championed bitch, only coming together briefly for the purpose of mating. When one person owns both the sire and dam in a union, it is usually an indication the person is a backyard breeder.

Dogs do not have to be purebred to be loved. However, it is far more difficult to find homes for unpredictable looking puppies. At least with purebred puppies, there is a built-in market of breed-specific fanciers and enthusiasts. Most people want to know if the puppy will grow to be 5kg, 20kg, or 50kg. Will it be long, medium, or short-haired? Can it stand the cold or take the heat, or both? Because of the inability to predict the characteristics of the adult dog, mixed breed puppies are much harder to place, and have very little monetary value. So much for that profit you thought you’d make.

It is estimated that as much as 60% of dogs are re-homed at some point during their lives. Responsible breeders do everything in their power to screen potential buyers. It is one attempt to reduce the likelihood that a dog will ever find its way into a shelter. Responsible breeders require the dog to be returned to them in the event the buyer encounters ownership challenges. Individuals without significant investment of time or money in a given dog are much less likely to make sacrifices, should problems arise. With each re-homing, a dog ultimately faces euthanasia.

It was once said, “The world doesn’t need more (insert breed name here). It needs more (insert breed name here)’s who are healthier and live longer and who more closely match the breed standard.” Are you breeding just to create more (insert breed name here)’s? Or is your goal to truly improve the breed by passing on the genes of your physically, mentally, and genetically superior animal?

Millions of dogs are euthanized every year in North America. Every puppy purchased takes a potential home away from an abandoned dog in a shelter. Unless you have a truly exceptional animal and guaranteed, qualified, responsible buyers lined up for as many as 12 puppies, please do not breed your dog.

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