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Home: Dog and Puppies Talk: Before Getting a Dog:
Responsible Breeders vs. Irresponsible Breeders







GoldenAddict
Canine Addict


Feb 25, 2010, 1:16 AM

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Taking time to consider what kind of dog you should get is very important but equally important is to decide from where or whom you will be acquiring the puppy. The following post describes a couple differences between a responsible breeder & breeders that are best avoided. These are just some generalizations & in the end, YOU as the prospective buyer have to decide whether or not the person you are acquiring the puppy from has their interests in the right place.

Use this guide to obtain a quality puppy from a responsible breeder.

Black for Responsible Breeders
Red for Irresponsible Breeders

"Into" Dogs (shows, training, clubs, etc.)
Not "into" dogs (has "pets" around the house)

Belongs to dog clubs & organizations
Is not involved in the "dog world"

Proves quality of dogs & suitability for breeding by competing for titles & certificates in conformation, obedience, agility, field trialing, Schutzhund, tracking, etc.
Quality of dogs is almost always substandard, however, he does not test his dogs in shows or trials (Dogs are just pets or "breeding machines")

Pups' pedigrees are filled with dogs who have obtained show titles/working certificates; never breeds dogs without "papers"
Pedigrees mostly a list of pets bred by backyard breeders; pups may not even have "papers"; may be mongrels (Cockapoos, etc.)

Supports rescue groups; knows his actions inevitably play some part in pet overpopulation & euthanasia (one of every five dogs in shelters is purebred). Even with all his efforts to stem over-population, he knows "cracks" will lead to canine deaths
Honestly believes that because he places/sells all his pups, he does not contribute in any way to the needless deaths of hundreds of dogs per year in shelters (Does not see his role in his pups making pups & them making more pups & so on)

Knowledgeable in every facet of breed, including that of health issues/defects; researches genetics when choosing mates
Not particularly educated about breed, often not aware of his own breed's genetic defects; does not consider mate's genetics

Knowledgeable about house breaking, training, socializing, breeding, health; constantly reads dog-related materials
Has own ideas which may not coincide with professionals' opinions; won't bother to read any of the hundreds of dog books available

Can & will help & educate puppy buyers re these issues
Says "Goodbye" and "Good luck"

Willing to give you his references
Has no references

Knows his puppies' ancestry
Knows nothing about the other dogs on puppies' pedigrees

Follows up on puppies' well-being; collects health information affecting his dogs
Does not concern himself with the puppies' well-being or how puppies' health affects his breeding "plan"

Breeds to improve his own dogs, his bloodlines & the breed; breeds for good reasons
Breeds just to breed or make money; breeds for the wrong reasons

Rarely breeds as he does not use dog breeding as a business & strives for quality, not quantity
Breeds regularly if for money or if puppy mill; if for ego, breeds once in awhile or "just once" before neutering or spaying

Rarely repeats a breeding
Often repeats breedings, mainly those that are cheap & convenient.

Breeds only dogs with stable temperaments
Breeds shy/aggressive dogs with poor temperaments

Breeds only dogs over 2 years old & a limited number of times
Breeds dogs at almost any age, and any number of times

Mate choice could be anywhere in the country (almost never breeds his own males to his own females)
Mate choice is that which is convenient, cheap, local (very often owns both sire & dam)

Does all genetic testing & will provide proof; does not breed animals with genetic defects or which are carriers of defects
Does no genetic testing; ignorantly breeds defective animals or those which are carriers, thus, perpetuating disease in breed

Puppies are sold from waiting list created before breeding even takes place
Puppies are sold after birth in the local newspaper, first-come, first-served

Pet-quality pups generally cost RM1000-1500+ (show-quality costs more)
All pups are pet-quality & are relatively cheap, usually RM400-RM700

Puppies are sold with contracts
No contracts; does not care what you do with puppies

Requires pups back if new homes don't work out
Says "Find them good homes"

Dogs on property are friendly, socialized, trained
Dogs on property may be aggressive or shy & untrained

Does not own more dogs than he has room, time or money for; Dogs are groomed, exercised, healthy, happy
Puppy mills are overloaded, "warehoused" dogs are not groomed or exercised, don't look healthy or happy

Will show you pups' parents if available, or if not, will have pictures
Might have to "lock up" pups' aggressive or shy parents (dogs that should never have been bred)

Raises puppies indoors
Raises puppies outdoors

Stays home to care for puppies
Dam & pups are alone for long hours

Visitors remove shoes & wash hands to prevent spread of parvo virus
Has no understanding & takes no precautions to prevent puppy-killer disease

Sells pups at a minimum age of 8 weeks, no less
Sells pups before 8 weeks of age

Socializes pups by systematically handling them & exposing them to various noises, children & other animals before sending them to new homes
Does not understand or want to be troubled with any kind of training; just tries to keep puppies quiet & contained until sold

Tests pups to match their temperaments and drives with buyers' personalities and lifestyles
Knows nothing about puppy-testing or matching puppies with buyers; allows buyers to pick the "cutest" one

Can honestly evaluate pups' quality
Says all pups are high quality

Never sells to "impulse" buyers
Is not concerned about buyers being prepared for pups

Interviews prospective buyers, checks home & references, refuses to sell to substandard homes
Sells first-come, first-served to whomever has the cash; does not find out which homes are substandard

Wants to meet whole family; won't sell if children are abusive
Does not consider anything past obtaining the funds

Sells only to buyers with disposable income
Is not concerned whether or not buyers can afford to properly care for pups

Waits for buyers who offer lifelong homes (Knows that only 30 percent of all dogs stay in one home throughout their lives)
Does not reject high-risk buyers: (renters, young people, those with poor track records, low income, other pets, dogs kept outdoors)

Understands dogs are "pack" animals; sells pets only to buyers wanting to make pup an indoor dog & part of the family
Doesn't care if pups live as outdoor dogs or chained dogs, being unhappy or anxious being isolated & separated from "packs"

Sells only to buyers who make pup's safety a priority
Does not consider pups' best interests

Encourages or requires buyers to spay/neuter pet-quality pups
Encourages buyers to breed, regardless of quality

Encourages buyers to train pups; refers to good trainer
Shows no concern for pups after sale; knows no trainers

Makes sure buyers understand pup's considerable need for time, attention, exercise & training
Does not provide even his own dogs with enough time, attention, exercise or training

Responsible Breeders Improve the Breed
Irresponsible Breeders Damage the Breed




"Multi BIS (local) GreatGrowkenn Agnes CGC" is ranked #5 (all-breed) in Best Malaysian Bred Dog Of The Year 2010"

(This post was edited by GoldenAddict on Feb 25, 2010, 1:21 AM)

 
 




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