What's So Wrong With Breeding?

I want to write today about a topic that is somewhat controversial in the rescue world, and that is breeding.  Emotions run high among rescuers whenever this topic is raised.  Many people don't understand why and unfortunately too few understand what breeding really is or should be.

The term 'breeder' has become an ugly word in the rescue world.  To most people, it's just something you should not do ever, for any reason and for MOST people, that is true.  But to me a TRUE breeder is totally different than the person pawning off dogs to the first person to arrive with cash.

A TRUE breeder is someone who should be BETTERING their breed and caring about the dogs they bring in to this world as if they are their own children.  This person should be well versed in the appropriate breed standards, care, training, and genetic testing needed to produce a dog of outstanding quality, conformation, temperament and ability.  A TRUE breeder doesn't produce litter after litter.  They research, study, select the best of the best and create one litter a year, IF that.  A TRUE breeder will have homes lined up for the pups WELL before they are ready to be weaned, and sometimes even before they are born.  Most of the time a TRUE breeder will have those homes fill out a question and answer sheet to know exactly which puppies will be suited perfectly to that home and they will only choose homes from that pool of applicants.  A TRUE breeder will have as rigorous a process involved in buying one of their dogs as an adoption agency would have in adopting out a rescue.  A true breeder has parent dogs genetically tested and screened for any diseases that are prevalent in their breed and chooses lines where the incidences of these diseases or faults are not prevalent or have not existed.  Finally, the most important part...a TRUE breeder rarely, if ever MAKES money producing a litter.  That is not to say they give their dogs away for free, quite the opposite.  However, when proper care, training, testing, etc is done, the money 'made' off of the litter rarely equals what was spent in producing it.  A TRUE breeder does what they do as a labor of love, not just to make cute puppies.

I always hear the argument that no one should breed a dog while there are still so many dogs in shelters and that those dogs would get adopted more if there weren't breeders out there producing more dogs.  Well, the fact is, as sad as it may be, that not EVERYONE wants to adopt a dog.  Not EVERY shelter dog, or even most, can fit every purpose that a dog sought from a breeder might fit easily.  Now, don't mistake what I'm saying here.  I think shelter and rescue dogs are some of the most amazing dogs out there.  I think there are quite a few who exceed their purebred counterparts on many levels.  However, the sad fact is that not all can and not all do and to some people, when they are intending to invest time, money and training into a dog for a specific purpose they are not willing to take a chance on unknowns.  Do I think that shelter dogs get passed over MORE because there are people breeding?  No, I don't.  Furthermore, the argument that many dogs from breeders end up in shelters is inaccurate as well.  Dogs from BACKYARD breeders end up in shelters. Dogs from less than caring or reputable breeders end up in shelters.  In all the time I have been doing this, do you know how many dogs that were from reputable, reliable, and caring breeders, or even dogs who were imported by those breeders, I have seen end up in a shelter (and this is talking about those who vet the families these dogs go to beforehand)?  NONE.  I have yet to see a tattooed, well bred, papered dog from a breeder who may charge thousands of dollars and has gone above and beyond to ensure their dog is well placed, end up in a shelter.  MOST of the dogs that end up in shelters were impulse buys, dogs whose breeders would not take any of their dogs back at any point in their life or attempt to rehome them if the owners could not, 'gifts', dogs bred by someone wanting to make a quick dollar and dogs who were produced with little care.  I'm not saying there are not purebreds in shelters, there most certainly are.  BUT if these dogs were from a TRUE breeder, there would be a way to trace them back to that breeder be it through microchip or tattoo and that breeder would be taking responsibility for them long before the situation declined to the point the dog ended up in a shelter.  This person would be checking in with the family and dog on a regular basis and be there to support them through their ownership process and to step in if a situation turned bad.  And of course, I'm not talking about a dog who goes to a shelter as a stray, although the chances of that happening with a dog from a TRUE breeder are less likely too because the homes they have approved for their dogs would have the utmost safety and security of the dog in mind at all times and even if they did not, the dog would be able to be traced back to the breeder.

Here's the deal, from my point of view.  There are good and bad breeders, just like there is good and bad in every avenue of life.  90% of breeders are bad breeders and that 10% gets a bad name because of the 90%. What we need to spend time doing is not bashing the TRUE breeders but getting rid of and educating the other, or back yard breeders, so that they understand the damage they are doing by producing dogs they think should be bred because they are 'cute'.

TRUE breeders can be a GREAT resource to rescues and rescue workers as well as rescue dogs.  These breeders are EXPERTS in their breed and have a deep love and appreciation for all that makes their breed what it is.  Often times, they may hold the answer to a problem we are unsure about simply because we didn't know the traits of a breed.  MOST true breeders also love their breed enough to agree that the majority of those who own their breed should be spayed/neutered and ensure that the same happens for their pups unless they are going to another TRUE breeder.

I think it's time we stop shunning TRUE breeders and having them help us to educate those who are not (and most real breeders are willing to do this) to spay and neuter their pets.

For almost all dog owners, you will have a more fulfilled, healthier and happier pet if they are spayed or neutered.  On top of that, you'll know you never run the risk of contributing to the overpopulation of dogs in this country.  Breeding, like so many other things, should be left to the experts!  For those of you who truly LOVE your breed, want to improve it and watch that dog work and have a fulfilling life, I encourage you to be mentored by a TRUE breeder.  STUDY bloodlines and breed characteristics.  Go speak with judges of your chosen breed either in conformation or work and learn what they have to share about what makes the best of the best.

For those of you who wave this off and think that you'll breed any way, I want you to consider a few things....

1) Are you EXPERIENCED in medical care of dogs, pre and post whelp?

2) What would you do, and what could you afford to do, if there was a medical emergency with the bitch or one of the pups either pre or post whelp?

3) Do you know what the word whelp means?

4) Is your dog registered with a REPUTABLE registry such as the AKC and have you researched their pedigree until you are familiar with every name, and the offspring of those dogs, in the pedigree as well as whatever faults or defects they  may have passed on?  Have you studied other crosses of the lines you intend to mix?

5) WHY are you breeding your dogs?  What purpose will the puppies serve?  Who will be the main people attracted to buying one of your puppies?  Do you feel they will give it a great home?  Why or why not?

6) Are you willing and able to take one of the puppies you produced back at any time during it's life, or help to find another suitable home, if the person who bought the dog was no longer able to care for it or passed away?

7) How do you keep track of your puppies and where they go?  What do you do to ensure that if one of your pups is lost or stolen not only the new owner, but you, will be contacted about the dog?

8) Can you name at least one genetic disease or fault that is prevalent in your chosen breed and the test used to diagnose that particular disease or fault?  Has your dog been tested either genetically or physically to make sure they do not carry that trait and the likelihood of them passing it on is little to none?

9) Are you prepared to support new puppy owners by answering any and all questions they may have about their new pup and as time goes on?  Are you able to assist in training with or for that pup to ensure it is a safe, healthy, happy dog?

10) Do you have a purchase contract?  Do you frequently follow up on the pups you have produced?  Do you require non-professional owners to spay or neuter their pup/dog?

11) Is your dog trained or do they specialize in some kind of 'work' or 'skill'?  Are they, or dogs within 3 generations, titled?  Have you carefully assessed and do you understand the temperament of your dog?

12) Has your dog been fully vetted?  Vaccinated?  Dewormed?  Tested?  Approved by an expert of the breed?  Swabbed and free of diseases?

13) Are you aware that separating pups from their dam before 8 - 12 weeks can have a significant effect on the dogs behavior for the rest of their life and that having a mentally unstable dog raise a litter will often result in the pups having similar behavior problems?

If you answered NO to ANY of these questions...you should not breed a dog.  If and when you do, it is likely if not guaranteed, one of your puppies will end up on an 'urgent' list, facing euthanasia at some point in it's probably all too short life.

It is proven that dogs who are spayed/neutered are healthier, calmer, happier dogs than those handled by the average person who breeds a dog.  Litters that are not planned or researched are often loaded with health problems, sometimes occurring before they are even born.  While genetic defects CAN occur in even the most carefully planned litter, it is far less likely.  The same goes for behavior and temperament issues as well as home incompatibility.

Now, ask yourself, do you want to set up any puppies you bring into this world for success or failure?  Do you want to be looked down upon by others for producing sub standard dogs that will serve no function or purpose to better their breed or enrich the lives of those who care for them?  Is money, or the betterment of your breed or dogs, more important to you?

While everyone may not agree, and they are entitled to this opinion, these are my core beliefs about what makes breeding 'right' or 'wrong' and each breeder should be judged on a case by case basis.

I do NOT believe in breeding a rescue dog, an unstable dog, an unpapered/unproven dog and simply because a dog DOES have a paper saying 'purebred' does not mean they should reproduce.  It is often MUCH easier, time and cost effective, to select a dog that fits what you are looking for than to try to produce one.

That being said, unless you are a PROFESSIONAL or are working to become one, your next amazing dog can come from the shelter down the street and should be spayed or neutered.  For 99% of people, I agree that they should not shop, but adopt.

Thank you!