Post by TrueBulldog on Jul 26, 2004 17:14:20 GMT -5
First comes research, as much as you can. Research bloodlines, history, common health problems of the breed and different breeding purposes. Such as weight pull or conformation. Finding a good breeder won’t be easy, but is worth it in the long run. Next identify good breeders from a backyard breeders. Shows are a good place to find breeders, learn what good breeders are like, talk to those who really know the breed. Backyard Breeders are the most often sought out breeder when buying a pet, most don’t know the difference in breeders or the difference in the quality of the pups, a lot of people don’t even know the breed that well, which is why research is so important. Another reason is they are easily accessible, ads in the newspaper, online ads, puppy signs, friends or the family member who just wanted to breed one litter. A backyard breeder is one who doesn’t put much into their dogs, doesn’t know their breed that well and isn’t involved in their breed. This is very apparent to some one who has research and experience, but most don’t know what to look for, no second thoughts. Backyard breeders are most often pet breeders, from those who believe they have two perfect pets or a perfect female and think they are producing very nice pups who will get good homes and be perfect dogs. However this is usually far from the true turn out. Backyard breeders hardly ever have their pups in permanent homes and they produce litters who are condemned to shelters. The backyard breeder believes under no circumstance will their precious or beloved pups end up there, the true reality is they most likely will. Other believe their pups are “too pretty” and you don’t see pretty dogs in the shelter. Yeah right! Good looks doesn’t keep the dogs out of the shelter. Good breeders have a much higher chance of placing dogs in permanent homes and take back any dog they produce. Taking responsibility for the litters they breed. Good breeders have other kennels wanting their pups and some pet quality dogs that go to carefully screened pet homes and must be altered. The breeder is assured that the dog will get the same quality care as if they were raised by the breeder. They have a full guarantee on their dogs. Backyard breeders usually sell to almost anyone, although some are choosy, some place with family or friends (good or bad) and others have tried to enforce spay/neuter contracts. These are sometimes successful, but many times the buyer doesn’t keep in contact with the owner. Some follow the contract but many also want to breed their perfect pet and wonder “If the (backyard) breeder they bought from can breed their dog, why should I fix mine?” Which is only logical, when you buy from the good breeder, they practice selective breeding and try to make the best pairings and pet quality are those who are not show or breeding quality. While backyard breeders breed their pets for more pets and have no real set standard and way of choosing quality, the whole litter is pet quality and at best the quality of the parents, sometimes below. Most don’t offer any type of substantial guarantee, replacement offer and usually don’t have much to do with the litter after they are all sold off. The worse type of backyard breeder is the “puppy peddler” these people breed dogs specifically to sell the litter, usually they are out to make a quit buck and will sell the pups for an incredibly low price ($50-$200) in an effort to sell them quickly and others are the complete opposite selling them for extremely high prices anywhere from $600-$3000 to fool the unaware public into believing they have high quality dogs or catering to those who want to boast of their price paid. When you are not careful when buying a pup, you really won’t get what you pay for by spending 4 digits on a “pet quality” or even below dog. Its unbelievable that people pay these prices to pet stores and that backyard breeders who charge more then real breeders, but it’s a very real phenomena, and the backyard breeders favorite scam. They often use the line “Selling dogs for high prices keeps them out of the wrong hands” Which couldn’t be further from the truth. Its not the price but the screening and the quality and reputation of the dogs that gets them placed in the right hands. Too many times people have spent $1000+ just to neglect a dog and brag to their friends about how much their dog cost, or to abuse the dog or breed it every heat to reap the same profits of the breeder they bought from. These dogs in this price range could be purchased at $300, if you want the sub quality at least don’t screw yourself out of money and make the backyard breeders new house payment. With all the price and breeders out there how do we find quality? Well this can be determined by many things. This is where research really comes into play and knowing the reputation of the kennel your buying from. Not a kennel paying $200 for a dog and charging $1000 for their pups, or some one buying dogs from a good line and doubling the price of their pups to $2000. Good breeders seldom advertise in the paper, don’t hang signs in convenience either. A lot of them can be found in dog breed magazines, but be careful there are peddlers here and even puppy mills. Many may have a website, but so do thousands of backyard breeders. You’ll find that the less advertising a kennel does the better the kennel probably is, good breeder don’t breed to make money or add to the pet over population problem. You’ll also find that they don’t have litters available all the time and don’t sell too many pups. They breed for betterment of the breed and take best to best. They are breeding because they have dogs that best represent the breed, for themselves and their yard first, other responsible kennels and for pets last.
