Puppy Mill, Back-Yard Breeder
OR
REPUTABLE RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
by: Jane Baetz
Working as heavily as I did with the rescue program I not only met many different people, but many different so-called Bassets. When people would come to my house to see a rescued Basset one question always asked was “is this a purebred registered Basset?” My answer had to be “yes” it’s a purebred. Usually the next comment is “but this rescue Basset doesn’t look anything like your other Bassets”. At this point I’d explain the terms “Puppy Mill”, “Back-Yard Breeder” and “Reputable Responsible Breeder”.
I explained that registration of a purebred dog with AKC has no guarantees. There is no quality control. Any 2 dogs that are registered can be bred, and the offspring can be registered. If the dog’s quality is not good, than neither will the off spring be good. If the proper paperwork and fees are forwarded to AKC the dogs can be registered. So the breed’s fate depends solely on the breeder and their credibility.
The biggest problem is the “Puppy Mill”. They are arguably the only source of puppies for the retail pet stores. And it can be safely assumed that “Pet Store” sales account for the large portion of the pet registration in the US.
In almost every “Puppy Mill” examined, the bitches were bred in their first season and in every season after that. After all they are there to generate profit. When the dogs are just too old to breed, or unable to, for any reason, they are destroyed. Heaven forbid they should need a c-section those dogs and their unborn babies are destroyed also. If the inventory costs too much and profits aren’t high enough, dump it.Puppies are torn form the mothers at around 4 weeks old. They are shipped on cargo pallets 20 and 40 crates deep, and it is common for about one-third of the load of puppies to die in transit.
The lucky live puppies move on to the “Pet Store”. Some well-meaning but unknowing person sees the little pup (usually tiny due to being underweight or sickly) and their heart goes out to it. They want to rescue it from that little cage it’s in, and they pay as much or more as they would have from a reputable breeder. The store has a big overhead to support, after all. Ask someone why he or she bought from a store and the most common answer is they were looking for a particular breed and the store takes charge cards.
Puppies don’t belong in Pet Stores. The likelihood is that they will be unsupervised for 12 hours or more every day. An awfully long time before finding one took ill. They have to live in tiny cages, they are only brought out when someone wants to see them. They are handled by every Tom Dick and Harry complete with every germ they carry on them….Oh yes! and there 6, out of control unsupervised, little darlings. The pups are usually harder to house break because they are left to live in their messes, in their little cubicles.
Don’t fall for the fallacy that puppy mills are only down south, I live in a state about as far north as you can get, and there are operations I could hit with a rock from my house. Complaints have been made to the authorities, but as long as the minimum health standards, that exist now, are met, there is little they can do except inspect and warn. And ironically, the standards are usually to protect the human element, not the dog.
Then there is the “Back-Yard Breeder” They are just as dangerous to the breed and the buyer, but at least they aren’t doing it intentionally.
Head, front structure and ears all wrong
Can only imagine the hereditary issues going on.
They bought an “AKC” dog (probably from a pet store or another Back-yard breeder) and little Cleo is their pride and joy. She is a great pet. She’s got the longest legs you ever saw on a Basset, and her ears don’t reach to, let alone past the end of her nose. And look, she’s got that great long feathering on the back of her legs and tail. The person that sold her said that’s what they’re breeding for nowadays, it’s rare and the pups having this characteristic would probably be worth more money, and if they have blue eyes……a double bonus! “BUYER BEWARE”
Cleo’s owners heard it’s better to breed a dog at least once before you get her spayed, only they call it spaded!!!!. Besides it’s a great way to teach the kids about the beauty of birth and the responsibilities of caring for the pups. And these are the same kids who can’t remember to brush their teeth, or change their underwear. They never thought of taking the kids to the local humane society to see what happens when that responsibility is ignored, and the thousands of dogs euthanized because the kid’s just lost interest, and the parents don’t have time.
BAD!!!
Back to Cleo. Her owner’s take her to the nearest AKC registered male Basset that they can find lets call him Clarence. Cleo’s owners might ask for Clarence’s pedigree, the owner shows them the AKC papers and tells them that’s all they need. Clarence’s owner explains that the bald, scratched, bloody spot on him usually go away after summer ends, and even if his lower jaw sticks out a little, Cleo’s upper jaw sticks out, so the pups bites will probably even out in the genes…Makes sense to me.!!!!!! Those smelly ears are just from the summer, nothing to worry about, and the gunky crusty eyes? That’s nothing, part of being a Basset. They cut a deal and the breeding is done. Nature runs its course, and in 8 weeks we have another bunch of terrific examples of the breed to find homes for.
They run a classified ad in the paper (another great place to find pure bred dogs), buy space on one of the Internet puppy seller pages, and a buyer shows up. Usually the ad is written “Bassett Hounds For Sale”, because the sellers haven’t even learned how to spell the breed name, let alone find out any important information about them. They once bought one of those little booklets about Bassets’ and it told them all they needed to know about the breed. “How about the pedigree?” the buyer asks. “Here’s the AKC registration,” they say, and everyone’s happy. “And look this one has the great crooked legs, with the feet shooting off to the sides, with the feathery fur on the legs and tail like a setter! This is really a rare trait, so the sale is made.
The sale is made and the cycle goes on. The pedigree is rarely checked, so successive breeding could easily be to close relatives, since they’ll be in the same area. That’ll help continue those rare traits.
The Backyard breeder doesn’t do any of this intentionally. He is just uneducated and listening to the wrong people and some old wives tales that have been passed on thru generations.
AND now we have a new kid on the block with the Internet era. The puppy Brokers. You buy space on a brokers page and sell your pets. Since all the broker cares about is selling it doesn’t matter what the quality of the puppies are or their health issues. You pay the broker advertise your puppy, puppy is sold by broker, and new owner gets their puppy at an airport or undisclosed area away from the kennel. you never get to have contact with the actual “breeder”.
The Reputable Breeder only breeds when it will benefit the breed. They study a 5-generation pedigree; know the ancestry of almost every dog in their pedigree. They know where faults lie and what dogs should and shouldn’t be bred. Who is producing the least amount of faults. They breed only the dogs that are worthy of passing on their genes. They don’t just take two dogs and pray that they will compliment each other. A lot of diligence goes into each and every breeding. Long studies and much experience lead the reputable breeder to combinations that produce beautiful dogs that look like the breed standard, have the temperament the breed is known to have and have few if any hereditary problems.
And now the BYB has flourished A backyard breeder is also someone who keeps a number of dogs and either breeds them deliberately or just lets them breed. Backyard breeders may have a few dogs or many, one breed or several. They usually have no understanding of or concern about the breed standard, genetics, socializing the dogs, and maintaining their health. Don’t confuse them with “hobby breeders,” who breed small numbers of dogs and care for their dogs well. Teh web has brought thousands out of the woodwork bragging about how well there dogs are kept and how conscientious they are. STAY AWAY!
PUPPIES FROM A RESPONSIBLE REPUTABLE BREEDER
HOW A PUPPY SHOULD LOOK
The reputable breeder works and plans and strives for perfection, knowing that perfection isn’t really possible. But they come as close as they can, and those that aren’t close enough to meet their standards are sold, as pets, but they are sold on limited registrations or with no registrations. They’re sold to live a long, happy life as a friend and companion after being neutered to insure that the unwanted imperfections aren’t passed along.
The reputable breeder knows how disruptive a litter will be, and only has a litter they know they will be able to care for. The hours, days and weeks involved lead into a life long devotion to their dogs. Some reputable breeders have only a few litters in their career. This doesn’t mean they aren’t as devoted to the breed, because those few litters are as well planned and cared for as the litters produced by those who do make it a career.
A reputable breeder doesn’t overload themselves with litters so they all suffer: They ALL get the same high degree of care and loving. They check certifications about hereditary problems. They assure the sire and dam are in good health before breeding, they insure against over breeding and do everything possible to have the most physically sound litters possible.
After Whelping the reputable breeder provides the best quality foods, all the recommended supplements and vaccines. They spend more time with the vet than with their human doctor. They do all this to guarantee that they have done the very best for these other members of their family.
And when it’s time to part with one of them…Well, I’ve seen relatives marry off a child with less care in the selection of the spouse than in the selection of a home for their puppies. Pups are not sold before 8 weeks of age and most times later than that. Many elements are taken into consideration before the decision, to sell, is made.
The reputable breeder is there for the buyers throughout the life of their dog, through the good and the bad times. Through sickness and through health, till death they do part. Any questions one would have about their dog the breeder is always there to help. Their knowledge can be a Godsend.
It may be hard to find a reputable breeder on the weekends. They are usually out at dog shows proving that the dogs are exactly what they bred them to be; as near to a perfect specimen that they could breed.
The first thing a reputable breeder will tell you is that an AKC registration paper is NOT all that you need. It is NOT a pedigree and is NOT any guarantee of what the puppy may be.
So! Who would you rather buy from?
Red flags for dog buyers to watch out for:
- Like the classified ads. Good breeders don’t advertise in the newspaper week after week; they wouldn’t have that many puppies. Warning signs are when one ad advertises many different breeds and when several different ads contain the same phone number. (Try typing the number into Google to see if multiple ads come up.)
- Some sellers state they’ll bring the puppy to meet you at an agreed-upon location, not allowing you to see where the dogs or puppies live, but even those who allow you to see where they keep the dogs may not accurately represent the breeding situation.
- Rescue’s should not have too many dogs kept in one spot; most will place their dogs temporarily with families. Rescues spay/neuter and micro chip their dogs before you adopt them.They should have a pre-application process, check references and require a home visit before you even meet the dog. Some rescues’ are out buying puppies from where ever they can get them to turn a profit. The term “Rescue” is being used all too loosely now days to attract caring people.
- Breeder’s that do not ask any questions about where or how the puppy will live.
- Breeder’s that do not sell with spay neuter stipulations, or a restricted registration for pets.
- Breeder’s with no contract or return stipulations.
- Breeder’s who keep their dogs in dirty environment. If they can’t keep the place relatively clean then the health and well being of the dogs is usually treated the same..
If you can not buy/afford a puppy or dog from a reputable breeder, than consider this. There are hundreds of wonderful dogs that society has thrown aside that need someone to help and care for them. They are called rescue dogs, and they need your help. Give one of them a home. They will be more grateful than you will ever know. Every state has a rescue organization. Check them out. In Wisconsin we have “BASSET BUDDIES”
If you need help contacting a rescue organization, or a reputable breeder just email me and I will help you find what you are looking for.
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