| Breed, Buy? Why, Why Not? |
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| Did you know..... ...about the benefits of spay/neuter surgery? In males: neutering before six months of age prevents testicular cancer and prostate disease. Helps prevent/eliminate leg-lifting and mounting behavior. May lessen/help control inter-dog aggression. Makes your dog easier to live with--calmer, more attentive, and less inclined to roam. In females: spaying before the first heat helps greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer and pyometra. Spaying eliminates messy heat cycles. For more information on spaying and neutering, please see ASPCA's Why Spay or Neuter? |
| ONLINE BREEDER-AD RANT! By Mary Harwelik |
Thinking about breeding your Pit Bull? Maybe planning on buying one
from a breeder? Before you do so, please read on.
Take a walk down the halls of almost any shelter, any day, and you will
see a myriad of sad, lonely faces--homeless faces pleading for a chance
to give love that they have never been given. Sadly, most of these dogs
don't make it out of the shelters alive. Rescue organizations are
overflowing with dogs, unable to save all that cross their paths because
there are just too many. And not even close to enough homes. Think
long and hard before you add to the already overflowing supply, or give
money to someone who does.
The dogs that make it to the shelter, or better yet, into a rescue
program, are the lucky ones. Many dogs never even get that far, falling
victim to gross neglect or outright cruelty. The fact is, many people breed
litters (or litters are produced accidentally) and puppies are ignorantly
allowed to end up in abusive situations. Puppies grow up to be not-so-
cute adult dogs, owners tire of them and then relinquish them to
shelters where they are euthanized. Dogs are placed into abusive
homes because many breeders don't screen, or just don't care who
takes their pups. Too often dogs wind up dead on the streets, set on
fire, beaten, shot, and worse. "Not my puppies," says the well-meaning,
but neophyte breeder, "My puppies will end up in good homes." But
making sure every puppy will be cared for and loved, and that none will
grow up to produce more puppies that could end up abused and
homeless, is not an easy task.
Do you really need to breed your dog? Ask yourself why this is
something you want to do. Is it fair to your dog? Fair to the breed? Are
you certain that supporting a breeder is what you want to do? Have you
considered adoption instead?
Please read on for more info (scroll down)......
Buying from a breeder?
Do you have a specific reason for wanting to buy from a breeder? If you
are simply looking for a great pet, rescuing a dog can be the best
decision you ever made. If you do buy a dog from a breeder, make sure
you support an ethical breeder and not a "BYB" or commercial breeder
(click here to find out what an ethical breeder is). Be sure to stay away
from pet shops that sell puppies, as well (please see the following
report: Pet Shops & Puppymills).
For more information on where to get a Pit Bull please see the
Ownership page. Back To Index>
Thinking About Breeding Your Dog?
Below is some information and food for thought. Don't breed your dog
before reading the following!
Don't Be A BYB!
"Backyard breeding" sounds benign enough, almost like something that
one would want to propagate as opposed to other sorts of breeding.
But in the dog breeding world, the term is considered very negative.
The definition of "backyard breeder" (BYB) will vary slightly depending
upon who you ask, but generally speaking the term is used to describe a
person who casually breeds dogs in the home, probably mating the
untested, untitled family pet(s) to recoup the cost of purchase or dog
care, to provide pets for their friends and family, and/or to produce
another dog "just like Fluffy". Backyard breeders are not particularly
knowledgeable about their breed, dogs in general, genetics or the
breeding procedure, and the puppies they produce are low quality,
possibly sick or temperamentally unsound. (Please see "What Is An
Ethical Breeder?" below to learn more about how dog breeding SHOULD
be done.)
There really is no reason to breed the family dog. The chance that a
haphazardly-mated dog will produce puppies that end up just like the
parents is slim. Friends and family who swear they will take a puppy end
up missing in action when the time to bring a puppy home actually
arrives. Litters end up being much bigger than expected--the planned-
for litter of 6 ends up being a litter of 12, and as a result you find
yourself overrun with rapidly growing puppies which no one wants.
Solution? Live with way more dogs than you planned on, or dump the
dogs off at the local shelter, where they will most likely be euthanized
with all the other backyard-bred dogs who turned out to be just too
much of a hassle for their owners. And as far as making money goes--
HA! Between pre- and post-natal veterinary care, advertising for the
puppies, feeding the puppies who end up not being sold as quickly as
you had hoped, veterinary care for the growing puppies, medical
emergencies that arise with the pregnant bitch, and a host of other
unexpected expenses, the idea of actually making any money on the
sale price of the pups becomes laughable. Then there's the possibility
that you could lose your bitch and puppies during or after pregnancy due
to complications. Are you really willing to risk the life of your beloved
family pet simply to bring more puppies into a world that is already
overflowing with homeless, abused, and abandon dogs?
Do the responsible thing and spay or neuter the family dog. Dog
breeding is not a joke. It is not a money-making enterprise. It is
something that should be left to a few extremely knowledgeable,
dedicated people whose only desire is to improve their breed. That is
the ONLY ethical reason to breed.
What is an ethical breeder?
The terms "ethical breeder" and "responsible breeder" are used a lot in
the purebred dog world. But what exactly constitutes an ethical
producer of dogs? An ethical breeder is someone whose number one
goal is to better the breed.
Before we further discuss the general protocol of ethical breeding, let's
first look at the phrase "to better the breed". What does that mean
exactly? Each breed of dog was created with a specific task in mind,
whether that task was hunting, herding, sledding, or companion animal.
Certain traits were selected for that would enable a dog to better
perform its designated task. These traits comprised both physical and
temperamental aspects. Established breeds each have a written
standard. A standard is a description of the ideal specimen of the breed.
Standards describe both physical and temperamental aspects that
should be present in the breed: those traits that were selected for
during the creation of the breed. Think of a standard as a blueprint
which breeders can refer to when "building" the best dogs. This is one
way breeders can help ensure that the dogs they are breeding are good
representatives of their breed.
With the ideal specimen firmly established in the breeder's mind, he/she
then works towards producing dogs that most resemble the standard.
There is no such thing as the "perfect dog", but it is the goal of ethical
breeders to try to get as close to perfection as is possible. The desire of
those who are seriously involved in purebred dogs is to see each breed--
as a whole--continue to improve generation after generation and reach
that pinnacle of perfection known as the standard. This is what is meant
by "bettering the breed".
Now let's return back to the ethical breeder's protocol. How do
responsible breeders go about bettering the breed, and how can you
tell which breeders are good? When you decide on a specific breed, one
that you feel would be a good fit for your life and family, the next step is
to begin thorough research. Through your research, you will learn what
to look for in a dog of your chosen breed, what health issues are of
particular concern to your breed, and general practices of those involved
in your breed. There are specifics of each breed, and those specifics
must be brought into consideration when choosing a breeder. However,
there are a number of general things you should look for in *any*
breeder. To follow is an "ethical breeder protocol", and notes:
*The ethical breeder's main desire is to better the breed. They breed for
the love of the dogs and because they want to see the breed flourish in
the future. That means they only breed those dogs that have traits of
value to the breed to pass on to progeny. Each generation should be at
least as good as the previous, and ideally it should be better.
*The ethical breeder carefully screens all breeding stock for health
problems, and has proof of absence of problems from recognized dog
health registries. Health concerns vary from breed to breed, and
recommended health tests will therefore vary (this is why it is extremely
important for a prospective buyer to be aware of the health concerns
related to their breed of choice, so that they know what health tests to
ask about when interviewing breeders).
*The ethical breeder is usually involved heavily in the sport of purebred
dogs, whether in conformation, obedience, field trials, herding, etc. Stay
aware from breeders who bash organized dog sports and say they stay
away from competition because of politics. This usually signifies that the
breeder's dogs just can't cut it in the show ring/trial field.
*The ethical breeder does not breed only pets. Although the law of
averages will always dictate that pet quality puppies end up many times
in even the most carefully planned litters, the goal of the ethical breeder
is to produce the best dog possible. "Pet" puppies are generally defined
as those that lack certain important qualities and are therefore not good
breeding/showing prospects, but would make happy, healthy pets for
people who are only looking for companionship.
*The Ethical breeder screens prospective buyers very carefully. They ask
a lot of questions to be sure that their puppies only end up in the best
of homes.
*The ethical breeder guarantees each puppy sold. The guarantee should
cover such things as health and temperament, and should have no
expiration date.
*The ethical breeder is knowledgeable about their breed and will
answer questions and concerns regarding the dogs willingly and openly.
*The ethical breeder does not support him/herself by breeding dogs.
Breeding should not be a business--done correctly, there is very little
money to be made in breeding dogs. Steer clear of breeders who make
their living off of producing puppies.
*The ethical breeder's premises are neat and clean. Dogs are well
exercised, happy and healthy. Kennel runs are roomy and comfortable.
Dogs are up to date on vaccinations, well-fed and well-groomed. There
is no excuse for dirty, matted, skinny, or under-exercised dogs. If these
things are obvious, look elsewhere for a puppy. A breeder should never
have more dogs than they can physically care well for.
*Ethical breeders generally only have a litter at a time. Beware the
breeder that has a lot of litters on the ground or a number of pregnant
bitches. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing (a lot depends on the
circumstances of the individual breeder and the situation at hand),
generally speaking the breeder with an abundance of litters/bred
bitches should be avoided.
The time taken to research your breed and then carefully select a
breeder is time well spent. You very well may be saving yourself from a
lot of misery in the future.
10 Best Reasons To Breed Your Pet Dog
10) You like the idea of having a house overrun by dogs you were
unable to sell.
09) You'd rather spend all your money on dog bills than buy that new
faux fur coat/build the new house addition/get that new car/buy a boat,
etc.
08) You get to spend all your spare time at the vet's office.
07) Making enemies with the neighbors is a big priority on your list of
things to do.
06) You never wanted a yard with grass anyway--mud is so much more
stylish.
05) Staying up all night bottle-feeding sick/orphaned/bitch-rejected
puppies is your idea of a good time.
04) You savor the idea of having to explain to the kids why Fifi didn't
come home after that one-way trip to the veterinarian during labor
complications.
03) It will be fun watching the kids' expressions when you tell them that
all the puppies they were so enthusiastically looking forward to having,
died.
02) Chewed-up furniture, peed-on rugs, and fur everywhere is THE new
"look" in home fashion.
And the number one reason to breed your dog is......
01) Adding to the huge number of genetically
inferior/homeless/euthanized dogs is something you've always wanted
to do.
For More Information...
If you are seriously considering breeding your dog or contemplating
buying a dog from a breeder, PLEASE take the time to learn about the
breed and responsible breeding. Please visit one of the following sites to
learn more about how ethical, caring people breed their dogs. Don't
contribute to the problem, be a part of the solution!
from a breeder? Before you do so, please read on.
Take a walk down the halls of almost any shelter, any day, and you will
see a myriad of sad, lonely faces--homeless faces pleading for a chance
to give love that they have never been given. Sadly, most of these dogs
don't make it out of the shelters alive. Rescue organizations are
overflowing with dogs, unable to save all that cross their paths because
there are just too many. And not even close to enough homes. Think
long and hard before you add to the already overflowing supply, or give
money to someone who does.
The dogs that make it to the shelter, or better yet, into a rescue
program, are the lucky ones. Many dogs never even get that far, falling
victim to gross neglect or outright cruelty. The fact is, many people breed
litters (or litters are produced accidentally) and puppies are ignorantly
allowed to end up in abusive situations. Puppies grow up to be not-so-
cute adult dogs, owners tire of them and then relinquish them to
shelters where they are euthanized. Dogs are placed into abusive
homes because many breeders don't screen, or just don't care who
takes their pups. Too often dogs wind up dead on the streets, set on
fire, beaten, shot, and worse. "Not my puppies," says the well-meaning,
but neophyte breeder, "My puppies will end up in good homes." But
making sure every puppy will be cared for and loved, and that none will
grow up to produce more puppies that could end up abused and
homeless, is not an easy task.
Do you really need to breed your dog? Ask yourself why this is
something you want to do. Is it fair to your dog? Fair to the breed? Are
you certain that supporting a breeder is what you want to do? Have you
considered adoption instead?
Please read on for more info (scroll down)......
- Buying from a breeder?
- Thinking about breeding your dog?
- Don't Be A BYB
- What is an ethical breeder?
- 10 Best Reasons to Breed Your Dog
- More Information
Buying from a breeder?
Do you have a specific reason for wanting to buy from a breeder? If you
are simply looking for a great pet, rescuing a dog can be the best
decision you ever made. If you do buy a dog from a breeder, make sure
you support an ethical breeder and not a "BYB" or commercial breeder
(click here to find out what an ethical breeder is). Be sure to stay away
from pet shops that sell puppies, as well (please see the following
report: Pet Shops & Puppymills).
For more information on where to get a Pit Bull please see the
Ownership page. Back To Index>
Thinking About Breeding Your Dog?
Below is some information and food for thought. Don't breed your dog
before reading the following!
Don't Be A BYB!
"Backyard breeding" sounds benign enough, almost like something that
one would want to propagate as opposed to other sorts of breeding.
But in the dog breeding world, the term is considered very negative.
The definition of "backyard breeder" (BYB) will vary slightly depending
upon who you ask, but generally speaking the term is used to describe a
person who casually breeds dogs in the home, probably mating the
untested, untitled family pet(s) to recoup the cost of purchase or dog
care, to provide pets for their friends and family, and/or to produce
another dog "just like Fluffy". Backyard breeders are not particularly
knowledgeable about their breed, dogs in general, genetics or the
breeding procedure, and the puppies they produce are low quality,
possibly sick or temperamentally unsound. (Please see "What Is An
Ethical Breeder?" below to learn more about how dog breeding SHOULD
be done.)
There really is no reason to breed the family dog. The chance that a
haphazardly-mated dog will produce puppies that end up just like the
parents is slim. Friends and family who swear they will take a puppy end
up missing in action when the time to bring a puppy home actually
arrives. Litters end up being much bigger than expected--the planned-
for litter of 6 ends up being a litter of 12, and as a result you find
yourself overrun with rapidly growing puppies which no one wants.
Solution? Live with way more dogs than you planned on, or dump the
dogs off at the local shelter, where they will most likely be euthanized
with all the other backyard-bred dogs who turned out to be just too
much of a hassle for their owners. And as far as making money goes--
HA! Between pre- and post-natal veterinary care, advertising for the
puppies, feeding the puppies who end up not being sold as quickly as
you had hoped, veterinary care for the growing puppies, medical
emergencies that arise with the pregnant bitch, and a host of other
unexpected expenses, the idea of actually making any money on the
sale price of the pups becomes laughable. Then there's the possibility
that you could lose your bitch and puppies during or after pregnancy due
to complications. Are you really willing to risk the life of your beloved
family pet simply to bring more puppies into a world that is already
overflowing with homeless, abused, and abandon dogs?
Do the responsible thing and spay or neuter the family dog. Dog
breeding is not a joke. It is not a money-making enterprise. It is
something that should be left to a few extremely knowledgeable,
dedicated people whose only desire is to improve their breed. That is
the ONLY ethical reason to breed.
What is an ethical breeder?
The terms "ethical breeder" and "responsible breeder" are used a lot in
the purebred dog world. But what exactly constitutes an ethical
producer of dogs? An ethical breeder is someone whose number one
goal is to better the breed.
Before we further discuss the general protocol of ethical breeding, let's
first look at the phrase "to better the breed". What does that mean
exactly? Each breed of dog was created with a specific task in mind,
whether that task was hunting, herding, sledding, or companion animal.
Certain traits were selected for that would enable a dog to better
perform its designated task. These traits comprised both physical and
temperamental aspects. Established breeds each have a written
standard. A standard is a description of the ideal specimen of the breed.
Standards describe both physical and temperamental aspects that
should be present in the breed: those traits that were selected for
during the creation of the breed. Think of a standard as a blueprint
which breeders can refer to when "building" the best dogs. This is one
way breeders can help ensure that the dogs they are breeding are good
representatives of their breed.
With the ideal specimen firmly established in the breeder's mind, he/she
then works towards producing dogs that most resemble the standard.
There is no such thing as the "perfect dog", but it is the goal of ethical
breeders to try to get as close to perfection as is possible. The desire of
those who are seriously involved in purebred dogs is to see each breed--
as a whole--continue to improve generation after generation and reach
that pinnacle of perfection known as the standard. This is what is meant
by "bettering the breed".
Now let's return back to the ethical breeder's protocol. How do
responsible breeders go about bettering the breed, and how can you
tell which breeders are good? When you decide on a specific breed, one
that you feel would be a good fit for your life and family, the next step is
to begin thorough research. Through your research, you will learn what
to look for in a dog of your chosen breed, what health issues are of
particular concern to your breed, and general practices of those involved
in your breed. There are specifics of each breed, and those specifics
must be brought into consideration when choosing a breeder. However,
there are a number of general things you should look for in *any*
breeder. To follow is an "ethical breeder protocol", and notes:
*The ethical breeder's main desire is to better the breed. They breed for
the love of the dogs and because they want to see the breed flourish in
the future. That means they only breed those dogs that have traits of
value to the breed to pass on to progeny. Each generation should be at
least as good as the previous, and ideally it should be better.
*The ethical breeder carefully screens all breeding stock for health
problems, and has proof of absence of problems from recognized dog
health registries. Health concerns vary from breed to breed, and
recommended health tests will therefore vary (this is why it is extremely
important for a prospective buyer to be aware of the health concerns
related to their breed of choice, so that they know what health tests to
ask about when interviewing breeders).
*The ethical breeder is usually involved heavily in the sport of purebred
dogs, whether in conformation, obedience, field trials, herding, etc. Stay
aware from breeders who bash organized dog sports and say they stay
away from competition because of politics. This usually signifies that the
breeder's dogs just can't cut it in the show ring/trial field.
*The ethical breeder does not breed only pets. Although the law of
averages will always dictate that pet quality puppies end up many times
in even the most carefully planned litters, the goal of the ethical breeder
is to produce the best dog possible. "Pet" puppies are generally defined
as those that lack certain important qualities and are therefore not good
breeding/showing prospects, but would make happy, healthy pets for
people who are only looking for companionship.
*The Ethical breeder screens prospective buyers very carefully. They ask
a lot of questions to be sure that their puppies only end up in the best
of homes.
*The ethical breeder guarantees each puppy sold. The guarantee should
cover such things as health and temperament, and should have no
expiration date.
*The ethical breeder is knowledgeable about their breed and will
answer questions and concerns regarding the dogs willingly and openly.
*The ethical breeder does not support him/herself by breeding dogs.
Breeding should not be a business--done correctly, there is very little
money to be made in breeding dogs. Steer clear of breeders who make
their living off of producing puppies.
*The ethical breeder's premises are neat and clean. Dogs are well
exercised, happy and healthy. Kennel runs are roomy and comfortable.
Dogs are up to date on vaccinations, well-fed and well-groomed. There
is no excuse for dirty, matted, skinny, or under-exercised dogs. If these
things are obvious, look elsewhere for a puppy. A breeder should never
have more dogs than they can physically care well for.
*Ethical breeders generally only have a litter at a time. Beware the
breeder that has a lot of litters on the ground or a number of pregnant
bitches. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing (a lot depends on the
circumstances of the individual breeder and the situation at hand),
generally speaking the breeder with an abundance of litters/bred
bitches should be avoided.
The time taken to research your breed and then carefully select a
breeder is time well spent. You very well may be saving yourself from a
lot of misery in the future.
10 Best Reasons To Breed Your Pet Dog
10) You like the idea of having a house overrun by dogs you were
unable to sell.
09) You'd rather spend all your money on dog bills than buy that new
faux fur coat/build the new house addition/get that new car/buy a boat,
etc.
08) You get to spend all your spare time at the vet's office.
07) Making enemies with the neighbors is a big priority on your list of
things to do.
06) You never wanted a yard with grass anyway--mud is so much more
stylish.
05) Staying up all night bottle-feeding sick/orphaned/bitch-rejected
puppies is your idea of a good time.
04) You savor the idea of having to explain to the kids why Fifi didn't
come home after that one-way trip to the veterinarian during labor
complications.
03) It will be fun watching the kids' expressions when you tell them that
all the puppies they were so enthusiastically looking forward to having,
died.
02) Chewed-up furniture, peed-on rugs, and fur everywhere is THE new
"look" in home fashion.
And the number one reason to breed your dog is......
01) Adding to the huge number of genetically
inferior/homeless/euthanized dogs is something you've always wanted
to do.
For More Information...
If you are seriously considering breeding your dog or contemplating
buying a dog from a breeder, PLEASE take the time to learn about the
breed and responsible breeding. Please visit one of the following sites to
learn more about how ethical, caring people breed their dogs. Don't
contribute to the problem, be a part of the solution!
- RESIST THE GREED! Don't support BYBs, and certainly don't
become one!
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