| What is a backyard breeder? A backyard breeder is a person who thinks that having a dog of each sex registered with AKC means litters of cute puppies and oodles of money. It generally means having no concept of genetics or even doing the basic genetic testing to tell whether their dogs will be passing along crippling or even lethal defects to the adorable puppies they want you to buy. This is the risk you are taking when you pick up the classifieds and look at all the AKC puppy ads. You can tell a backyard breeder from a reputable one by asking questions. A reputable breeder also sells dogs from his or her home so you can't tell just by looking. If you ask to see a pedigree or proof of health clearances, a good breeder will show you, because they checked their dog's backgrounds before breeding. A backyard breeder will say, "it's an AKC, ASCA, or whatever reg. they use dog with champion lines" and not have anything to show you. A good breeder will want to know what kind of home you will provide for your dog and ask you questions, the BYB will be already counting the money you brought. Especially in Australian Shepherds, do not buy a dog without seeing the parent's OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certificate and CERF (Eye Exam). This means they had their hips X-rayed and were found to be free of hip dysplasia and their eyes checked yearly by a qualified ophthalmologist. HD is a progressive degenerative disease that is painful and crippling with age. It is a growing danger for most large popular breeds because of indiscriminate breeding. A good breeder also knows about their dog's relatives to know whether there have been problems with dysplasia, eye defects, epilepsy, and other genetic defects in them or their offspring. A careless breeder will look astounded you asked and either say they have no idea or cook up a lie real fast such as "He sees real good so no need to check those eyes!" or "he can jump a 4 foot fence flat footed so his hips are good!" Don't believe it, ask for proof of health checks! Pet shop puppies Are the very worst option of all. Pet shop puppies come from puppy mills. Dogs with no genetic checking at all, bred on an industrial scale and usually neglected to the point of being barely alive, their puppies are wholesaled out in boxes to pet stores for about 20% of what you will be charged. Puppy mills are regularly closed down when health or animal welfare authorities investigate and sometimes the horror stories even get in the media.Puppy mills and their clients exist to make money. Problem is, they are treating dogs as a commodity. Refuse to do business with any store that sells puppies and tell them why. If stores find doing business with the mills more aggravation than profit, they'll stop, otherwise they never will. The most important thing you can do to help stop dog overpopulation is to always spay or neuter your pet. TEN WORST EXCUSES TO NOT SPAY OR NEUTER A PET: 1. Just one litter and we'll have fluffy spayed. (Studies show that virtually the entire pet overpopulation stems from the "just one litter" mentality) 2. My dog doesn't run loose so he doesn't need to be fixed. (Murphy's law says otherwise) 3. We always find homes for the puppies. (And that means an equal number of puppies at the pound will be killed) 4. I want the children to witness the miracle of birth. (Then watch Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel) 5. My dog is so wonderful and unique, there should be more of her. (The shelters are full of wonderful and unique dogs, most of whom have a few days to live) 6. It's not natural. (There hasn't been anything "natural" about dogs since we domesticated them thousands over years ago and took control of their training & reproduction) 7. I just couldn't look my dog in the eye if I had him castrated. (Watch it, you're anthromorphising) 8. A female dog should have at least one litter for medical reasons. (Medically, factually and ethically indefensible) 9. Neutering my dog will make him fat & lazy. (Too much food and too little exercise make a dog fat & lazy) 10. Fixing my pet will change its personality. (see #8) |
