Define Ethical Breeder ???'s - Page 1

Is an Ethical breeder someone who takes responsibility for every single pup they breed ? Is it someone who breeds with specific goals and improvements in mind ? Is it someone who truly loves they're dogs and stays in touch with buyers answering questions and concerns ? My point and keyword here is "Ethical" Please for now just answer those three questions and be honest !! these are simple Yes/No questions for now can we do Yes/No answers then we can get in deeper as this goes on.

Hi Mitch, Yep, an ethical breeder does take responsibility for every single pup he/she breeds...for the entirety of their lives. They do all the health screenings they can do, breed for the best temperament, health and trainability. They do not just breed 'any' AKC registered dog, but the ones who can actually better the breed as a whole. Yes they do stay in touch with buyers and answer all questions and concerns at any time. They get back to their puppy people as soon as they can with any information they can give and if they don't have that specific information at their fingertips, they know where to get it! An ethical breeder loves their dogs and breeds with a specific goal in mind, not just to produce puppies and to make a profit (who makes a profit at this??). I also think an ethical breeder take the time to socialize his/her dogs and puppies and the time to get to know prospective buyers to make sure they place the right puppy into the right home. A breeder who does not know these things, in my opinion is just a byb and only cares about the monies involved in selling puppies. I also consider an ethical breeder one who insists their dogs come back to them if they ever need to be rehomed. If we let people sell or give our dogs away to someone else, then we have no control over what type of living environment they go to, whether or not they will take good care of the dog or whether they tie it up out in the back yard or if they let it run the neighborhood. I really could go on and on about this one :) but I'll just say that for now! Peggy knightenhaus

Peggy Excellent post ! I too agree with all you have stated !! and furthermore adhere to those standards you have mentioned. Thank You, Now I don't feel like such a heel. :-) No kiding though, who does make a profit at this ??

I totally agree with both of you. Myself I ask a lot of questions and sometimes the people won't answer and I don't hear from them again, but sometimes they do answer. I also keep in touch with everyone that gets a puppy from me. It drives my partner crazy and tells me not to bother the people but I do it anyway. I like to know where my pups are going and who their going to, and what their plans are for the puppy's future. I don't think that's bad to keep track of them does anyone else?

YES, YES, and YES. Absolutely. molly

I think an ethical breeder is one that does what he/she said he/she would do....ie honer the contract. And sometimes go above and beond the contract. Every situation is different..I think that the contract is a guide but we have the option to do more if we feel it would be in the best. I know I will go above and beond for the puppy owners that really do things with the pup...we had a male out of one of my litters that has HD...well his owner has been in obedience classes from the start and has gone to a couple of AKC shows, she joined the sch club and keeps him very healthy. I was so sad when he had his x-rays. Well I am going beond the contract in this situation. I also have a puppy that I just found out has HD...the owners have not kept in touch...the husband has written me that he is going to take me to court if I don't pay for the HD surgery...well needless to say I will honer my contract but will not do one more thing than that.

Yep! Me too. I have replaced puppies that for some reason or another have not worked out in pet homes. I have taken the dogs back, rehomed them and have given them anther puppy. Mind you, these people were very nice but just mostly could not handle the dogs as they were just too drivey for them. I agree, honoring the contract is a MUST! That is why we have contracts, to protect us, the dog and the buyers. Peggy

Peggy me too, fact is very rescently I've had two pups come back for being too much for the people to handle, I have in turn offered them a pup of lower drive from another litter. But always take my babies back, heck I even babysit my babies when the owners go on vaccations. Contract says they MUST be returned to me.

EchoMeadows, Your contract may say the dog MUST be returned to you (so does mine and many others), but that does not mean squat. These people will do what they want(that means the dog may be returned to you or they may resell it or give it away and you will be none the wiser) in the end, with that dog and there is nothing you will be able to do about it. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. That contract is only in place to protect the buyer(he/she is the squeeky wheel that gets the grease, not you). The breeder(seller) and the dog take a back seat when it comes to protection of their interest. Stephen

Perhaps the definition of an ethical breeder is one who will keep and raise all of the pups from a litter from birth to death at old age if they are of a quality that he/she cannot sell. The lifetime committment, so to say. Makes a mistake, takes a calculated risk that proves itself as a risk, suffers a smite from the cruel hand of fate, etc. and lives with its consequences. Bob-O