Breeding age and standards - Page 2

Just a couple more links. Hope you like reading. LOL
http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper351.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill



http://www.google.com/#pq=commercial+dog+breeding+regulations&hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=34&gs_id=0&xhr=t&q=commercial+dog+breeding+regulations&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&safe=off&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=commercial+dog+breeding+regulation&aq=0bA&aqi=q-bA2&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8d2799fded6483d2&biw=740&bih=396

EuroShepherd,
Before you make a comment like this, "People who have no involvement in the breeding, training or showing of animals have no business micromanaging them. ", you may want to know that the person asking the question is a long-time national level competitor in Schutzhund, a long-time national level helper, a training director for two clubs where he has helped others train and title too many dogs to count, and has bred a few litters.
I think that the question was asked and the county in question is looking at some sort of standard because they see that there is a problem and would like to somehow rectify the situation. The county in question is loaded with Amish and Mennonites. Some of the worst puppy millers in the U.S. fall under the categories Amish and Mennonites.
Why is it that setting standards means passing unenforceable laws?
Maybe it means providing some clueless people some guidelines that they will hopefully follow?
And in turn, maybe some dogs in that county will be treated better than they presently are!
How do you figure sitting by idly is the way to go?
Personally, I think that it is good to have "dog people" involved in solving these issues.
It's a lot better than leaving it to people like HSUS, PETA, etc.!!!
When you draw a line in the sand that is what you are left with!

RW,
Good luck with your quest!
Don't let the negative BS on here get to you.
Hopefully some competent people/breeders with knowledge and experience will chime in with some helpful information like some have already.
See you at the WDC in April.

OGBS, why would you read that post and think she was talking about Ronnie??? That was clearly reflective of her thoughts on government regulating where they don't belong, not Ronnie personally, I thought.

Well maybe if the OP had identified himself as an a Sch competitor, etc he may have recived a better reception here. I'm not quite sure what is expected from a group of dog breeders many of whom have been unfairly trageted by local dog law officers and humane societies or who know others who have been. Why act as if if EuroShepherds is a bad person for she posted here? OGBS, honestly if you didn't know the OP how would you have responded?

Tell me about the Amish dog breeders. I lived in York County, PA, the next county to the west of Lancaster. Contact the Pa Federation of Dog Clubs to find out how they dealt with and still deal with Amish breeders who pack hundreds of dogs into barns to  make money they aren't ever suppoed to want. The Federation has a website with contact information. I feel sure they would be very happy to help.

The county in question is loaded with Amish and Mennonites. Some of the worst puppy millers in the U.S. fall under the categories Amish and Mennonites.

"Categories" of breeder?  We're racially profiling breeders these days?  Why not "categorize" them by state?  It seems to me that Texas and Arizona top the "high-volume-output" list.  Not that I'm defending anyone's breeding practices here, but I just don't see how someone's training experience is in any way relevant to making legal decisions about breeding.  You clearly assert that there "is a problem", but please explain in some detail how regulating breeding age is supposed to directly address the problem anyway?  Just not getting it. 

I'll clear the negative air quickly in pointing out that the county is not looking to micro manage breeding operations. Our county covers 500 square miles and has 40 known commercial breeders (puppy mills), yes most of them Amish, and is 90% agricultural. We recently had a gentleman apply for a Permit to operate a commercial breeding operation, requesting 105 breeding age dogs, the board members were blind sided as to what the breeding age of females and males is. If the Board members granted a permit the applicant could have 150+ dogs on-site and state that 105 were breeding age. Note our county governs the commercial breeding operations as a land use business the same as it would if it were a saw mill. The county ordinance views the impact the businesses will have on neighboring properties and roads for traffic.

We were recently blind sided by an animal rights activist group insinuating our Zoning Ordinance is not strict enough in monitoring commercial breeders and in making inspections on puppy mills. Which is true as we don't monitor the breeding of dogs, horses, or cows.  Our board being uneducated in dog breeding practices requested I research reputable breeding operations to bring insight to our members. 

The goal of this post is to bring as much information to our board members as possible to set a guideline for breeding practices that the county view as acceptable as a good faith set of standards.  My advice to our board will be to limit the number of dogs and allow our local humane society govern the keeping of animals and their care. Note: the numerous breeding operations I've inspected for business permits have been very well maintained.

As with any post I expect the negative and welcome the positive comments. 
 

 

Daryl, I have to assume you have never lived near an Amish dog breeding community. 

bowing out, no need to get into this one...