backyard breeders - Page 1

I was just wondering what is considered a backyard breeder. Is it just people who breed their pets w/out health checks, and the reason for breeding is to make some extra cash or is there more to this.

Could it be people who do health checks (yet still breed their pet dog) and breed because they love the breed and love having puppies around once in awhile Or is it strictly people who do not Show/work or do any kind of Sport with their breeding dogs.

I know there are alot more the examples. Let me know what you think. This is just a question and so keep it nice

the reason i ask is that i'm going to start writing a paper on pet population.

Well there will be many definitions,  so am gonna try to get this in early so I am not accused of disagreeing with anyone,, LOL.

Backyard Breeder,  Breeds Dogs for Cash and NO more...  Does not pay any attention to Pedigrees or even paperwork,  has no contract, does not vaccinate, deworm, health check, microchip, or Guarantee anything,  does not even keep track of where or who the pups go, and does not ever take a pup back, and never offers a refund or replacement.  Does not care to spend time with people purchasing pups before or after the purchase.  Does not keep in touch with buyers.  Does not breed sound dogs, ie health, temperament, structure, drive.  Does not have asspirations of training, showing, titleing, or other.  Does not prescreen at all,  only cares to make a sale,  breeds bitch every time she is in heat,  does not test for brucella, or other detremental health conditions, does not xray large breeds for hips/elbows,  does not xray small breeds for patella, or knee's,  Does not socialize dogs or pups,  Breeds a dog that is prone to bloat, has seizures, and other debilitating health issues that are considered hereditary (and they usually don't even know this).  Does not know or care weather or not the person is a match to the pup/dog,  Only cares about the all mighty dollar the dog can make them.  That is my definition of a BYB,  But I'm sure you'll have several other's  I am anxious to read what others perspectives and definitions are. 

Good Post bun bun,  and Good luck with your paper !

A person who does nothing, knows nothing, is about nothing, and has nothing , produces nothing, admits nothing, promotes nothing, and is a no name,  but a dog to sell.....and runs like water back home where he has nothing.....couldnt find him if you wanted to,.

I have known people who sell 2K dollar dogs who I would consider BYB.  It is not entirely about the dog.  It is a worldview that looks at profit from dogs as a commodity.   It is also an emotional and subjective topic, not likely to find many people who agree wholeheartedly on the issue.  Anything we as humans become passionate about, we become political about, we argue about and we fight for/or about.  I do not entirely agree with Yellow rose, and yet I do not entirely disagree either.   I find myself nodding reading it, and yet I also think,  somewhat harsh.  We often treat dogs better than we treat other people.  There is a certain clique in the dog world, even in the somewhat "professional" dog world.  There are those who breed 3 litters a year and there are those who breed 30.  Quantity is not the litmus for quality.  So maybe we should also consider, if someone is NOT a BYB, what puts them in that "other" catergory?  Not sure I have a cut and dried answer on either, sorry.  But good luck and I hope you get lots of answers to help you out.

Lisa

I know several small breeders who DO health checks, DO guarantee their pups, DO take time to match buyer to pups, DO follow up to make sure that everything is OK.......yet they have their kennels in their backyards..........& they only breed occassionally.........hmmmm? SO...what are they??? (also aren't makin' any moneyLOL!)jo

Backyard breeder is a term used for many years and has stuck around. I believe it is someone that breeds dogs with no responsibility, respect or education towards the breeding of those dogs. Eg, genetic problems, structural problems...I don't see these people always in it for  the money, it could be they just like having puppies around. Left overs end up on the street or in shelters. I would think they would do it on a smaller scale. One I've seen will go to the city get dogs from shelters and they do sell them undesex, maybe because she has to travel so far to come back? She breeds it or them, tells people they are whatever breed sounds the better, even show the wrong father and makes her money. Gets the dog put down if it hasn't taken off or someone has taken it and off she goes again. Another man collects unwanted dogs to rehouse and because  a lot of females  on heat and he so man and think his dog man, people get a 6 month old pup belly full with his boy.

Then there are puppy mills, I see it as someone who breeds anywhere acres or backyard even can have kennels but has too many  to be cared for properly.  Someone  who spends no time with dog and pup, breeders of x breeds that mean nothing all for money. Someone who doesn't  take caution and pass on weaknesses and cause problems by not knowing what they are doing.  

A breeder to me is someone that will know who they have breed not just what, give a dam on what, where,who and how you are. Make sure they have done the best they could to give you a sound and healthy puppy. Give you more that just the colour,sex,age and parents.  Have a market for what they produce, even x-breeds.  Like to see how their puppies grow up.

I think it is easier to explain a good breeder then to try to go through all the backyarder and puppy mills I've seen or heard of over the years.

Another characteristic of a backyard breeder is they follow trends, because that's where the money is. One of the latest is chihuahuas. You can hardly find a chi for under $2,000 these days, regardless of whether it's a puppy mill dog or from a proper breeder. Why? Probably because of Paris [gag, gag] Hilton and her latest fashion accessory. Designer dogs (labradoodles, etc.) are another trend no respectable breeder will touch.

Why would a respectable breeders avoid the labradoodle?  Just want to know why you say this.

Most, though certainly not all of our modern day dogs are our own "design."   Would we have told Max... hey no respectable breeder would breed these things you are calling german shepherd dogs.  He was really responsible for kind of designing what he really wanted in a moderate, working, do everything dog.   That too is a hard question.  And perhaps so long ago people would have wondered, "will this new fangled GSD breed stick around or be a flash in the pan?"  But I agree 100% percent with the fact that Sunsilver stated that one characteristic of a BYB is that they follow trends, absolutely true I think.... and I kinda have to agree with the (gag, gag) thing too.

Lisa

My simple definition:

Back-yard-breeders are breeders who are either unknowledgable or irresponsible about breeding and their breed.  Puppy mills would carry the same definition but on a larger scale.

Their intentions may be good... they may think their dog is wonderful... but they are unaware of what their dog could produce (health/temperment)... they may be unaware of how many dogs are put down every year due to people just like them... or worse, they may be aware of all of this but care less because of the almighty dollar or because there is at least one good puppy each litter and so they are under the illusion that they are doing something good.  Just my two cents.