A backyard breeder right?

What's wrong with being a backyard breeder? What is wrong with breeding for profit if you have healthy dogs? If you have the puppies in your home, and you give them excellent care and socialization, there shouldn't be a problem.

cause all those puppies you produce cause a lot of problems, misery, and heartbreak? yes there is a demand for puppies but the majority of puppies people buy end up being dumped in shelters when they stop being puppies. One of the definitions of an ethical breeder is they don't contribute to the shelter-dumping problem. Also it's unethical to breed if you don't have your breeding dogs fully checked out to make sure they aren't passing horrible genetic diseases on to the puppies. Dogs with hip and elbow dysplasia suffer horribly. The owners of dogs with genetic diseases caused by bad breeding decisions suffer tremendous heartbreak. Unless you can say with 100% certainty that NO dog you breed will ever end up in a shelter or rescue, and NO dog you breed will inherit a genetic disease AND the breed will be improved by your contributions to it you should not be breeding. Most ethical breeders don't make a profit from breeding so if you are that's big hint that you are being unethical. The breeder I most admire sells each of his pups for close to $5k because the bloodline is so desirable due to his efforts. He doesn't make a profit. He breeds a litter approximately once every five years. He spends enormous sums of money proving to himself and the world that his next brood bitch is as close to perfection as possible.

Myra

There is no hard-and-fast definition of what constitutes a BYB or an ethical breeder.

wikipedia defines a BYB:

"The term backyard breeder is a general term, sometimes considered derogatory, used in USA to describe people who breed animals without selection for important genetic traits. Usually describes those who allow animals, particularly dogs or horses, to procreate regardless of physical or genetic health as opposed to breeders who intentionally screen and select their brood for important characteristics."

so while it sounds like lillie technically came from a BYB, i have to agree with everyone that has said that you've described her as being in the nicer more responsable end of that spectrum.

 Lillie has an appointment in November to get her hips/elbows,heart/thyroid, and eyes checked. Not for breeding purposes(she will not be breed) but because even though she is my pet I want to make sure she has the testing done that should be done for her breed. Plus we have been going to conformation classes. Mainly for me to learn and be ready for when I get my IRWS pup next year to show. If Lillie has the desire to show then we will show for fun. She will be doing agility also so I want to make sure she is healthy before putting that strain on her body.

louiereck

What's wrong with being a backyard breeder? What is wrong with breeding for profit if you have healthy dogs? If you have the puppies in your home, and you give them excellent care and socialization, there shouldn't be a problem. Few people care about conformation or working titles. Most people get a dog to be a pet. I'm tired of the BYB bashing. There are many of us out there. We supply a need. There are not enough purebreed puppies from your "approved" sources to fulfill the pet market. If a backyard breeders puppies are healthy and well placed they shouldn't be looked down on.

I have a 3 lb Chihuahua that everyone wants a puppy from. Because she is small and that is "in demand." She is as healthy as she can be. BUT I would never breed her to "make" a profit or "supply" a need. I really dont want to have to rush her to the emergency vet for a c-section that might end up killing her and whatever pups are in her. I am not financially prepared for that either. So even though Kujo is healthy as can be and I could make a profit on the pups to supply a need I am going to have to pass on that.

I mean do we go around breeding our kids because their healthy and really beautiful so we can supply people with babies that cant have them? NO!!! Hell people go to jail for selling other human beings. So why do that with your so called beloved pet?

kle1986

She did breed for the wrong reasons and she will readily admit it. Lillie's mom is the woman's first Irish Setter and she really loves that dog. So she bred her to get a pup. Her grandkids are doing 4H with Lillie's sister. She wasnt breeding for money so since then she has spayed the mom and sister. No she didnt have no health test done on the mom. She didnt own the dad but all he had was a DNA.

     I still don't really see a problem ... 4-H kids are awesome, and do more with their animals than most adults! They are very well schooled in animal husbandry. They're active with their dogs in agility, training, and I believe 4-H does have their own version of conformation shows. It's all about education and having fun with dogs, and that's what dog ownership is all about, really. Not who has the most ribbons or points or the $ to get to the msot prestegious dog shows. Some of the best breeders I know are breeding grade (not registered) rabbit hounds and have folders on their dogs w/ info and "pedigree" going back 4-5 generations. I would rather go to someone like that than one who is winning field trials or shows left and right but does it for the ribbons, not the dogs. It really sounds like the breeder cares about your dog and that is the most improtant thing. Sounds like she wants to do the right thing. JMHO.

mudpuppy

The owners of dogs with genetic diseases caused by bad breeding decisions suffer tremendous heartbreak.

Yes, yes, they do.  I can attest to that for sure.

HoundMusic

kle1986

She did breed for the wrong reasons and she will readily admit it. Lillie's mom is the woman's first Irish Setter and she really loves that dog. So she bred her to get a pup. Her grandkids are doing 4H with Lillie's sister. She wasnt breeding for money so since then she has spayed the mom and sister. No she didnt have no health test done on the mom. She didnt own the dad but all he had was a DNA.

     I still don't really see a problem ... 4-H kids are awesome, and do more with their animals than most adults! They are very well schooled in animal husbandry. They're active with their dogs in agility, training, and I believe 4-H does have their own version of conformation shows. It's all about education and having fun with dogs, and that's what dog ownership is all about, really. Not who has the most ribbons or points or the $ to get to the msot prestegious dog shows. Some of the best breeders I know are breeding grade (not registered) rabbit hounds and have folders on their dogs w/ info and "pedigree" going back 4-5 generations. I would rather go to someone like that than one who is winning field trials or shows left and right but does it for the ribbons, not the dogs. It really sounds like the breeder cares about your dog and that is the most improtant thing. Sounds like she wants to do the right thing. JMHO.

I kinda agree... there is evidence that she cared about the pups she produced, which is a good thing... but not good enough IMO.  As someone else said... THE BAREST MNIMUM requirement is health screening and spay/neuter contracts - Rule Numer One: First Do No Harm

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To the OP; As nice a person as this lady may be, as a breeder, she failed at the first hurdle IMO.  Still on the "better" end of the spectrum, but no, not ethical.  Perhaps she was unaware that the world and the pedigree dog problem (see the thread in Advocacy about Pedigree Dogs Exposed) is bigger than her and her wanting to have a puppy.... and this goes for EVERY person who breeds a litter to make money or "supply a need".

HoundMusic

  I still don't really see a problem ...

kle1986

Even though she did all the above she is/was a backyard breeder right?

Doesn't matter what you want to label, I would gladly take one of her dogs and I would seek out a puppy that would come from such a caretaker.

mudpuppy

cause all those puppies you produce cause a lot of problems, misery, and heartbreak?

I can answer your question Mudpuppy.  I mostly get mixed breeds here as fosters and I am sure your best guess as to where they come from is true.  Except for the iniitla behaviorial issues that get mended, they are an absolute joy.