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What
is a Reputable Breeder? |
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A
reputable hobby breeder is one who has made a lifetime commitment to the
well-being and IMPROVEMENT of one, or possibly two, breeds. A
reputable hobby breeder has studied and researched his breed and knows its
history and standard, its strong points and its drawbacks. A
reputable hobby breeder has spent time, effort and MONEY researching and
proving the qualities and health of their potential breeding stock. They
plan a litter only with the goal of puppies better than the parents, not
for profit or vanity. A
reputable hobby breeder considers their dogs health and well-being far
more important than their ability to reproduce. A
reputable hobby breeder has both the time and mental fortitude to BE THERE
for their bitches and puppies. They evaluate the litters and makes every
effort to match puppy to buyer in temperament, attitude, and energy level,
as well as physical qualities. A
reputable hobby breeder is first and foremost, selling to responsible
loving homes. While some exceptional pups may be saved for special show
homes, the reputable hobby
breeder does not force entangling contracts or agreements for 'puppies
back' on people who are only interested in a pet. A
reputable hobby breeder often keeps in periodic contact with the owners of
puppies he's sold, not only to see the development of his breeding program
but also because he/she cares about their well-being. A
reputable hobby breeder does NOT have so many dogs that they have no time
for individual attention, play and grooming, or so that they have to skimp
on food, quality, space, preventive medicine, and health care. A
reputable hobby breeder assumes responsibility for the life he creates.
This includes screening new buyers, helping find new homes, making a
comfortable life for his retirees, and yes, being able to make the
decision to euthanize when a puppy born with a mental or physical problem
has no chance for a quality life. A
reputable hobby breeder builds a good reputation slowly based on
dedication, and consistent quality. A
reputable hobby breeder belongs to an organization for the breed, and
continues to read about new developments. They work to reduce the number
of dogs in their breed that are carelessly bred, ill cared for, and
discarded. A
reputable hobby breeder can look at a bigger picture than dog show wins or
puppy sales and contributes in some way to the betterment of the breed as
a whole. Given
a choice, educated owners & prospective buyers much prefer to buy from
the above described type of breeder. If you are interested in joining the
ranks of reputable breeders, there are many people to contact who would
enjoy working with you. If
you feel this is more obligation than you would want to take on, choose
the responsible alternative of having your pet spayed/neutered. A
few more things to think about and know before deciding to breed your dog.
1.
AKC Registration DOES NOT mean quality. An
AKC registration is somewhat like a title to a car. Even if its SAYS
Cadillac, it still may be a lemon. Just
because your dog is purebred and has papers, does not mean it is of
breeding quality and should be bred. Many other things must go into
consideration... Health, temperament, and conformation are just a few. 2.
My vet/friend/trainer said my dog is of show quality, and I want to
breed him/her. Your
vet, your dogs trainer, or your neighbor are NOT the best people to
evaluate your dogs quality. If you want your dog evaluated, CONTACT A
BREEDER, or a breed club for your particular breed. Vets, trainers, or
your friends/neighbors probably do NOT know the breed standard for your
breed, and probably have NOT studied the breed for many years. Leave
evaluations to a knowledgeable Hobby breeder. 3.
Breeding is NOT a moneymaking proposition. Anything
can, and sometimes does go wrong. Not
counting the cost of quality health care, food, vaccinations, and routine
medical bills, many other expected and unexpected expenses pop up. Tail
docking/dewclaws in some breeds, puppy formula, a possible emergency
C-section, or other emergency care can make a 'break-even' litter end up
costing a small fortune... and that is IF you can sell the pups. 4.
What would you do with the pups that don't sell? First
time breeders often have no reputation and no referrals to help them find
buyers. Promises of "I want a dog like 'Muffy'" or, "I'll
take a pup" OFTEN fall through. Consider what you will do if the pups
dont sell, until say, 4 months? 6 months? 8 months? 5.
I want my kids to see "The Joy of Birth". If
you are considering breeding so the kids can see 'the joy of birth'
remember that things can go very wrong. Would you want your children
seeing a pup that was born dead? Or one that is born with gross
deformities? What about the chance that your female could have severe
complications and possible die during delivery?
Can your family accept the chance that your beloved family pet
could die? If you cannot deal with the possibility of tragedy, do not
breed in the first place. 6.
MYTH: Females should be 'allowed' to have at least one litter, both for
health and temperament reasons. Many
people have the misconception that breeding their female at least once has
health benefits or will make her a better family pet. This is simply NOT
TRUE and can have exactly the opposite effect. A female with pups can be
extremely territorial & protective, with both their family and other
pets. Often they do not act like themselves. Many complications can arise
during pregnancy, whelping, and post-partum. Medical evidence does not
support the claim of health
benefits. 7.
Do you have the time for pups? Reputable
experienced Hobby breeders will tell you how much time they spend in
raising an average litter. It
is well over 130+ hours. (That is over 2 hours a day.)
Keep in mind this is a HEALTHY litter! If your pups have problems,
or the mother will not care for them, they may need supplementing, or, if
they are sick you can tack on MANY additional hours. Some litters end up
needing to be COMPLETELY supplemented. As
they get older, the labor gets more intense! Socializing, beginning
housebreaking, and interviewing prospective buyers! A LOT of time /labor
is involved. 8.
Your resonsibilities as the breeder. Will
you screen potential buyers? Or will you just take the money & not
worry about how the dog spends the rest of its life? What if the dog is
chained to a tree every day, never indoors. What if the dog lives in a
junkyard with no human contact? What if the buyers allowed the dog to run
loose & it gets hit by a car & killed before the age of one year
old? Would
you turn down a possibly irresponsible buyer? Or, will you sell that
adorable little girl pup that you raised so lovingly for the first 8 weeks
of her life to a person who will tie her out in the back yard, alone
constantly, leaving her to have a litter of mongrels each time she comes
in season because they dont want the time or hassle of dealing with her,
or are to cheap to have her spayed. Can you live with the idea that one of
your pups may be sold to a home where, if unwanted, they will be dumped at
a pound, where they may be destroyed? So
many things to think about.... So many responsibilities. Reputable
breeders are prepared to deal with all of the above facts. If
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