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banda61007
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 296 total posts
Name:
Bonnie
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Question about Breeders
Hi,
I bought my 2 year old pup from a breeder. She is a yorkie-poodle mix (Yes, I know, just a mutt) and I bought her because I have bad allergies and needed some sort of hypo-allergenic dog and gave up on adopting after trying to adopt a couple of dogs and being told my career is too demanding to adopt (ridiculous) but a whole different story)... In any case, I thought I was going down the right path, not buying from a store, but now I am nervous she was the product of a puppy mill and just want to be more aware. This breeder was very nice, gave us tons of information about the dogs she breeds and the puppies, Kira (my dog) came to us already paper trained and seemed to have been treated very well. She was shipped, though, so I didn't meet the breeder in person. Kira came in good health with all of her shots and the breeder wouldn't send her to us until she was 14 weeks and the weather was below a certain temperature.. So, my question is.. are all "breeders" of mix-type dogs part of this puppy mill situation, or are there legit breeders as well? I am just trying to educate myself for the future, so please dont attack me for my possible ignorance! Thanks!
Message edited 7/13/2007 10:37:49 PM.
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Posted 7/13/07 4:41 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Question about Breeders
I am so glad that you are concerned enough to ask
To answer your question:
Any breeder who sells a "Poo" mix other than cocker poo (and even this is still arguable), or any of the fad/designer dogs is not a reputable breeder. At the worst they are a mill, but it sounds more likely that they are a back yard breeder. The conditions of BYBs are not as deplorable as a mill, but the dogs are not bred with any standard and usually are not tested as far as genetic shortcomings & other health tests.
The three biggest tip-offs that you are not dealing with a reputable breeder are 1- they "always have puppies available" for sale; 2-they do not require a spay/neuter contract; 3- they do not request that the dog be sent back to them in any circumstance where you cannot keep the dog.
Also, a truly reputable breeder will interview you as much as if not more than you will to them.
Message edited 7/13/2007 4:56:33 PM.
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| Posted 7/13/07 4:55 PM |
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dgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/07 1079 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Question about Breeders
I'm glad you asked! I have the same question!
Our "breeder" met a few of the standards.
1. She always has puppies for sale or a litter coming.
2. She did require that we neuter our dog before we could get papers.
3. Charlie did have something wrong with his eye when he came here and she did tell us to send him back and that she would send us a new one. I didn't think that was a good thing though. I didn't want a new dog, I just wanted advice on caring for Charlie.
She also shipped him to us, but we had to wait until he was 8 weeks, and we didn't really get interviewed.
Charlie is a mini shar pei and his line has entropian which I think you are supposed to stop breeding but she still does.
Do you think it was a backyard breeder?
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| Posted 7/13/07 5:18 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Question about Breeders
Posted by dgirl
I'm glad you asked! I have the same question!
Our "breeder" met a few of the standards.
1. She always has puppies for sale or a litter coming.
This is a sign of a BYB or Mill. Responsible breeders do not always have dogs available....that is over breeding the b!tch, and can lead to health problems for the b!tch, litter, and is considered abusive if done in excess.
3. Charlie did have something wrong with his eye when he came here and she did tell us to send him back and that she would send us a new one. I didn't think that was a good thing though. I didn't want a new dog, I just wanted advice on caring for Charlie.
This is arguable. The fact that she had another puppy available to a pet home right away to "replace" Charlie sets off more of a red flag for me than the return policy.
She also shipped him to us, but we had to wait until he was 8 weeks, and we didn't really get interviewed.
Most breeders will not release their dogs (especially to ship) before they are 12 weeks. 8 is newly weaned and they are already prone to separation anxiety....
Charlie is a mini shar pei and his line has entropian which I think you are supposed to stop breeding but she still does.
Do you think it was a backyard breeder?
Honestly, I think you answered your own question with this last point...
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| Posted 7/13/07 5:48 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Question about Breeders
I could be off base here but one thing I've read also is to ask to meet the parents of your puppy.
But I suppose if the puppy was shipped, that's too long a distance to go. If we decide to go the breeder route in addition to the rescue organizations, we do intend to visit the breeder to see the conditions, etc.
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| Posted 7/13/07 6:04 PM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about Breeders
I think MsMBV answered all your question but I just want to say that I think you are awesome for asking them
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| Posted 7/13/07 9:52 PM |
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banda61007
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 296 total posts
Name:
Bonnie
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Re: Question about Breeders
Thanks for all the info!
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| Posted 7/13/07 10:38 PM |
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Re: Question about Breeders
I also believe that if they will ship without screening you carefully, that is a red flag. Breeders want info about where their dogs are going. Personally, I don't like the whole shipping idea and I do not think I would have a dog shipped to me or from me. Many rescue organizations put together road runs where experienced rescuers help drive dogs to their permanent homes, each person taking a leg of the trip.
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| Posted 7/14/07 12:33 AM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about Breeders
Posted by ssdbk
I also believe that if they will ship without screening you carefully, that is a red flag. Breeders want info about where their dogs are going. Personally, I don't like the whole shipping idea and I do not think I would have a dog shipped to me or from me. Many rescue organizations put together road runs where experienced rescuers help drive dogs to their permanent homes, each person taking a leg of the trip.
Though Havanese Rescue tries to avoid shipping, they will do it after screening and I had a friend who was shipped a Katrina dog. I had once been in contact with a shelter in TN, which would also ship. And good breeders will ship after having someone local do a home visit.
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| Posted 7/14/07 11:23 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Question about Breeders
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by dgirl
I'm glad you asked! I have the same question!
Our "breeder" met a few of the standards.
1. She always has puppies for sale or a litter coming.
This is a sign of a BYB or Mill. Responsible breeders do not always have dogs available....that is over breeding the b!tch, and can lead to health problems for the b!tch, litter, and is considered abusive if done in excess.
I dont fully agree with this. Can't a good breeder have a few different mothers who are only allowed to breed their one litter a year or so?
Message edited 7/14/2007 2:23:06 PM.
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| Posted 7/14/07 2:20 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Question about Breeders
Posted by Goobster
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by dgirl
I'm glad you asked! I have the same question!
Our "breeder" met a few of the standards.
1. She always has puppies for sale or a litter coming.
This is a sign of a BYB or Mill. Responsible breeders do not always have dogs available....that is over breeding the b!tch, and can lead to health problems for the b!tch, litter, and is considered abusive if done in excess.
I dont fully agree with this. Can't a good breeder have a few different mothers who are only allowed to breed their one litter a year or so?
Generally not enough to "always have available puppies." It is possible to space out litters among the seasons, but to have a puppy available 365 days of the year would require a tremendous amount of breeding age b!tches to achieve, thus being close to a BYB or Mill status.
ETA: I just want to clarify that one dog being over-bred is not the only sign of a BYB or a Mill. Any situation that puts the line & the litters at risk of neglect or sub-par care would to me qualify them as a BYB (hobby breeder). A Mill is based on sheer volume and living conditions, which is slightly different than a BYB. What lumps them together is that they do not follow any standards of breeding, and are not breeding to better the breed.
Message edited 7/14/2007 2:34:29 PM.
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| Posted 7/14/07 2:29 PM |
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