[Dorygirl]

I want to preface my question by saying that I am very interested in the dog breeding process, with absolutely no interest in breeding my dog....ever.
It's just really such a fascinating hobby. I use the word hobby because I know reputable breeders don't do it to make money.

I came across this quote: "Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. - and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals."

For argument's sake, let's get rid of all the people who "breed" mixes, all the puppy mills, backyard breeders, even the sort of responsible breeders who do health tests, temperment tests, but they do it to make a little money and maybe don't offer health guarantees...

We are left with only the most responsible, breeding to improve the breed, dedicated dog lovers.

Even with just this group, isn't it still too many people bringing more dogs into the world? How many Golden Retrievers, for example, have to be born to "improve the breed"? It seems to me that some of the more educated breeders should stop producing puppies since they are aware of overpopulation and are, ironically, contributing to the problem. Each time someone buys a pet from a breeder, it's one less dog that could have been adopted from a shelter.

Maybe breeders should combine interests, keeping involved but reducing the # of puppies born. If I'm doing it and someone in the next county is too, we could still work to breed...just create less litters.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Am I way off base?

[Snowshoe]

No, you're not way off base.

Here is my opinion: the reason so many dogs are in shelters is because of the bad breeders and puppy mills.

Good breeders will make sure that if the owner is unable to keep a dog for any reason, they will take it back for all of its life.

I think it's great that people buy pet puppies from good breeders. It keeps them treading water financially, so that they are able to improve the breed.

Genetics are a funny thing, and nothing in life is ever a guarentee. However, if anything ever happened to my pup, I know I can count on my breeder.

[Shalva]

I dont know if I agree with teh basic premise of your argument..... lets just say we did get rid of all petstore pups, puppy mills, backyard breeders, careless breeding of mixed breeds.... and accidental litters.

Then lets just say we relied solely on people like me ..... the responsible breeder working to improve the breed..... there are 236million people in the US and I breed once every 3 years..... and I charge 1500 bucks for a puppy.....

would there really be enough puppies if all the puppies that were born were born of people like me..... would everyone be able to afford a puppy from people like me or would alot of people not have a puppy.... and would there actually at that point be a shortage of dogs.

I am not sure that responsible breeders like myself who breeds once every 3 or 4 years only when I want a puppy could actually fulfill demand for dogs.... in the area where I live they actually import dogs for adoption at shelters because there aren't enough pups to go around.....

just a thought......
S

[RobDar]

Originally Posted by Snowshoe

No, you're not way off base.

Here is my opinion: the reason so many dogs are in shelters is because of the bad breeders and puppy mills.

this is relocating blame. the reason so many dogs end up in shelters is because the american dog buying public puts more effort and time into choosing a refridgerator than they do a new family pet.

I am not defending the bad breeders and puppy mills...but this problem is one of education and knowledgable/responsible pet ownership. Yes it can be argued that good breeders do some education with families...but this STILL SHIFTS THE RESPONSIBILITY from where it BELONGS...and that is squarely in the lap of the people seeking the pet! IT IS THEIR JOB and THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to educated themselves about their breed of interest before seeking a pet.

[Snowshoe]

Originally Posted by RobDar

this is relocating blame. the reason so many dogs end up in shelters is because the american dog buying public puts more effort and time into choosing a refridgerator than they do a new family pet.

I am not defending the bad breeders and puppy mills...but this problem is one of education and knowledgable/responsible pet ownership. Yes it can be argued that good breeders do some education with families...but this STILL SHIFTS THE RESPONSIBILITY from where it BELONGS...and that is squarely in the lap of the people seeking the pet! IT IS THEIR JOB and THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to educated themselves about their breed of interest before seeking a pet.

Oh no, I agree. However, puppy millers and bad breeders exploit the ignorance and place emphasis on the impulse buy and the how cute the puppy is. They do not seek to educate the public.

It is on both ends, of course. The people who are in authority in regards to animals, the good breeders, breed clubs, shelters, training centers, etc. should seek to more actively involve the general public.

There is information available, but you have to scrounge for it most of the time.

I think a good question (though it is off topic) would be how to better educate the common puppy buyer about the pit falls of dog buying.

Usually, when someone asks me about dogs, or puppies or whatever, I help them by comparing buying a puppy to buying a car: a decision not to be made lightly.

You wouldn't buy a car and then ask the dealer about the warranty after the vehicle had already been purchased.

Having a pet is fashionable now, sort of like how people used to wear gold fish in the heels of platform shoes (shudders).

I do have one point of argument: goood breeders do more then "some" education. I can't tell you how much I've learned from my mentor in over a year.

[peace36]

Originally Posted by Snowshoe

No, you're not way off base.

Here is my opinion: the reason so many dogs are in shelters is because of the bad breeders and puppy mills.

.

How come no one ever thinks the reason so many dogs are in shelters are because people do not keep their dogs. If they kept them they would not be in sheltors and they would not buy another one because they already would have one.

Any kind of breeder would have no need to breed if no one was buying their puppies.