Breeders getting rid of older dogs

sheltiemom · 04-12-2007, 02:50 PM

Bearlasmom's thread made me think of this, and I was wondering how common it is for breeders to get rid of, and in this case I mean sell, dogs that can no longer be bred. When I was looking for a sheltie breeder I came across one (not mine) that had an available bitch advertized on their website and it said something like "seven y/o and ready to retire to her forever home". So, common, or not?

Amitiel · 04-12-2007, 02:53 PM

I noticed the same thing when I was looking for a dog to re-home (rescue or shelter)

peace36 · 04-12-2007, 03:02 PM

Now that is one thing I do not agree with. I think it is sad that the only reason someone is keeping a dog is to breed. It think all breeders no matter what type of dogs they are breeding should treat them like thier family and keep them when they are done breeding them. I think that is just same sad, like they are just puppy machines and nothing more.

On the upside at least they just dont shoot them. I actually think that might be legal too. But I guess if I want to talk about that I should make a new thread.

sillylilykitty · 04-12-2007, 03:03 PM

The breeder I worked for, when her females got to like 7 years at the oldest, she would "adopt" them out. I dont think she makes the new owners pay for the dog, the breeder always paid for the spay. The males dont get adopted, they stay forever as stud dogs though.

Oh, and BTW, she tried keeping one in the house, but the dog tried to eat its way through the door....it WANTED to be outside.

sheltiemom · 04-12-2007, 03:12 PM

I have to say it bothered me when I saw that dog on the website, mainly because I can't imagine having a dog for seven years and then getting rid of it, but at least they are hopefully going to good homes. The breeder I got one of my boys from had dogs that were 12 and 14 years old, and I was able to meet my pups great grandmother. On the other hand, she had alot of dogs and I thought she had almost too many. I can see how if someone breeds once a year and keeps a pup from each litter they could very quickly have more dogs than they could handle. Still bothers me though.

SFury · 04-12-2007, 03:13 PM

One of my former neighbors breed and field trialed golden retrievers. She always had one or two pet dogs, but once the other dogs she kept to show either did not pan out, or became older she either sold them cheap or just gave them to people who would give them good homes.

In her situtation she couldn't afford to keep all of the dogs that she didn't initially sell. I believe many breeders are in this situation.

Laurelin · 04-12-2007, 03:24 PM

We got an older dog from a breeder as in he was not a puppy. Beau's breeder has also sold a couple of older retired females.

Trey was a year old when we got him. He was supposed to be an agility and herding trial dog as well as a conformation prospect. To make a long story short, he did not quite pan out as the conformation dog she had hoped for, although he excelled at the other sports. she had kept his sister (they were both from a very prestigious breeding of the top sire of that year) and she decided she could not justify keeping an intact male with her intact bitches. she never kept males unless they were spectacular. So she sold him for about $400 once we got our refund for the neuter. She also had older rescues she'd place for a small fee covering some of the fostering costs. and there was once I believe that she ended up with a dog a few years old that she had bred and had been returned that she had up for adoption.

Beau's breeder sold his dam after he was born, but it's a pretty special circumstance. the dog is owned by a friend now who absolutely adored her. they hit it off right away and when it came time to retire her she let the other lady have her. I'm not sure if she sold her to her or gave her to her or what, but it's worked out really well. Also, she has sold a female that was an adult but never came into heat to a pet home. She still has Beau's great grandmother though and keeps in contact with all her 'babies'.

So I think it depends on the dog and the circumstances.

Ginny01OT · 04-12-2007, 03:39 PM

I think it is rather common-I know my breeder has done it--I know that now she has a grand daughter that is living with her and she had to "downsize". In fact, she hasn't had any pups and has no upcoming litters in quite a while now. I have to agree with Peace, regardless, it is sad and a dog, even a breeder's dog, should be considered more than a financial commodity.

nrhareiner · 04-12-2007, 03:40 PM

This is not at all uncomon and personally I do not see a big problem with it. Most breeders who are good show their dogs. They keep a pup or 2 out of the litters they breed each year to show and then if the pup pans out breed. If they kept every dog they kept to show then breed it would get to the point that they would have so many dogs that it would not only get hard to feed and properly care for them but give them the attention requiered. I would rather see a breeder sell their retiered dogs to a good home with a contract that if it did not work out that the dog comes back then be one of too many dogs that even if cared for did not get the attention they are use too.

Heidi

cshellenberger · 04-12-2007, 03:59 PM

I know many breeders who do this. Most I would consider reputable, there are many reasons a breeder may rehome an adult or older pup. The dog may have a serious fault that wasn't seen as a pup, there may be a conflict between that dog and another, they may want the dog to be able to have more attention than they can provide or the dog is too old to produce or, they may have had to repo the dog due to a breach of contract and don't have room for it in their program.

Keno's Mom · 04-12-2007, 04:11 PM

Its not mean or bad to do this. I would jump at the chance to get a retired breeder (dog or cat). In fact, we orignially were looking for a retired Ocicat male, but ended up with a kitten cause no one had the color we wanted at the time.

Anyway, we like older dogs to start with. A good breeder wants to improve their dogs; so after a dog is used to achieve that, and they have new/younger ones to show and breed, you retire the older ones to homes where they can get lots of attention.

I see NOTHING wrong with the practice. I've done it with some of my older rexes because I limited myself to 6 adult cats; if I bred one I wanted to keep for showing, then I would place the older cat.

Shalva · 04-12-2007, 04:18 PM

I am going to chime in here.
I don't believe that I could ever do this..... however, how it was explained to me

if you are a breeder who is working to improve the breed, most of us have a limit to how many dogs we can realistically care for and love and give attention to.... in addition to having jobs and lives...
so lets just say that I have five dogs now..... we are breeding Shalva and Kaelyn.... which brings us up to 7 dogs.... I have a spayed bitch here and a neutered boy with epilepsy....(now I am not saying I would do this ) but if realistically there is a finite number of dogs you can keep due to space and money and health and all of that and if you are working to improve the breed then how can you help improve the breed that you love if you have a houseful of retired spayed and neutered dogs... and while I would never place any of my dogs.... I also realize that after we add the two pups from our summer litters we are at a standstill until someone goes to the bridge.... I don't want to be wishing a dog to die so that I can continue my breeding program and work on improving the breed..... also in a house of 7 dogs....
everyone does get a limited amount of attention.... now all of my dogs live in the house and sleep in the bedroom.... but I do wonder if in their golden years they wouldn't be happier being an older dog... the focus of all attention in a kind loving home where they would be the center of everything with someone who doesn't have to share their time and space. Plus it would open up room for continuing the quest to improve the breed.....

I am NOT saying I would do it.... I don't personally understand how someone can..... BUT that is how it was explained to me and I can see the points made.....

S

cshellenberger · 04-12-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keno's Mom

Its not mean or bad to do this. I would jump at the chance to get a retired breeder (dog or cat). In fact, we orignially were looking for a retired Ocicat male, but ended up with a kitten cause no one had the color we wanted at the time.

Anyway, we like older dogs to start with. A good breeder wants to improve their dogs; so after a dog is used to achieve that, and they have new/younger ones to show and breed, you retire the older ones to homes where they can get lots of attention.

I see NOTHING wrong with the practice. I've done it with some of my older rexes because I limited myself to 6 adult cats; if I bred one I wanted to keep for showing, then I would place the older cat.

This is in fact how I got my cat. Desi is "GR. CH. Freedom's Destiny of Stars and Stripes" A retired champion show cat and I thank his breeder for allowing me the chance to give him the chance at a life of love as a SPOILED only cat.

sheltiemom · 04-12-2007, 06:20 PM

OK, I feel somewhat better about this now. I had heard of pups being grown out for show and then coming up with a fault and being sold at a year old or so, but that was the first I'd heard of an older dog who could no longer be bred being re homed. I guess it's the same concept, it just seems somehow worse. I would actually like to have one of these retired dogs, I just wondered if it was considered reputable.

nrhareiner · 04-12-2007, 07:50 PM

The older dogs make great dogs to have especially if you get one from a good breeder who shows their dogs. I have a good freind who sells her retiered dogs. What you get is a dog who is about 5 years old, spayed, house trained, socailized very well, well behaved and a very good example of the breed.

Heidi

Snowshoe · 04-12-2007, 07:52 PM

I think it's the only humane way to do things, personally.

If you kept every dog out of a breeding program (minus the ones you sold) you'd have something along the lines of a puppy mill.

Think about it- What do you consider a good breeder?

A person with no more then 7 or 8 dogs all kept in excellent condition at the breeder's home

A clean, well fed kennel run
Dogs being fed excellent food
All dogs getting a good amount of love and socialization

As Shalva said, you can only do that with a finite number of dogs. I'd say that 6-7 is the common number of dogs for a hobby breeder to have.

All of those older dogs need to go somewhere.

Why not a great home?

Lots of retired show dogs really do better with family environment. They're used to being the center of attention, and it's pretty hard on them when they have to retire.

Being the apple of some lucky family's eye sort of helps them adjust to the "real" world.

Amitiel · 04-13-2007, 09:22 AM

Shalva

Thank you for the wonderful explaination. & Looking at it from the side of the non-breeder, it would be a great adoption, esp. if the breeder also cared anywhere near as much for their furbabies as you do.

All the best to you & may each day show you the love they also have for you.