Have you ever wondered why people are so adamant about you not buying a puppy from a breeder? Why they want you to feel shame? Meanwhile, others are fine if you buy from a breeder, but it must only be a Purebred Puppy, no mixed breeds! Let’s break it down.
Nobody should own any dogs!
This is probably the smallest group and usually linked to PETA, but there are some people that believe no animals should be owned by humans. They believe it is inhumane and all animals have as much worth as humans, even the cockroaches. Being such a small sect, with ideals set so far apart from mine, I will not dive deeper into this belief set in this post but focus on the more common beliefs.
Adopt Don’t Shop!
Next, there is a group that believes no one should buy a puppy from a breeder. There are thousands or millions of dogs in shelters and rescues that all need homes. Ok, let’s play out this situation, meet their demands, and see what happens. Breeding dogs is outlawed around the world, in around 17 years or so, domesticated dogs are extinct. Is that what you want? No one to have pets? However, more than likely if you outlaw dog breeding a black market for dogs will develop, is that what you want? Why not support adopting and responsible breeding?
Adopt Don’t Shop, unless from a Reputable Purebred Breeder
For this group I just have one simple question, what is a Purebred Dog? Is a Golden Retriever a purebred dog? Fun fact: Golden Retrievers were created in the late 1860s by crossing flat coated retrievers with tweed water spaniels plus other breeds. That sounds kind of mixed, not very pure to me. I wonder if people back in the 17th century were yelling at Lord Tweedmouth for creating this monstrosity that would later be known as one of the most lovable dog breeds, the Golden Retriever. How about in the 1500s-1600s when some unknown breed of water dogs were bred with Newfoundlands to create the Labrador Retriever we have today? But where did Newfoundlands come from? Also, around the same time period they were believed to have been made from crossing Pyrenees with Portuguese Water Dogs and possibly other breeds as well. Do you get the point? Your “PureBreeds” are about as pure as a Goldendoodle.
“Yeah, yeah, but your goldendoodles are not bred to any standard.” Some of these purebreeds took hundreds of years to develop their standard, and the goldendoodle has only been around for 35 years or so. But, there is actually an organization named GANA that has set a standard for goldendoodles: https://www.goldendoodleassociation.com/about-gana/.
What You Should Care About Regarding Dog Breeding
1) How the parents and puppies are treated. Fresh water, high-quality food, vet care, grooming, proper shelter, and a happy life including a loving family.
2) Genetic Health-Testing. It is irresponsible for people to be breeding today without proper genetic health-testing. Many diseases and suffering can be prevented by screening breeding dogs for diseases.
3) Temperament. Depending on the breed and the intended purpose of the puppies, the parents should have the proper temperament. You don’t want to breed aggressive golden retrievers that are intended to be playmates with kids. You don’t want to breed Pyrenees that have a high prey drive and enjoy killing animals.
Bonus: Home-Screening. If you tell me you will be in an office 8 hours a day and the puppy will be alone at home that entire time, then I will tell you I do not think you are the right fit. Anything in your application that sends a red flag to me, that makes me think you will not be a right match, I will let you know.
Bonus #2: Forever Home. I’m not saying this has to be offered to be a quality breeder, but at Steel City Puppies I will take back any of my puppies at any age and in any condition. My puppy owners sign a contract saying they must be returned to me and never placed in a shelter or rescue.
What You Should Not Care About Regarding Dog Breeding
The Price of My Puppies. You have all of these demands on what makes a responsible breeder, but do you not understand how expensive that is? We can easily run up $10,000 in expenses a month on my 5 dogs alone and their puppies. Now, do you prefer the puppies to be cared for 24/7 or do you want them to be left alone 9-5 while I am working another job? Can I buy some health insurance? Do you want puppies to be raised in a tiny house on a tiny lot of land? You can’t have it both ways. In order for puppies to be given 24/7 care, a wonderful place to grow up, the best food, the best vet care, the best grooming, genetic health testing on all adults, breeding dogs from the best bloodlines… all requires lots and lots of $$$$.
Summary
1) You come across as angry and unhappy when you take time out of your day to tell others “Adopt Don’t Shop” and “Stop Breeding”… Nobody likes angry and unhappy people that like telling others what to do, well except for other miserable people.
2) If I’m happy, my dogs are healthy and happy, and my customers are happy… then you are the only one with a problem.
3) Research more. What you call Purebreds are not so “pure”. They have just had more time to be refined, but at one point in time were the result of crossing many breeds.