Back Yard Breeders

[SalemWitchChild]

I was just thinking about how many times I hear the words back yard breeders and wondered who is actually put into that category. Without getting too nasty, I'd like to hear everyones opinions of what makes a breeder, a back yard breeder.

[Rip's Girl]

I think of a backyard breeder as someone who isn't breeding for the good of the breed. A LOT of 'breeders' fit into that category.
Someone breeding for the good of the breed, breeds for good health and temperament, and good, healthy structure and working ability (if the breed originated to do a job) Backyard breeders do not.
Basically, I think that a BYB is someone who doesn't put much effort or money into health testing, showing the dog/working the dog, and someone who doesn't know much about breeding. A BYB is someone looking to breed strictly to make money, pay off the costs of their current dogs, or to 'experience birth'.
A BYB will sell to nearly anyone, including pet stores. They aren't extremely concerned with their dogs' future, they just want to sell them. I could go on and on about BYB, but that is basically what I think they are.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

I agree with Rip. I also think anyone breeding crossbreeds falls under that category. People argue they're breeding for the best traits in both breeds (like the best traits of the Malteste and Poodle put together), but I think that's a load of bull. How can you breed for good Poodle structure when you're crossing it with a Maltese's body structure?! Lame... Plus, the last thing this world needs is a 'new dog breed'. If you really want a new breed, adopt from a shelter and give it a nice new name.

I wish all breeders would be like Crossfire and only breed when they need a new generation for showing, then place pups they aren't able to keep in wonderful homes. Why all responsible breeders don't do that I can't figure out.

It may seem narrow, but I'm pretty much against most (dog) breeding. Until we run out of dogs in shelters, we don't need to be bringing more dogs into the world. The only exception in my mind are breeders breeding healthy, well-tempered dogs for specific tasks (like herding). That's not very well said, but I'm having trouble putting it all into words right now. Sorry.

[Pharlane]

I breed my australian shepherds.I breed for temperment.My dogs are from stonge working bloodlines. I work with my pups from day one.I get all the test done that needs to be done on the females and my stud.
I don't sell my pups to just anyone.I do have a contrate.
If the new owners can not keep the pup/dog it must come back to me.I have taken back problem pup/dogs.I even take dogs that I didn't even breed.People know how I treat my dogs.I have 9 aussie I only breed 4 females and 1 stud the rest are spayed/neuter.
Ibreed my female at 2 years or 3 years old.Kassidy did not get bred untell she was 3 years old .
I try to sell to people that want to work them or if they want a pet.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Rip's Girl

I think of a backyard breeder as someone who isn't breeding for the good of the breed. A LOT of 'breeders' fit into that category.
Someone breeding for the good of the breed, breeds for good health and temperament, and good, healthy structure and working ability (if the breed originated to do a job)
Basically, I think that a BYB is someone who doesn't put much effort or money into health testing, showing the dog/working the dog, and someone who doesn't know much about breeding. A BYB is someone looking to breed strictly to make money, pay off the costs of their current dogs, or to 'experience birth'.
A BYB will sell to nearly anyone, including pet stores. They aren't extremely concerned with their dogs' future, they just want to sell them. I could go on and on about BYB, but that is basically what I think they are.

Ditto

[gaddylovesdogs]

I believe that backyard breeders are those that breed just for the money. They claim that their poor unhealthy dogs are "rare breeds" (all the "poos" and "doodles"), "rare colors" ("this is a gorgeous, RARE golden Lab!"), etc.. They breed "teacups," "tiny toys," "pocketbooks"......they sell these sick pets for thousands of dollars....."Labradoodle SALE, only $5,000!"

[BXRchic]

I think that

a BYB is someone who:
breeds under harsh conditions
breeds without proper health testings
breeds for a rediculous profit
breeds without temperment in mind
breeds without some standard in mind (depending on whether your breeding for the ring or for work. personally if i was into hearding and my shepherd had some physical flaws but was an amazing worker, i wouldnt care much. as long as it did his job well--but that's just me)
is not willing to provide a health/temperment guarentee
is not willing to work with the owner on training issues
is not willing to take the pup should the owner need to surrender it



someone who's dogs are bred even though they are aware that the dog is:
way too young to be bred/studded out
way too old to be bred/studded out
bred too many times
bred too frequently
unhealthy
carry a gene that is known to cause problems
(ie. in white boxers its the piebald gene-chances of being deaf/blind are prevalent)

to me a backyard breeder has no qualms about selling a puppy that is:
unhealthy


***Mind you all, this is only my opinion. If clarification is needed, feel free to ask (because a lot of that "IMO" stuff is conditional in a way)

[Carrie]

I have a hard time not getting a nasty tone when talking about BYBs. So, ditto what has been said.

[SalemWitchChild]

Originally Posted by Carrie

I have a hard time not getting a nasty tone when talking about BYBs. So, ditto what has been said.

Thank you for keeping it civil

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

I could go on and on about what makes a "back yard breeder" and agree with what everyone has already said, so many different things but, along with that the very bottom line is that it's someone who doesn't have the betterment of the breed or their very own dog's best interest and wellbeing in mind or in their heart.

One of the very many things a reputable / ethical breeder always remembers is that the dogs don't ask to be bred, it is the breeder that does that. Therefore, they owe their puppies and adults the very best of health care, food, shelter and love. Yes, this includes health testing, certifications and anything else to better the breed itself INCLUDING knowing when to NOT breed.

If you can't see past your own nose or bank account to at least adhere to the ethics and basic moral issues involved then in my mind you ARE a backyard breeder.

Thank you Tiny

[flyndog]

When I think of a BYB I think of somebody who keeps their pet stock purebred dog intact so they can breed it, have puppies and make a few bucks. They toss a couple of dogs together in the "backyard" to do what comes naturally. Maybe the pups are purebred (and maybe not ). Usually these people are just ignorant, not malicious.
There are plenty of good breeders with kennels in their "backyards".
But people who knowingly and cruely exploit dogs and other people for profit have their own special place in Hell.
Kit

[Rip's Girl]

I know what you mean, Carrie, I have a hard time talking to or about BYB without getting a little (heh) ticked off.

I also agree with BXRchic that working dogs and show dogs are two different things.. In breeding dogs for a specific job (herding, schutzhund, agility, therapy, or any other job) conformational perfection isn't important. Howevr I think that the dog should be structurally sound regardless of what they are bred for. But, if you can have the best of both worlds, working ability and excellent conformation, even better!

Just for boredom's sake, this is my experience with a BYB

Ripley's breeder
-------------------------------
-Didn't test her dogs for genetic disorders
-Gave me the "hard sell" (To be fair I really didn't need it, I was so smitten with the gorgeous puppy)
-Answered my questions in a sneaky way (ie: when I asked her if her dogs had been health tested, she answered "They've been checked out thoroughly by a vet and he said they were OK for breeding")
-Emphasised the two champions in his pedigree
-Said that he was capable of finishing his championship (when he was only 8 weeks old.. And quite obviously, even at that age, had a muzzle too short and head too domed to be finishable)
-In place of health testing, gave a 1 year health guarantee (where she would take the dog back if it was under 1 year of age, if any health issues popped up)
-Almost got away with keeping our $600 deposit and not giving us our puppy
-Encouraged us not to neuter him, because he was a "valuable tiny teacup-sized" Papillon.. Instead she wanted us to make him available to her for stud when he was ONE year old
-Bred her dogs "By Accident" when they were only 9 months old

I could go on and on.. She isn't breeding healthy dogs, she isn't breeding towards the breed standard, and she is not breeding for exceptional temperament.. She is breeding pets to make pets.

Dakota's breeder, on the other hand, does everything that Ripley's breeder did not. She makes sure her dogs are healthy (FULL testing, hips, elbows, eyes, heart, the works) she breeds dogs that are not only great herding/working dogs but conformationally correct as well. She breeds to better the breed, not to make a quick buck. She is concerned as to what homes her pups go to, she will take puppies back at any time, and she was very pleasant to deal with. There is such a huge difference between the two breeders, I haven't even started to go into it...

Wow, OK, novel finished. I'm tired now. LOL.

[SalemWitchChild]

Ok I've been reserved in giving my answer to my own question because I wanted to hear what you guys say. So I'll share now, even though it may give off fireworks.

When I think of a byb I think of someone who puts any two animals together, no matter of health, bloodlines, or confirmation. My huskey was that way. She was undersized and had a extra toe because of inbreeding. They even offered to keep there male (her brother) available if I so chose to breed her. NOT! She was a great dog but not one I would want to breed purposefully.

However, there is a difference with byb and those that were just an accident. SO many people go off on those that have accident puppies, but I won't. Because it was JUST AN ACCIDENT. We all have them. We are not perfect beings. So I see no reason to go off on someone who already knows they could have done better but didn't for some reason. Let them learn the lesson on there own. Not batter them because of it. I see so many people start yelling at people. Telling them they are adding to the unwanted pup population. And they might be, they might not be. But that is not OUR judgement to make. My point is that I just hate to see people be mean and rude to people just because they made a mistake. Instead give them some help. Be nice to them. Nicer means they are more open to listen!

[gaddylovesdogs]

Originally Posted by SalemWitchChild

However, there is a difference with byb and those that were just an accident. SO many people go off on those that have accident puppies, but I won't. Because it was JUST AN ACCIDENT. We all have them. We are not perfect beings. So I see no reason to go off on someone who already knows they could have done better but didn't for some reason. Let them learn the lesson on there own. Not batter them because of it. I see so many people start yelling at people. Telling them they are adding to the unwanted pup population. And they might be, they might not be. But that is not OUR judgement to make. My point is that I just hate to see people be mean and rude to people just because they made a mistake. Instead give them some help. Be nice to them. Nicer means they are more open to listen!

There are 5 million dogs being euthanized in American shelters every year. IMO those people that breed their toy poodle because "she's cute" or that German shepherd that escapes from the backyard and mates with another dog are irresponsible.

[Ritz459]

When we found Brownie (or Brownie found us. She wandered into our yard one day and decided to stick around) we didn't know she wasn't spayed. And then the day before Blackie was to be neutered, he became a Daddy. That was a completely 'oops' litter. We didn't puropsely breed them. I only regret Brownie getting pregant a little bit because now I'm aware of all of the dogs being put down each year. But it is hard to regret it a whole bunch when Rose came out of that litter!