Backyard breeders, puppy mills, and ethical breeders…. what is the difference?
What is a Puppy Mill?
Puppy mills are scary, dangerous, and nasty- people who breed for money’s sake with no regard for the life, care, or safety of the parents or puppies.
Puppies in these situations are raised in kennels, never cleaned, unsocialized, and unloved. Vet care is minimal or nonexistent, so these puppies can have a host of health issues when they go to their forever homes.
These people often sell at a good price but produce as many dogs as they can- raising them poorly but still turning a profit due to the sheer quantity.
What is a Backyard Breeder?
Backyard breeders are a step up, but not by much. Instead of being blatantly evil, backyard breeders love their dogs but are uneducated and unprepared. They want to raise happy puppies but lack the skills and knowledge to give the puppies everything they need.
Due to ignorance, instead of intentional disregard, these puppies turn out with many of the same problems that a puppy mill baby has.
How to Be A Responsible Breeder
On the other hand, a responsible breeder understands how to raise a puppy to become its best self- how to build its positive qualities and help the pup develop resiliency in the areas where that pup needs a little more help.
A responsible breeder knows that every pairing is intended to better the breed as a whole, and therefore only the best dogs should breed together.
A responsible breeder supports families from the time they take the puppy home and throughout the dog’s life.
They know the breed in detail, they know puppy development, they know safety risks and warning signs, and more.
Beyond all, they aren’t afraid to loose money for the sake of their dogs. It’s not a quick buck- it’s much much more than that.
The best veterinary care is given and puppies go home healthy.
Becoming a Responsible Breeder
For today, let’s discuss the first step in this process: How do we tell when two dogs are a good match to be bred together?
Step 1: Decide the Perfect Breed
Always begin your breeding program with a quality breeding female. Remember- she’ll be the one raising your babies and spending years of her life working along your side. Choose a great dog!
Once you’ve found her, repeat these steps to find the perfect male to compliment her. Remember- you don’t have to own both dogs, you may consider using a stud service.
Be sure to select a breed that works seamlessly with your lifestyle and passions. Are you exceptionally active? May a Siberian Husky, a Border Collie, or an Australian Shepherd? Are you more relaxed? Maybe a Newfoundland. Do you prefer larger or smaller dogs? Vocal or quiet dogs? Do you have allergies? Consider a Poodle, a Bichon Frise, or a Yorkie.
Not sure what the perfect breed is for you? Go to dog shows, educate yourself, surround yourself with professionals who can offer their guidance and knowledge.
Consider apprenticing yourself to a dog groomer, dog trainer, dog breeder, or other professional to gain more hands on exposure as you make your decision.
Be sure you’re 100% that the breed is perfect for you before you make the investment into a certain breed.
Step 2: Learn EVERYTHING There Is To Know
Now that you know the best breed for you to work with, learn everything there is to know about your breed. You’ll want to be educated in the perfect body structure, the perfect health traits (and the health problems of the breed), the ideal behaviors and temperament, the coat preferences for your breed, and more!
Find kennel clubs who specialize in your breed.
Step 3: Find a Perfect Example of Your Breed
Using this information, the next trick is to find a top notch example of your breed- an excellent specimen who exhibits all the best traits. Remember that this is not easy to find! Take your time and be picky.
Remember- you’re not looking at the puppies yet (although the goal is to purchase a pup who will grow to become an excellent breeding mother). At this point, we’re watching the parents.
Look for the following helpful guidelines:
-Lineage full of titles/championships
-Successful parents (especially in working dogs– the parents should be therapy dogs if you want a puppy to be a therapy dog or working cattle dogs if you want the puppy to be a great cattle dog)
-Parents are fully health tested and genetics tested
How can you tell if the parents are FULLY health tested? Check out OFA’s website to see if the dogs have all the recommended testing to be CHIC certified! Be sure to ask the parents’ owners to see the certificates to show the results of their health testing. Check the dates to be sure that the health testing is not expired. Be sure all results are exceptional or above average.
Be sure to check the parents’ genetics testing as well to see if they carry any recessive genetic conditions. One copy of a recessive condition is nothing to fret over, although it can affect your future breeding decisions so it is vital to be aware of.
Step 4: A Litter of Awesome Candidates
Once you’ve determined that the parents are top notch, you can look for your perfect future momma in the litter of puppies. Again, check for the best traits that you can at a young age, although it is difficult to tell as a puppy if the dog will turn out to be exactly what you wanted. That’s why we are so picky in the parents of our breeding dogs- this gives us the best chances of selecting a female who will one day carry on excellent traits.
Not all puppies out of a litter will be good breeding mommas.
Personality testing can help narrow down your search! Keep in mind the best traits, personality, body structure, coat, etc and watch for clues in each of the puppies.
This is it! Select your female- this is the first step to beginning your breeding program! Don’t forget- go back and repeat this process to find a male (or if you prefer, use a stud service instead).
Step 5: Raising an Incredible Momma (And Daddy- If you Have Both)
Your female will need at least 2 years before breeding. Take this time to train her well, making sure her awesome genealogy and champion bloodlines are showing through her.
Take great care of her physically, mentally, and socially. Socialize her well, be sure she has great behaviors and habits, give her lots of exercise, give her consistent vet care, and exercise her mind.
Be sure she has her own health testing and genetics testing completed before breeding- following the standards outlined by OFA. See that registration paperwork is in order, ready for the future puppies and their forever families. Be sure that the female stays up to date on any vaccinations/deworming before breeding. Have a veterinary exam before breeding. It is best not to breed on the female’s first heat cycle, even if she is older than 2 years old.
Note: A male can produce puppies after 1 year (some even younger) but it is best to wait until after he is fully health tested, usually after 2 years of age.
Step 6: Business Side of Things
It is wise to consider professional photography of your female, a professional website, licensing in your state, and other business considerations before beginning breeding.
Have all your records in order as this is helpful information for your puppy families and for your own information. Here are a few things to consider tracking:
-Your female’s heat cycles, including when she seemed to act receptive (even if you did not breed her)
-When your dogs were vaccinated or dewormed and any other health records
-Genetics/Health Testing (especially any recessive conditions that a future puppy family might need to be aware of). If desired, the breeder can complete genetics testing for each puppy to determine which pups carry which traits.
-Record both parents’ official color specifications, as different breeds use different terminology to describe color, for the puppies’ future families.
-Note mom and dad’s weight and height, which could be important information for the puppies’ future families.
-Both parents’ pedigree and registration paperwork
-Prepare any documents that you plan to share with future puppy families, including contracts or ENS Tracking Sheet and ESI Tracking Sheet
You’re ready! Time to breed!
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