Breeder Types (Hobby, Backyard, Puppy Mill...)

Hanseldox Miniature Dachshunds

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Hanseldox Miniature Dachshunds

Keith Etling
Kent, OH 44240
(330)256-7449

What are the types of breeders?

HOBBY BREEDER: A breed fancier who usually has only one breed but may have two; follows a breeding plan in efforts to preserve and protect the breed; produces from none to five litters per year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of environmental and human contact; has a contract that protects breeder, dog, and buyer; runs a small, clean kennel; screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects from the breed; works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible.

COMMERCIAL BREEDER: One who usually has several breeds of dogs with profit as the primary motive for existence. The dogs may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. The dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the breed standard or for good temperament. Most commercial breeders sell their puppies to pet stores or to brokers who sell to pet stores.

BROKER: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and sells to retail outlets. Brokers ship puppies by the crate-load on airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations in the Animal Welfare Act.

BUNCHER: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets, collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home" (**A GOOD REASON TO NEVER DO THIS!!!**), and adopt unwanted pets from animal shelters for research at veterinary colleges or industrial research laboratories.

BACKYARD BREEDER: A dog owner whose pet either gets bred by accident or who breeds on purpose for a variety of reasons. This breeder is usually ignorant of the breed standard, genetics, behavior, and good health practices. A backyard breeder can very easily become a commercial breeder or a puppy mill.

PUPPY MILL: A breeder who produces puppies hand over fist with no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and poor health and socialization practices. A puppy mill may or may not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be neglected or abused because the breeder can't properly handle as many dogs as he has. Puppy mill operators often denigrate hobby breeders and their dogs in attempts to make a sale.

Dateline Article
IT’S A MULTI-million dollar industry driven by puppy love. As puppies, they're all adorable, but buyer beware. Millions of Americans have fallen in love with puppies in pet store windows. But there's a different side of the business that keeps many of those pet shops full and has nothing to do with love.

Many pet owners have no idea where their puppy started its life. Dateline's investigation examined the commercial dog breeding system in the U.S., how many pet stores keep all those different breeds of puppies in stock at any given time, who breeds these thousands of puppies, and if anyone is inspecting the facilities or making sure the dogs are in fact purebred.

Dateline's investigation found a commercial breeding industry with, in some cases, cruel conditions for the breeding dogs which can result in puppies with health and behavior problems. We discovered inhumane conditions in the commercial dog breeding industry and learned that most puppies in pet stores can come from these operations.

So the question is, if you want a purebred pup, where do you find reputable dog breeders and a good selection of breeds to choose from? Most people imagine pet store puppies are bred in homey, hand-reared environments where dogs and puppies have room to play. But these small, private breeders specialize in just one or two breeds and they don't sell to pet stores. So where do pet stores get their puppies in all those shapes and sizes?

Dateline's investigation found that more often than not, pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills —— the term used for a commercial dog breeder where breeding dogs are confined to cages their entire lives. According to experts, careless breeding is common and the puppies can inherit health or behavioral problems that may make them difficult pets. They found hundreds of breeding dogs in deplorable conditions.

Dateline's investigation discovered Nielsen Farms in Kansas, where we saw 500 breeding dogs, many with health problems —— like rampant skin infections called mange, food infested with maggots and disturbing behavior often caused by confinement. We shopped undercover and learned Nielsen Farms sold puppies to pet stores across the country, from the largest pet store chain to the most exclusive of pet shops. Nielsen now says that the conditions which Dateline found don't exist any longer.

Critics say pet stores have no choice but to buy from commercial breeders if they want a large variety of young puppies in their windows at any given time.

Puppy mills are found all over the U.S., but are concentrated in high numbers in these states: Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

So suppose you say you don't want to go to a pet store? How do you find a reputable dog breeder? Breeders of all reputations advertise in just about every magazine, newspaper and pet magazine —— even the Internet. Obviously not all breeders who advertise in newspapers, magazines or magazines or on the Internet are puppy mills. Some are genuinely careful, responsible breeders. But the only way to really know is to get references and preferably go visit the breeder in person and see the dogs. And while you're interviewing the breeder, pay attention. Is the breeder interviewing you? Good ones will, to find out if you're responsible and if you'll provide a good home for their carefully bred puppy.

There are plenty of sources for purebred dogs and puppies. Check the Internet for breed clubs all over the country that know all about their particular breed. Ask veterinarians for breeder referrals. And we were surprised to learn that about a quarter of all dogs in animal shelters are purebred. About 8-12 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year and 60 to 70 percent are euthanized for want of a home.

Most breeds have rescue groups that can find the type of dog you want. The bottom line is ask questions. And if a breeder is hesitant to answer your questions, experts say they might be hiding something about their dogs.

““There are wonderful sources of excellent pet dogs,”” says Dr. Karen Overall, a veterinarian, internationally recognized as a leading expert in animal behavior. She runs the behavior clinic at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Animal Hospital that sees some 20,000 animals annually. She has applied for a research grant from the American Kennel Club and is awaiting their response.

But you still have to do your homework say the experts, because a puppy should not be an impulse purchase. Remember, a puppy is not a household gift that can be returned, but a 10 to 15 year commitment. So you need to spend time researching the type of dog that meets your needs before you make it the newest member of your family.

First, pick a breed that's the right size and temperament for your lifestyle. Breed clubs —— every breed has one —— can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about a particular type of dog. Dr. Overall suggests even going to a dog show, where breeds will be lined up in a row for you to check out for yourself.

Once you've narrowed down the choices, where should you go to get your puppy? Those breed clubs recommend breeders. The American Kennel Club has a Web site, www.akc.org, which offers information. You can also check with your local veterinarian. Then go visit in person. A good breeder should have just one or two breeds.

WHAT DO YOU ASK?
““The first thing you should ask is,”” says Dr. Overall, ““is it possible for me to see any of the other relatives? The father may not be on the premises but if the pups are young, you should at least be able to see the mother. If they say things like a client did the other day, ‘‘yes, but she's out in the kennel and she's not good with most humans so I'll have to bring her out on a chain.’’ That was a clue.”” Stay away.

Dr. Overall says don't stop there. ““The second thing they should ask is could you please give me the names of some of the people with whom you've placed dogs before and can I call them,”” she says. ““And if they say no, walk away.”” A good breeder should give you that information. (**NOTE - OR ALLOW THE BREEDER TO GIVE YOUR INFORMATION TO FORMER BUYERS SO THAT THEY MIGHT CONTACT YOU IF THE BREEDER IS CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF A BUYER**) ““In fact, I've been to breeders where I didn't have to ask,”” says Overall. And you really don't have to go to a breeder for a purebred. ““They can talk to rescue associations, animal rescue leagues, humane shelters,”” says Dr. Overall. ““And those can be wonderful places to get even young animals.””

Experts stress that you need to take time to make the best decision for you and your family. ““It's your choice,”” says Dr. Overall. ““It's your decision. You're going to have this dog in your household for many, many, many years. You're investing in a family member.””