Puppy Mill Vs. Back Yard Breeder
By Streetie Muncy, Rod N'Staff Shetland Sheepdogs
We hear a lot about “puppy mills” and “back yard breeders” these days, and many have asked for a definition.
Basically, a puppy mill can be defined as a commercial, for profit operation, producing large quantities of puppies. All puppy mills are not the disgusting picture presented by the media, in which puppies and dogs are starving, dying, and up to their knees in waste. Many are actually very well kept, clean, and well run businesses. The fact remains, however, that this is just what they are. Businesses. The animals are considered livestock, and kept in cages with little or no socialization. The puppies are sold locally, over the Internet, or to brokers, which provide them to pet stores and other commercial venues to be sold at elevated prices to impulse buyers. Impulse purchase is a problem in itself. Many people are unaware of, and unprepared to provide for the needs of a pet.
Puppy mill breeders are not concerned with adherence to breed standards, genetic health, temperament, or any of the other things that responsible breeders work towards. They are simply there to make money. They do not usually offer any guarantees, education, or follow up. Many are simply a name on a paper. Registration papers are provided, but may be meaningless. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is taking steps with DNA tracking, but basically registration papers in regard to an animal are only as reliable as the breeders who issue them.
Puppy mill breeders follow popularity of a breed, increasing production to meet demand. When the demand dies, frequently so do the dogs. Many are put down, others are sold at auction to the highest bidder, some may make it into rescue organizations or otherwise find their way into good homes. There is no follow up, no home check, no concern of where to dog or puppy is going, or how it will be treated.
A back yard breeder is usually a family or person who buys a dog and loves it so much they want to make more like it, or perhaps they think they will make a little money on the side. After all, they paid good money for their puppy! Most have never heard of a breed standard, are unaware that there are genetic diseases, and just don’t think about temperament issues. They are heartbroken when unfortunate circumstances arise, but unless an entire litter is a complete disaster, may not make the connection to genetic problems. These puppies are usually well socialized, but the temperament of both parents is not usually considered. Back yard breedings increase with the popularity of a breed, and contribute greatly to the decline of a breed. Many popular breeds have, in this way, developed behavior and other issues that set breed development and health on its heels. Some breeds have even “started over” because of the vastness of problems encountered.
Many responsible breeders consider popularity of a breed the “kiss of death”. They have watched breeds develop undesirable traits and inborn habits that completely change the scope of a certain type dog. Purebred dogs are developed by selective breeding practices to bring together the traits that make a breed. The resulting traits are written up as a set of guidelines. This is known as the breed standard. When these practices are flung haphazardly into inexperienced or uncaring hands, the traits once so carefully brought together are basically “put back into the blender”, leaving the responsible breeders who do care to figure out the mess.