Dog Trainers: Why U Should Avoid Back Yard Breeding?

Why You Shouldn’t Support Back Yard Breeding – Do You Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder?

This is a topic that dog trainers usually feel very strongly about. As a professional dog trainer in Sydney, I’ve noticed how little most people know about choosing a responsible breeder or puppy mills. Some people have never heard of either. Puppy mills are horrible places (photo above) where dogs have no other reason but to produce puppies. Their health, physical and mental, feeding, space and whole lives are neglected. Puppy mills are interested in nothing but making money, making an as big profit as possible with the lowest costs possible. Getting a puppy from a puppy mill is a very bad idea, you won’t be saving the pup’s life, you are supporting their business, creating the need for it. And you will most likely end up with a fearful, timid, sick puppy. And where do you get puppy mill pups? From pet stores, back yard breeders and even some official breeders can be considered puppy mills. This is why you should do some research and choose a responsible place to get a puppy from.

Puppy Mills

Dog trainers around the world advice you to stay away from puppy mills! Dogs are kept in a tiny space and there are lots of them. They aren’t happy, clean or healthy. They have very little if any human contact or socialisation, which results in fearful dogs. Studies show that a fearful mum will produce fearful pups! A puppy mill will not let you visit the puppies, you might not even get a photo of the mum or the pups. Always ask for photo updates during the 8 weeks! Puppy mills usually give you the puppy before 8 weeks, before the puppy has had the first vaccination (to cut costs!). There are no health records, worming or health check for the pups. Pups can be either cheaper than usual or more expensive (if designer breed). Avoid at any cost!

Back Yard Breeder

How to recognise a back yard breeder from a responsible one? Back yard breeders don’t breed dogs for the good of the breed. So the dogs are sold as ‘pets’. The breeder doesn’t take part in any training (agility, obedience, rally-o, nose work, protection, tracking, fly ball etc.) even when breeding active working dogs or dog shows. They aren’t registered breeders and the dogs might not have any health tests done. This is wrong, dogs have many inheritable diseases that can be prevented easily with health testing. There’s no excuse for not doing it! The puppies are cheaper than from a responsible breeder. They might not come vaccinated (given before 8 weeks, to cut the costs!), wormed or health checked. You might not be allowed to visit the breeder.

And unfortunately, the breeder might not have any idea how to raise a litter. I’ve seen “breeders” posting on FB asking about feeding the pups soy milk (a huge NO!), supporting not health testing their dogs etc. This to me is horrible and I don’t see any other reason for it than making money. It is not done for the love of the breed, because then you would do everything possible to produce healthy and happy pups. Back yard breeders often breed mixed breed dogs, and so-called designer breeds such as Cavoodles (still mixed breed dogs!). They can also produce a lot of puppies, breeding both purebred ones and then mixing those together. This can be a puppy mill!

Responsible Breeder

A responsible breeder breeds dogs for the good of the breed. They are interested in activities related to the breed and dog shows. They breed for health, temperament and looks. Note, health and temperament should be the most important things! They don’t give the pups to just anyone, they will ask questions to ensure the pups go to right homes. They don’t over breed, a bitch should only be bred once a year! They ask more money and the puppies come health checked, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and with food and a puppy advice booklet.  You are welcome to visit the breeder and the pups and they send you updates on the litter.

Dog trainers can help you determine if the breeder is a responsible one!