Do all good breeders breed purely trying to achieve a perfect standard?

[Inthemud]

I have had is decision to make myself.

I have a sighthound bitch, with a lovely temprament, some success at champ show level (qual for Crufts this year) and very fit for the functions her breed was bred for.

My mind was made up by 2 things. Firstly, although mine is a good bitch, there are plenty of breeders out their breeding better and with more experience to offer if anything went wrong in the process.

The second was a flow chart that someone posted here is AAD. One section was "could you bear to lose your bitch in pregnancy or whelping". As she is a much loved family pet, inc to 2 young children, I had to answer no.

She will be spayed after Crufts.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ethical breeders do not add to the rescue problem - rescue centres will remain full to bursting unless puppy buyers change the way they buy - all too often they choose breeders that involve no travelling, no waiting, no questions asked and who will sell their pups more cheaply with the reasoning that " after all it's only a pet"...they buy a pup because " it's SOOOO cute" without a thought for it's suitability or their readiness to take on the responsibility and the breeders they go to simply don't care where their pups go as long as the buyer has the cash

Puppy farming is a profitable business unwittingly supported by rescue centres who enable the irresponsible or frankly uncaring breeder to wash their hands of what they produce -the quickest way of reducing the numbers in rescue is not to ask good breeders to stop breeding but to ask all puppy buyers to only buy from breeders who microchip every pup they produced thus making them traceable back to them and who issue contracts undertaking to personally take back or help re-home any pup they bred ....of course this would mean people actually doing some research, going on a breeder's puppy list, waiting some length of time, travelling many miles and being asked awkward questions (and yes sometimes being being turned down).

.......it's very telling that when breeds like Siberian Huskies, ( for example ) were exclusively bred by a small band of committed breeders who followed their breed club code of ethics http://www.siberianhuskyclub.com/aboutshcgb/codeofethics there was no rescue crisis in the breed - now sadly this is a breed with a huge rescue problem because BYB and puppy farmers have capitalised on the cuteness of a Sibe pup and this most specialised of breeds is now ending up in cooped up in a tiny urban backyard with all the behavioral problems this often brings ! - what kind of sense is it to stop those that are doing it right leaving ONLY those that are doing it wrong for puppy buyers to choose from ?

It became apparent to me when I was out and about with Freya and her sister as little pups that there are many people who do want a pup from health tested parents, and quite a few asked when I was next having a litter (my answer was probably never) and would have been prepared to wait. I then struggled to find litters I could recommend as all the people I know who do things right are cutting down on breeding. It is the people who decide they want a pup and want it now, and go out and buy one from an ad on gumtree or similar who need educating but who will they listen to?

 

[Dobiegirl]

It became apparent to me when I was out and about with Freya and her sister as little pups that there are many people who do want a pup from health tested parents, and quite a few asked when I was next having a litter (my answer was probably never) and would have been prepared to wait. I then struggled to find litters I could recommend as all the people I know who do things right are cutting down on breeding. It is the people who decide they want a pup and want it now, and go out and buy one from an ad on gumtree or similar who need educating but who will they listen to?

The people that wont wait though are never going to make the best owners, one thing you learn fast with dogs or any animals come to that is patience and these people havnt got any.

 

[Archiesmummy]

The people that wont wait though are never going to make the best owners, one thing you learn fast with dogs or any animals come to that is patience and these people havnt got any.

I admit I get quite exciteable. When I want something I want it quickly. I do research and then go all out to get what I want, whilst ensuring it is the best I have found, quickly.

I have the patience of a saint when it comes to my animals or children so disagree with the above quote personally.

Price is a contributing factor also. I do not have £1000 plus that some excellent breeders are asking. I find the best I can, quickly, within budget. My dogs, cats, horse and rabbits are fabulous. I have been lucky, yes, but the greatest of time spent researching, endless patience waiting and high prices paid does not always ensure a happy ending.