Where Should Dogs Come From?

Excerpted from the PET ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION Spring/Summer 2004 newsletter

I am frequently asked by acquaintances what constitutes a "good breeder." This is so hard to answer, because for me, confronted everyday with scores of delightful, loving dogs about to die for no reason other than the shortage of appropriate homes, I can see no reason at all to breed pet dogs, or buy them from breeders. "Good breeder" seems to be an oxymoron.

I hope I'm being short-sighted. I hope that in the foreseeable future there will no longer be a surplus of pups, only planned litters and very occasionally the "accidents" that surprise us with delightful mixes. Yet we all know how unlikely this is.

Meanwhile, I would hope that people would broaden their criteria in searching for a pet. Think "type" rather than breed. If you like the terrier spunk and drive, be open to any little rascal who exhibits those traits. Herding, sporting, working, and companion dogs all have specific talents and abilities that are appealing, and present in mixes as well as purebreds.

Mixed breed dogs can be every bit as appealing as purebreds, and exhibit far fewer genetic problems.

Adult dogs are often better choices than puppies. Many people tell me that they want a puppy so they can raise it themselves. My question to them is, do you have a job, or are you home all day? You cannot raise a puppy on the weekends anymore than you can raise a child that way. A working individual may be far better off getting an adult dog who can more easily adjust to that person's schedule.

Of course there are reasons for breeding dogs, the most important of which is to produce sound and healthy animals for service occupations, such as seeing eye dogs, police dogs, etc. Training these dogs is expensive and long term, and those involved understandably want to lower the risk of their investment by obtaining the healthiest animals possible, as well as those with the greatest likelihood of success in their programs.

What about other reasons, such as preference for the look or temperament of a certain breed? Here we get onto dangerous ground. There are many marvelous breeds of dogs, and it's easy to see how people come to have a favorite or two. Often those preferences are based on looks, and owners are soon dismayed to learn that the handsome Bloodhound they imagined lying on their front porch all day actually likes to run 10 miles before breakfast. Or the tiny teacup Chihuahua they wanted to take with them everywhere trembles with fear in new situations, suffers from hypoglycemia, and needs surgery in both knees. People see a breed on television, or at a show, or they had one as a child, and they want one just like that. This often sets up high expectations for what a dog should be like, and they are, after all, individuals.

If someone you know has made up their mind that they must have a certain breed, speaking to that breed's rescue organization is a good place to start. They may have dogs available, and they can certainly tell you what challenges are involved with the breed.

The number one place not to get a dog is from a pet store that sells "purebred" puppies. The vast majority of these puppies come from commercial breeders or puppy mills-- profit making ventures whose products are puppies. Loosely regulated, they sell their pups to brokers who then ship them out of state. Generally the brokers set the prices; thus in order to make profits, puppy millers must cut expenses wherever possible. In addition to using cheap food and providing little medical attention, puppy millers use whatever breeding stock they can get, with little or no attention to preventing genetic problems. In many cases, parentage is in question. The dogs are kept confined, often in very small enclosures, and bred incessantly until they no longer produce. They are then disposed of. The price the pet store charges reflects transportation costs and broker profit, as well as their own mark-up. Pet store customers pay a premium for a dog that is likely to be improperly socialized, and have medical problems. Neither kennel club registration nor championship titles in a pedigree are proof of a dog's overall genetic health. Kennel club papers prove registration, they do not guarantee anything else.

Some pet stores get their stock from local breeders and boast that they do not come from puppy mills. "Local" does not rule out the chance that a breeding operation is a mill, and even if these dogs come from families breeding their pets (known as "backyard breeders"), you are paying too much for a haphazardly bred dog. Breed clubs have codes of ethics, and an almost universal rule is that the breeder is responsible for final placement of their pups. They are NEVER to be sold through third parties. Breeders who sell to pet stores are unethical, period. This information is not intended to disparage any dog purchased from a pet store--the dogs themselves may be wonderful and even healthy. The point is, if you buy a puppy from a pet store, you are paying an unnecessary mark-up, supporting unethical breeding, and helping to perpetuate a cruel system as well as encouraging senseless breeding.

The next bad choice for where to get a dog is from a "backyard breeder." These are the puppies you see advertised in the newspaper. Here, someone decides to breed their pet to make a little money, or to get a pup for a family member, or under the mistaken impression that it's a good idea to "let" Fluffy have one litter. Often, Fluffy came from a pet store, and does not even have an accurate pedigree. The breeder just finds someone else with the same type of dog, and lets him spend some time with Fluffy.

(lft.) This puppy suffered when her ignorant breeder attempted to crop her ears. (ctr.) This four lb. Chihuahua suffers from dual medial patellar luxation, has already lost teeth at age 3 due to a severe overbite and is prone to hypoglycemia. His back legs are malformed due either to genetics or malnutrition. The backyard breeders turned him in to the shelter when he could not be sold, and new pups had arrived. (rt.) There was no waiting list in place for these American Pit Bull Terriers, so they wound up at the pound.

To understand how risky this is, you should know that there are over 500 identified genetic disorders in purebred dogs. They range from hip dysplasia to deafness, dislocating kneecaps, seizures, bleeding disorders, untreatable diseases of the eye that lead to early blindness, chronic skin problems, and literally hundreds of others. Many of these skip a generation, and a dog can be a carrier while not exhibiting symptoms of any type. Since all dog breeds were created through selective and in-breeding, and many desirable traits are genetically linked to undesirable characteristics, it's obvious how disastrous the results of casual breeding can be. And of course there is the simple fact that bringing more helpless young animals into a world already crowded with their unwanted brethren for frivolous reasons is cruel and unsupportable.

Are there any good breeders? Well...probably. To believe this, you have to accept the premise that preserving breeds is more important than finding a home for every dog who is already here. That is a topic for another essay. But accepting for a moment that breeds are important, and should be continued, what would constitute a good breeder? By "good," we actually mean "responsible." There are three main areas of responsibility to consider. First, care of the animals. High standards of nutrition, exercise, prenatal care and socialization must be part of any good breeding program. The number of litters a female is expected to have, and what is done with her when she is too old to produce, should also be considered here. Second, breeders should have a well researched plan, or "breeding program." This means they are breeding for specific results, and have sound reason to believe the puppies they produce will approximate their expectation. Third, good breeders must take full responsibility for the lives they create.

An important caveat for establishing a definition of a responsible breeder is that close doesn't count. They must meet all, or very close to all, criteria, not just one or two items from the list. For example, breed people often say that breeding should be done only to improve their breed. By this they mean that they have a breeding program where they are seeking to improve certain characteristics of their animals, or perhaps eliminate some negatives. This is accomplished by studying genetics, and carefully choosing the dogs they pair up to increase the chances of the results they seek. Taken out of context, "breeding to improve the breed" is meaningless. I once met a woman who had bred the Lhasa Apso she bought from a pet store. She boasted to me how she bred her to a male with an AKC Champion title "to improve the breed." I asked her how, specifically, that choice of mate would improve the breed. She said, "You know, because he's a champion." Her own dog had a terrible underbite (visible from across the room,) chronic skin problems, and died young from diabetes.

Most breed enthusiasts believe that responsible breeding must include showing dogs in kennel club-sanctioned conformation events, to make sure that they "stack up" before they are bred. I believe this to be of questionable value by itself, since breed descriptions tend to focus mainly on appearance, with much less attention paid to temperament, ability or health.

So let's say that a responsible breeder's breeding stock should be "proven," which could include conformation, but also field trials, agility, herding, success as therapy or guide animals, or whatever it is they are being bred for. They should be screened for inheritable conditions and diseases wherever possible, and allowed to reach the age when certain conditions might likely be observed before entering a breeding program. Testing is not yet available for the majority of potential problems, but by examining health records of a dog's ancestors, and breeding for health above appearance, progress can be made. Health, ability and temperament should be the first aims of breeding, not artificial beauty standards.

(lft.) A Cocker Spaniel dumped by her owner because of the inherited condition known as "cherry eye," which requires surgery. A matted mess (cntr., rt.) shows up as a stray in an L.A. City shelter. A haircut reveals a young purebred Miniature Schnauzer, the eleventh most popular breed in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club. His owner never came.

Breeding should not take place until there is a waiting list for the puppies. It is difficult to find truly good, devoted homes, and no one should assume they will appear simply because so many people think their dog is cute. Homes should be screened the way good rescuers screen their adoptive homes, i.e., there should be an application, an in-depth interview, and a contract laying out the standards of care the puppy is to receive throughout its life. The issues of spaying and neutering should be addressed here--the great majority of puppies produced by responsible breeding programs go out already neutered, or under contract to have this procedure performed. The breeder remains available to answer the adopters' questions to help their puppy succeed with its new family. These precautions in selecting homes ensure fewer returns, but responsible breeders will always take back their dogs if need be, and the best will microchip all puppies to themselves so that if the dog ever winds up in a shelter, they will be notified. To put it simply, they realize that they are responsible for the animals they create for their entire lives.

So yes, there are such things as responsible breeders, and in the future, perhaps we will control pet overpopulation and such breeders will be the source of most dogs. Meanwhile, dogs produced by these breeders, as well as by a host of irresponsible breeders, are taking up homes that could have gone to dogs who are already here, already waiting. Would people who want a purebred something or other "settle" for a mixed breed or adult purebred who needs a home? Some will, some won't, but as long as healthy, good-natured dogs are being put down for no other reason than lack of homes, many who have studied the issue in depth maintain that any reason good enough to breed a dog must also be good enough to kill one.

This 11-week-old Rat Terrier pup was turned over to rescue when the family who bought her realized she was inappropriate for a 3-year-old child. The breeder refused to take her back.

-Betsy Denhart

Betsy Denhart has been active in humane education, adoption counseling, and dog rescue for eight years. She has volunteered with the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, SPCAla, and various dog, cat and rabbit rescue groups. Currently, she serves as Vice President for PAF.