Ethical Breeding Standards:
Considerations Prior to Breeding
Breeding a litter should begin with knowledge and passion. Without passion, the breeder will not have a desire to learn their chosen trade. Without knowledge, a breeder isn't much of a breeder. Experienced, Responsible breeders devote an enormous amount of time learning as much as they can about their breed/s, about the health issues that can occur with their chosen breed/s and try to adhere to the breed standard of their chosen anima/s. Many breeders are judged based upon their knowledge of their chosen trade and if a breeder is going to be taken seriously in their chosen trade, they should become as knowledgeable as possible in all aspects of breeding. There is more to breeding than just pairing up 2 dogs together. A breeder must have many elements to bring to the table if they are going to be respected as a breeder and taken seriously in their chosen trade. Breeding can be very expensive, time consuming as well as heartbreaking, so only those truly dedicated to their animals should attempt breeding. Breeding is NOT about showing little Johnny or Sara John Doe the facts of life. There is an enormous amount of responsibility to the animals that are bred. If you don't have the time, funds, experience or desire, Don't breed.
Responsible breeders do not live off of the dogs they produce. At least the majority of them do not. Some do! It's pretty easy to tell who lives off of their dogs and who does not. Many people believe if a breeder has alot of animals and they live in "squalor" (which is what many call puppy mills) that the breeder is making pure profit. I would come to believe this notion if the animals were living in squalor and the breeder was living in a hundred thousand dollar home and driving an expensive car. Such is not always the case. If animals are living in squalor and so is the breeder, it's clear to see that something terrible has happened in the life of the breeder that has caused deplorable conditions for the animals and the breeder. Most of the time, money has become an issue and the breeder doesn't have either enough knowledge to seek outside assistance for the sake of their animals or they may not have the ability to ask for help. On the other hand, many show breeders do live off of the dogs they breed charging as much as $20,000 per puppy! Living in expensive homes, driving expensive cars. Some even transport their dogs to shows in semi trucks that can cost more than $400,000 a piece! Many people have their assumptions backwards when it comes to breeders who profit and breeders who breed for hobby. The majority of breeders lose more money than they earn just based on the enormous expenses that come about from breeding and caring for their animals.
Responsible breeders do not breed their dogs just to produce cute little babies. They know that each of those cute babies will require many hours of care, and must be eventually placed with a responsible owner who will continue that care even when the cuteness is over. That does NOT mean that responsible breeders should not be paid to help reimburse them for their expenses and costs of providing quality dogs to those who seek them. Breeding is an actual trade. Breeders have every right to receive compensation, however small, for all the time, hard work and effort put forth. It is inconceivable for anyone to believe they have a right to obtain a pet from a breeder and the breeder not be paid a fee for all their hard work. Those who seek pets would never be able to afford a pet from a breeder if the breeder charged them an actual "wage" plus the price of the pet.. Many people focus on what a breeder charges for their puppy but fail to forget what the breeder may have already invested before their litter was ready to be sold.
Responsible breeders do not breed unless they are convinced that their knowledge, experience, and devotion to their favorite breed will result in a mating that will produce a quality litter others can enjoy; with qualities that are as near as possible to the ideal for that specific breed. Good breeders breed to preserve and to enhance the characteristics that make their breed unique. In short, good breeders breed to provide quality pets to quality homes who seek them. Good breeders have a basic concept of canine genetics; understand the concept of basic genetics and learn from the litters they create. Each litter is a learning experience.
A responsible breeder will examine their created animal carefully. Recognize its flaws and If they decide to continue with the breeding process, look for a mate that will eliminate or balance those flaws. A responsible breeder always strives to improve their chosen breed. This is not an over-night process. Learning about a chosen breed can take years. A responsible breeder is well aware of the enormous task they have taken on and know that there is always room for improvement.
Responsible breeders know that raising animals is a full-time job and at birth the breeder becomes the surrogate mother/father. During the first couple of weeks the female normally takes care of the babies' needs, but complications such as the mother being unable to feed or perhaps she may have a lack of nurturing requires the breeder to step up and be a full time mom. If you thought being tired from caring for an infant was alot to go through, try caring for a litter of 9 or more puppies every couple of hours, around the clock. Yes! This can and does happen on occasion to breeders. Bottle feeding each puppy may become a necessity until they learn how to eat solid foods on their own.
It is the breeder's responsibility to provide a safe, warm, clean, dry place for the babies they create as well as provide proper food, care and water for the mother.
Responsible breeders recognize that once weaning the babies, they then become even more of a challenge for the breeder. There is deworming, vaccinating, extra feeding, cleanup, grooming, potty training, and veterinary care that takes up every ounce of energy the breeder has. Let's not forget that all of the above requires money. It is NOT cheap to care for a litter of puppies. A created litters' needs adds up to a lot of hours, which leave very little free time for the breeder. If you are not up for this sort of challenge, don't take on this type of responsibility.
Responsible breeders know that their personal lives may be placed on hold when they have puppies that need cared for. That means, less time for personal friends; No vacations; No long distance trips (unless you are taking your pups with you).
Another factor that a responsible breeder has to consider is the financial burden that comes with breeding. Breeding is not a profit making activity unless you as a breeder are charging thousands of dollars per puppy or if you are the sort of breeder who unloads the entire litter to a pet store all at one time. Yes, the reality is that some breeders are commercial breeders. A Commercial breeder unloads the entire litter without any concern or well being for their animal, to a pet store for a fraction of what they would get if they took the time to keep the litter and sell them individually to families. A commercial breeder cuts costs as much as possible. By unloading their pets all at one time, they have no over-head. This is the sort of breeder I personally despise. I have never sold any of my pups to a pet store. Genetic screening (if available), health testing before breeding if necessary, to the extra food, supplies, and medical care required after the babies are born; the cost of birth and raising babies can be very high, especially if complications arise. These costs are rarely, if ever, recouped by the sale of a puppy unless as I said above, the breeder charges thousands of dollars per puppy or unloads the entire litter to a pet store. Responsible breeders also consider the fact they may have puppies stay with them longer than expected, which will further increase out of pocket expenses and costs.
For some reason, many people believe they can not bond with an older pet. I have never understood this, but this is a reality. Unfortunately, that same cute little 8 week old finds it difficult to have a loving home when he or she turns a year of age even though it is in fact, the very same cute dog! It makes me sad to think that there are so many people out there who refuse to give an adult dog a chance to be a part of their family. It truly breaks my heart. Dogs only want love and to be loved, no matter how old or young they may be. People should learn to "give love a chance".
Select a Breeding Pair- A good breeder will have a basic concept of canine genetics. Selecting only healthy dogs for breeding is of utmost importance. Some breeders believe that testing the parent dogs will prevent their offspring from having genetic issues. Screening parent dogs does not prevent offspring from ever having a genetic issue or inherited malady sometime during their life. Having each individual offspring screened and tested is the only proven method of knowing whether or not the individual dog itself has issues. If it were true that parent dogs who were evaluated and tested prior to breeding would prevent offspring from ever having a health issue, our world would be full of perfect dogs. The truth is, genetic testing still has many, many years before breakthroughs can help us as a canine owner and breeder . Many people believe the parent dogs are responsible for issues that occur with the offspring when in fact, even with humans, offspring can inherit traits that may have occurred generations before them. Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Genetic diseases can occur with all breeds. We never fully know why some dogs become ill at a young age with a serious health issue when others do not. If we had that answer, human children would live a ripe old age and never be affected by things such as cancer, heart defects, epilepsy or other serious and deadly health issues.
A responsible breeder will take the time to understand any and all possible genetic defects of the potential breeding stock and their
ancestors. Finding out what genetic issues ancestors had can be very difficult, if not impossible. Pedigrees do not offer such information. The only way a breeder would know the over-all health of the puppies they create, is if they own all of the ancestors to their produced litter and have observed over time, the over-all health of each individual ancestor. A responsible breeder is also aware that genetic testing will NOT prevent created offspring from having genetic issues and do not use such testing as a tactic to sell their puppies. It is a noble thing for a breeder to desire to have a perfect litter of puppies......but we do not live in a perfect world.
Responsible breeders recognize that just because an animal has become fertile, it does not mean that they have reached sexual maturity. A
responsible breeder will research their breed to find out when it is the right time to consider breeding and consult with their veterinarian
to see if their animal is a good candidate for breeding before a litter is produced. Some females should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases prior to breeding. Yes...even dogs can have sexually transmitted diseases. Imagine that!
After Breeding - Once pregnancy is confirmed, the responsible breeder will talk with their vet about special feeding requirements and about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, and after birth if they are not an experienced breeder; The inexperienced breeder will want to be briefed on how to recognize and respond to an emergency should one arise. A basic concept in first aide is a must. A good breeder will take a course in first aide. This can usually be done by contacting the Red Cross Society. For a small fee, a breeder can learn basic first aide. While training is for humans, you would be surprised at how this type of training can save the life of your dog. Unless your vet lives around the block or next door, time is of essence during an emergency! Having some training in basic first aide can keep your dog alive while it is enroute to your vet during an emergency situation. A responsible breeder will never attempt to provide complicated medical care to an animal if their animal is in need of immediate professional vet care. Minor issues can be taken care of by the breeder just as a parent would their child.
A responsible breeder takes the time to become a certified respite and foster care provider as
well as learn CPR and First Aide in case of extreme emergencies. (Both my husband and I were certified and registered respite, foster care providers in Mannheim Germany back in 1994. I was a trained field med tech in the military as well as certified by the Red Cross for CPR, as was my husband.)
A responsible breeder will feed their animals premium pet food, not just during times of pregnancy but throughout the life of the animal. If you have been feeding your female a well-balanced, high-quality diet, you should not need to add anything during her pregnancy. However, some breeders advocate supplementation with a protein source
such as evaporated milk, eggs, meat or liver.
Birth
A responsible breeder will help the female give birth and make sure that all of the placental membranes are accounted for and the puppies
come into a warm clean environment. If the female neglects to remove a placental membrane or sever an umbilical cord, the breeder will step
in and do what is necessary including rubbing the puppies down with a towel for stimulation. A responsible breeder will also paint the cut end of the umbilical cord with iodine to prevent infection. A responsible breeder knows that they may have to provide CPR on a newborn puppy and will take the time learning this procedure. Some puppies may require the breeder to actually step in and clean fluid from its nostrils and mouth with a small suction device. Having all of the necessary tools of your trade is essential before you get started. Start up fees can be very costly.
A responsible breeder will help the puppies learn to suckle, including attaching them to the nipple immediately after birth. The mother’s
colostrum contains maternal antibodies which are produced in the mammary glands just after birth. Colostrum helps the newborn puppy
fight infection in their early days, while their own immune systems mature. A responsible breeder knows they may have to provide bottle feedings and sleep next to their newly created litter if the need arises. Be prepared for many nights without sleep.
A responsible breeder will watch their puppies and check up on them at least once every two hours for a 48 hour period during their first
few days of life. The responsible breeder recognizes the requirement that their vet be contacted if there are:
Indications of extreme pain
Strong contractions lasting for more than 45 minutes without delivery
of a puppy
More than three hours elapsing between babies with or without
contractions
Trembling, shivering, or collapse
Passing a dark green or bloody fluid before the birth of the first
baby (after the first baby, this is normal)
No signs of labor by the time the puppies are past due
A responsible breeder brings the mother and the newborns for a
veterinary check should the need arise.
A responsible breeder knows the immediate environmental temperature
should be kept between 85 and 90 degrees for the first five days of
life. From the seventh to the tenth day, the temperature can be
gradually reduced to 80 degrees; by the end of the fourth week it
can be brought down to 75 degrees.
A newborn cannot control its body temperature and must be kept in a
warm environment. Chilling will stress the baby and predispose it to
infectious disease; overheating can kill it. The environmental
temperature can be controlled with a well-insulated electric heating
pad or a heat lamp. A responsible breeder knows they may have to provide round the clock heating
or cooling which will increase their costs and expenses.
Responsible breeders will hand feed fed if their mother is either
unable or unwilling to nurse them. A responsible breeder will buy a
commercial milk replacement and carefully follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
A responsible breeder knows that steady weight gain and well-formed
feces are the best evidence of satisfactory progress. If diarrhea develops, a breeder will immediately
reduce the baby’s intake to half the amount previously fed, then gradually increase it again to the
recommended level. Diarrhea in newborns can be very dangerous, so consult a veterinarian for advice.
A responsible breeder never prepares more formula than is required
for any one day, because milk is a medium for bacterial growth. A
breeder will maintain sanitary conditions at all times. Before feeding
a responsible breeder will warm the formula to about 100 degrees or
near body temperature and hold the bottle at an angle to prevent air
bubbles. A responsible breeder will consult a veterinarian if the
puppies are not nursing well.
If the mother is either unwilling or unable, a responsible breeder
will stimulate the newborn to defecate and urinate after each feeding.
Ordinarily the mother's licking provides this stimulation, but
orphaned puppies will need human intervention. Gentle body massage
is also beneficial for any hand-reared newborn. The best time for a
massage seems to be when the newborns are waking up, while you're
waiting for the formula to get warm.
Finding Homes
A responsible breeder tries their best to makes sure that every single puppy goes to an
owner who will provide it with the same love and devotion for the life of the dog. While we do not live with a crystal ball, a responsible breeder will implement a canine application as a way to learn something about the prospective dog owner. A canine application is a good way to make a careful screening and evaluation of each person or family
interested in getting a puppy. A good breeder ensures such families completes a puppy application for review as well as sends in a deposit or payment for one of the puppies.
A responsible breeder knows the dangers of allowing people to handle their newborn puppies and
know NOT to place their puppies at risk from canine communicable diseases by allowing the general public to handle each puppy before they are ready to go to their new home. A responsible breeder
will do as much as they possibly can by protecting their new litters from canine communicable diseases.
A responsible breeder learns everything they can about their chosen breed and profession
and they should know the pros and cons of owning the dogs they create. It's important to
share this information to prospective buyers, including the negative and positive aspects of canine ownership. You should be ready to explain why a pet requiring a lot of coat care or training is not the best match for someone who does not have alot of time on their hands or why
a tiny pet may not be appropriate for a family with small, active
children. A good breeder is absolutely committed at placing their puppies only
in homes they believe will provide excellent care to the purchased pet. A responsible breeder does not allow people to have
contact with their young puppies just so they can watch them play or to see if they are "allergic" or to handle them just because they are "cute".
A good breeder has the responsibility to encourage each buyer at having their puppy vet checked. A good breeder will offer a
heath care guarantee of at least one year for genetic defects. A responsible breeder registers their litter so that the owners can have proof of ownership for their purchased pet. A good breeder will not provide the registration papers to the buyer until the buyer has shown that their purchased pet has been spayed or neutered, unless the pet has been purchased specifically for breeding. If the pet has been purchased specifically for breeding, a responsible breeder will ensure that the buyer is an experienced breeder who is knowledgeable about the breed they have purchased. A good breeder will also provide the new owner's with vaccination/health records, feeding
instructions, copies of any health or genetic tests completed (if any were completed) on the purchased pet as well
as a copy of the sales/purchase agreement and spay/neuter contract. A responsible breeder always has
important documents to provide to the new owners of one of their puppies at the time the puppy is ready to go.
Commit Yourself to the dogs you create:
Responsible breeders know that their responsibility doesn't end when
their puppies leave with new owners. While they make sure the
families know they can turn to them with any questions or problems
that arise throughout the pet’s lives, the breeder may NOT always have a solution or answer for every single possible issue that may arise at sometime during the life of the purchased pet. A responsible breeder may, however, be able to point them in the right direction to help the family find their solution. Buyers must take full responsibility for their purchased pet once it leaves the breeder. While many people believe that a breeder is responsible for every issue that may pop up in the life of a buyers' purchased pet, it is not even reasonable to assume this notion.
As a breeder, you will be gratified by phone calls, emails and letters describing your puppy's first teeth, birthday parties, and other
milestones. You'll be thrilled to receive photos of the puppy fitting in his/her new homes. As a breeder, you also need to be prepared for the bad news. Not every buyer will take full responsibility for their purchased pet. Not every buyer will follow your recommended advice. Some buyers just can't be assisted no matter how hard you try. Some buyers are very unreasonable in their demands or opinions as to what a breeder should or should not do for them. All breeders, at some point in their profession of breeding will receive occasional bad news regarding
a dog they have created. There is no such thing as a perfect breeder, regardless of how hard the breeder might try to be. A RESPONSIBLE
breeder requires the buyer to provide to them important documentation to include x-rays, testing information and all lab work for a second opinion from their personal vet should they contact the breeder for bad news on a related health issue. Not all health issues occur from a genetic standpoint. Sometimes the buyer themselves has caused a health issue to occur either knowingly or unknowingly. A responsible breeder is NOT responsible to owners who do not comply with this requirement, nor are they responsible to assist unreasonable buyers.
As a breeder, you should try to be there with advice and support for a variety of situations if at all possible. You must try to answer questions and try to provide resources to your buyers, if possible. Breeders do not always have all of the answers even though many believe they should.
A responsible breeder tries to assist the buyer with a problem, should one come up, if they are able. A responsible breeder will provide a buyer information on where the family can turn should they have to relinquish their pet. A breeder is NOT responsible for taking back a purchased puppy or dog if they do NOT have the capacity or capability to do so. Breeders may not always be able to accept a returned pet, but can offer the owner assistance on how to go about locating a new home.
A responsible breeder NEVER sells their litters to a pet store or pet shop or to a commercial breeder. Responsible breeders are private breeders, not commercial breeders who sells their litters to pet shops. Ensuring each puppy's quality of life is a good breeders' main concern, from the moment they decide to breed to the day the puppy dies - ideally of old age, after a long, happy, fulfilling life.
Let's discuss what a responsible breeder IS NOT responsible for. A responsible breeder IS NOT responsible
for placing classified ads for customers who want or need to relinquish a puppy or dog they can no longer provide for or keep. The responsible breeder IS NOT responsible for the task of locating a new home for a puppy or dog their customer can no longer keep or provide a home to. A responsible breeder SHOULD be responsible for providing the customer with information on how to go about such a task if they are no longer able to provide for or keep a family pet and if they themselves are not able to accept the pet back. That does NOT mean providing the customer with phone numbers or addresses of where they can advertise! .The buyer is responsible for finding their canine another home if they can no longer care or provide for it and if the breeder does not have the capacity to allow it to be returned.
A responsible breeder IS NOT responsible to a customer who HAS NOT followed the breeder's contractual agreement, their purchase policy, or to those who do not follow the breeder's guidelines. Just as there are bad breeders, there are bad dog owners. Just as there are neglectful breeders, there are neglectful dog owners. Just as there are irresponsible breeders, there are irresponsible dog/puppy owners. Just as there are uneducated breeders, there are uneducated puppy/dog owners. Just as there are breeders who are out to rip off a customer, there are customers out to rip off a breeder.
For every Ching....there is a Chang. While some people become disgruntled and turn on a breeder when a breeder's policy is NOT favorable to the owner, a responsible breeder does not change their policy and beliefs just to win favoritism in the eyes of the general public or the buyer. A good breeder will have a policy in place and will enforce their policy without prejudice.
Some people believe that a responsible breeder is responsible for every aspect of their puppy or dog's life and a responsible breeder IS NOT responsible for every aspect of a customers' puppy or dog's life.
A responsible breeder must make many important decisions through-out their profession of breeding. A responsible breeder can NOT make decisions based on public polls of what the public believes is correct or incorrect. A responsible breeder does NOT change his or her belief system to win over radical dog owners or buyers. A responsible breeder must make important decisions that allows them to continue doing what it is they believe in doing. A responsible breeder BELIEVES in doing the best job they can and they believe in the importance of their job. A responsible breeder SHOULD NOT change their beliefs based on the public's idea of what a breeder ought or ought not do. A responsible breeder has hard working values and they are dedicated to their puppies and dogs.
A responsible breeder knows that their puppies and dogs come first and their customer comes second, with the general public coming in third. A responsible breeder knows that they can not make everyone happy all of the time and while some of their decisions may be unfavorable to the general public or some of their customers, they do know their decisions are the correct ones to make and they stand by the decisions made. A responsible breeder does not change their policy based on what the general public believes is correct or incorrect. A responsible breeder upholds their promises made to their customers.
A responsible and professional breeder is aware they may have enemies among their profession due to jealousy, envy or spiteful behavior amongst their peers or disgruntled customers, A responsible breeder and professional breeder knows how hard their profession is and know that they are not always seen in the brightest of light.
A responsible breeder would NEVER USE A CANINE FORUM AS A METHOD of bad mouthing their fellow breeders or as a method of making a profit by bad mouthing their fellow breeders. A professional breeder does NOT allow this sort of behavior to occur if they operate a forum regarding the breed they are creating. A responsible and professional breeder will discourage such behavior inside of their forums and DO NOT tolerate this sort of behavior. A responsible breeder DOES NOT OPERATE THEIR FORUM as a sort of KANGEROO COURT ROOM.
Some people call breeders a "PUPPY MILL" out of anger and many are uneducated as to what exactly defines a puppy mill , in general. The term PUPPY MILL DOES NOT define a breeder based on how many dogs they own or breed. Puppy Mills, in general, do not even come into contact with the general public because most sell their puppies directly to pet stores, pet shops and other commercial facilities such as laboratories who buy animals for testing. Puppy Mills do NOT spend thousands of dollars on their dogs or puppies and they DO NOT expend much effort at raising the dogs they have or caring for the dogs they have. A breeder is NOT a puppy mill just because they breed various types of dogs! Breeders who care for their animals and do their best at providing care to their animals is a good breeder. A responsible breeder is a very tired person at the end of their work day and most of the time, their normal work hours are 16 hours a day....7 days a week with no time for vacations or personal fun. Responsible breeding requires alot of hard work and dedication.......regardless of how many dogs a breeder owns or breeds, the profession of breeding has no room for SLACKERS.
Breeders who do fall into the category of being a puppy mill are just bad people period who have ulterior motives for the animals who are in their possession.....do not care for the animals that are on their possession and who are generally lazy people who have no morals and no conscious. Sorry to disappoint the Naysayers....THAT ISN'T US! We are prior military; We are very hard working people who are committed to our animals and we spend more money on our animals than we do ourselves. Some people use the term "PUPPY MILL" or "PUPPY FARM" very loosely. We live in a rural area and every time I pass by a farm.....I wonder....."Are the farmers a crop mill? A cow mill? A pig mill? A chicken mill? Are all those gardeners who grow thousands of flowers a FLOWER mill? IS WALMART A MERCHANDISE MILL? Are they NOT making a profit by selling their products and don't they have more than one kind of product? Anyone who owns a business does so to make a profit...an income....after all, that IS why they are in business. Breeders are a different sort of business and there is a very LOW PROFIT margin in the profession of breeding. I boggles my mind to read in the postings of people who proclaim a breeder is "living off of their dogs". I even remember 20 years ago, paying for my first dog and I remember paying THEN $350! So, if I paid $350 for my dog 20 years ago when things were cheaper...how is it possible as prices have increased over the years for breeders to be profiting off of a dog they have sold for $350!!!!!! They can't! Prices have increased in soceity for everything that a breeder must use to continue their profession of breeding. Veterinarians have raised their prices....gas, water and utility costs have increased dramatically ....the cost of living has increased and yet...you've got those neurotic activists out there claiming that breeders are making a profit from selling a dog! I think what most people lose sight of is the fact being a breeder is an actual job. Breeders should be paid for the hours and the time they have invested into each puppy someone has purchased. Breeders must make a profit in order to pay the outbound expenses and costs their profession demands and they don't need to apologize for the need to make a profit in order to continue their profession. What amazes me the most is if you go to many dog shows where show breeders hang out and compete with their dogs.....check out the parking lot full of huge RVs....those hundred thousand dollar semi trucks that haul their dogs and puppies around!!! WHO IS MAKING THE PROFIT? I don't hear anyone moaning and complaining about the show breeders who are selling their puppies for upwards of $25,000 a puppy! Show breeders are the breeders who live off of their dogs. You can always tell the breeders who live off of their dogs. They drive the fancy expensive cars; They live in very expensive homes or own huge farms or ranches. The average breeder spends MORE of their own money than they ever take in, from the sale of a dog.
