There are a lot of myths about dog breeders and what motivates them. But we’re separating fact from fiction to shoot down those myths and clear up misconceptions. Here are 10 assumptions about dog breeders everyone gets wrong.
10. Dog Breeders Are “Only Doing It for the Money”
It’s a prevalent myth that dog breeders breed their dogs as often as possible because they are “only in it for the money.” The fact is, many breeders lose money on breeding. Food, toys, vet bills, and more add up fast. Secondly, the time and dedication breeding takes is more a labor of love than it is financially rewarding.
9. Dog Breeding Is an Easy Job
Nothing about dog breeding is easy. There are a lot easier ways to make more money. Breeders must learn about pedigrees, genetics, and how to interpret the data to breed the best pups. Dogs require hours of observation and care, as well as playtime. Reputable breeders begin training, socializing, and conditioning dogs early before they are sold.
8. Females Are “Bred Repeatedly” Until They’re Useless
An unhealthy mother will produce poorly and may not produce any pups at all. Producing healthy puppies begins with healthy breeding stock. There are no cutting corners when it comes to a dog’s health. A breeder who values their reputation will do everything possible to ensure their dogs are in prime health.
7. Breeders Dump Old Dogs When They Can No Longer Breed
While the fate of older male and female parenting dogs varies from breeder to breeder, many breeders prefer to keep their retired dogs. However, a busy breeder may already have their time split with many dogs, and not have the time to care for a senior dog. They may rehome their dogs to ensure they get the individual attention needed.
6. Breeders Dump or Kill Imperfect Puppies
Breeders have many options in veterinary care for dealing with injured or ill puppies. It’s rare these days that an ill or injured puppy would be humanely euthanized. Breeders find a way to “rehome” puppies that can’t be sold. One thing they don’t do is “dump” them at a shelter. This would only happen if a breeder’s dogs were confiscated.
5. All Breeders Abuse Inbreeding
Organizations, such as the AKC, register dogs and keep track of their pedigree and genetics. This helps maintain genetic diversity. Responsible breeders are educated in pedigrees and calculating a Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) for a pedigree. Experienced breeders understand the guidelines, and know what they are doing to avoid irresponsible inbreeding.
4. Breeders Hate Mixed Breeds
Breeders are dog lovers who love all dogs, no matter what combination of breeds they are made up of. However, when someone overhears a breeder say, “I hate mixed breeds,” – it is often misunderstood. They’re likely referring to the mixing of breeds that causes health problems. Creating breeds leads to dogs having inheritable diseases more frequently.
3. Purebreds and Rescued Dogs Are Interchangeable
Many activists are focused only on “rescue dogs” and believe “adoption is the only option.” There are many pros to adopting a rescue dog and just as many pros to a purebred, such as predictability. Conversely, a major con of rescue dogs is an entirely unknown background. The dog may have a myriad of behavioral and health issues.
Read More: Is a Male or Female Dog Right for You?
2. Breeders Are Causing Dog Overpopulation
Annually, 23 million people in the US add a dog to their household. Between 6-8 million end up in shelters. America can house three times that many each year. Only 1.5 million dogs are euthanized annually. Breeders aren’t creating dog overpopulation. The answer is all shelter dogs need to be rehomed. The demand and the space exist.
Read More: 10 Things to Consider Before Rescuing a Dog
1. Dog Breeders Aren’t Necessary
Many advocate that dogs will breed without assistance from breeders. However, today’s breeds exist because they were developed over thousands of years. Specific traits were carefully and specifically encouraged through selective breeding. As a result, dogs function in many useful roles. Dog breeding isn’t something we want left to chance. Everything gained through breeding will be lost.
Read More: 10 Cutest Mixed Breed Dogs
