Breeder Responsibility I
By definition, a breeder is anyone who successfully under takes the breeding of two dogs. It does not matter if this person has plans covering years of time, encompassing multiple breedings, or is one who plans to breed but a single litter.
A BREEDER'S OBLIGATIONS
Many people who breed dogs recognize their obligations. They are perfectly willing to accept the responsibilities assumed when bringing new life into the world. Those people offer their brood matron superior prenatal and postnatal care. They carefully research the pedigrees of their dogs they have brought to a breeding. Conscientiously, they ensure the sire and dam are X-rayed (hips and elbows), along with being checked for other problems that may afflict their breed.
These breeders carefully select the homes in which the puppies are place. Once a sale has been made, they provide detailed instructions for feeding and follow-up veterinary care. These dedicated people maintain a follow-up program, staying in touch with their puppy buyers. They ensure that puppies and grown dogs have optimum emotional as well as physical care. These responsible breeders are also prepared to take back or help to relocate at any age a dog of their breeding should the owners be incapable of keeping the animal.
There is nothing wrong with breeding and being a breeder per se. Education is, however, the key word for every person who contemplates this activity. It does not matter if this is for single litter or for an entire breeding program encompassing years of forethought. People who sell puppies must be aware of those prospective buyers who, during the interview process, disclose that they do not want to show, they only want to breed dogs. Dogs shows are, by their very definition, the place where the quality of a breeding program is proven.
All prospective puppy owner require adequate education. They need to be clearly informed that it is far easier to place a puppy from champion parents, or parents that are working successfully on their titles, than it is sell a puppy from untitled parents. A breeder should keep the entire breed's welfare in mind when making puppy placements. When confronted by the type of purchaser who insists upon breeding alone, it is best not to make the sale.
Most breeders carefully place their puppies in responsible homes with responsible people. Sales of pet-quality puppies without restrictions on breeding them is a real crime perpetrated on the overpopulated canine world. Some people "reason" that since Nature provided their pet with the means of reproduction, they should take advantage of this regardless of the animal's quality. Dogs do not have the same libido as people. It is not necessary that every dog be bred, nor is it imperative for each champion to reproduce.
Each day of the week, in any newspaper, one can find numerous advertisements for puppy sales from "planned" breedings. Often these sellers panic because the buyers they anticipated do not materialize. Some of these breeders are people who feel they are "entitled to recoup" the expenses of their initial purchase and subsequent upkeep of their pet. As a result, they feel entitled to breed just once.
These people do not realize the costs involved in properly rearing a litter: stud fees (and transportation costs to get to the stud dogs};veterinary fees (radiograph,brucellosis tests and artificial insemination if required); proper nutritional support for the dam and puppies and advertising expenses. These people are only able to see dollar signs before their eyes with the arrival of each new puppy into the world.
By Beth J. Finder Harris