 Does anyone else think there is something wrong with this?
Firstly, I just want to make it very clear that I am not putting down dog breeders. I believe (very strongly) that there are good breeders...but there are also many bad breeders. Personal experience has forced me to believe that there are more non-reputable breeders out there than not. It is the non-reputable dog breeders that discredit and make a bad name for all breeders in general.
The reason for this post is because there is one thing, in particular, that bothers me about many breeders...
A young dam or sire is purchased by a breeder with the intent for breeding. Usually this dog is purchased by a breeder from another breeder that is believed to be from good bloodlines. The dam or sire is bred and produces a given amount of litters. To the breeder, it is perceived as an investment to have purchased this dog. True, the breeder may not be making a fortune, but they ARE making some kind of profit by breeding.
This dog lives with the breeder and produces puppies until it 'retires' and is no longer used to breed. This is the part that I cannot seem to come to terms with. Here is a dog that has lived in the breeder's home for (let's say 5 years), the dog sees the breeder as it's owner. Regardless of how the breeder sees this dog, that dog loves that breeder unconditionally...that's what dogs do. Any other dog or person that lives in the home is part of that dog's 'pack'. There is significant research that supports that dogs (like wolves) are 'pack animals. They develop very strong bonds with their pack members. Dogs feel emotion, pain, loss, grief, and abandoment.
When a dog 'retires', many breeders 'find new homes' for these dogs. Is there anyone else out there that thinks that this is wrong?
This dog (especially the female) has produced puppy after puppy...that is sold for money, and in all that time...has wanted one thing in return...love.
It spends a major part of it's life with a breeder, and then just like that...it is put in a new home?
Yes, dogs can adapt, and can learn to live in a new home. But why should they have to? Imagine how it would feel during the initial shock of being taken out of the only home it's ever known and placed with strangers...just because it is no longer profitable.
As far as I'm concerned, this dog has devoted it's life to you. It produced puppies while the breeder made money. When you get a dog, whether it is to breed or simply just to have as a pet...you owe it to that dog to give it the best life possible.
When that dog 'retires', it should not be given away or sold to someone. It should be able to stay in its home and live the remainder of its life where it belongs.
I think there is something really wrong with this! Why do so many breeders do this?, is it asking so much that the dog be able to stay in it's home after it is finished being used for breeding? Afterall, this dog has done so much for the breeder.
I recenlty met a breeder that told me that when her dogs 'retire', she does not find them a new home. She told me that she could never do that because she loves her dogs way too much. That is the way it should be.
Another post in this forum (from a breeder) stated that after their dogs are finished breeding, they stay with them in their home and become 'couch potatoes'. That is also the way it should be.
Any breeder that can get rid of their dogs once they are no longer breedable raises a huge red flag in my eyes. | 
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