[Petunia]

The educated dog owner/lover knows the danger of Backyard breeders. However, have you ever bought another animal from a ByB situation?

My family has had it's moment's. I know for a fact my first dog was an ill-bred lab. But I love the memories I have of Arthur (named for the cartoon Ardvark)I suppose I'm guilty now as an adult. I bought a bearded dragon from Petsmart not to long ago, knowing full well that alot of their animals (while it will say hatched in capitvity) were once in the whild, or their grandparents were wild caught. I've had rabbit's from petstores. I can only regret that my money went to support more poaching of wildlife. However, I'll not regret getting my lizard. He's a sweetie, and I don't think I'd change my mind were I given a second chance. What's your guilty animal moment?

[CorkyMax]

Starting out with crappy commercial dog food before I knew better! I do raw feeding now with some home-cooked. Letting the vet give Rimadyl to one of my dogs---only had 1 pill--the rest went in the garbage! Had a reaction to that 'killer' of dogs! Everyone should do some research before giving your dog any meds, no matter what your vet says!!!

[Lara's mom]

It seems to me that there is some confusion as to just what a backyard breeder actually is. Too often, I've heard a breeder dismissed as "backyard" simply because they are a very small operation who breeds their male and female only once a year and raises and sells the pups.

The difference as I see it is, the backyard breeder is in it strictly for the money and, as any good breeder knows, you seldom even break even if you do things right, let alone make a profit.

However, there are also many small breeders who do it for the love of their particular breed. The parents have been tested for genetic problems common to the breed as are the puppies before they are sold. They sell show quality puppies to people who are interested in showing and breeding to improve the breed. Pet quality puppies (like my Lara) are sold under an agreement that they be spayed/neutered. In the event that something happens and you can't keep the dog they've sold you, they will welcome them back.

These breeders may not have the biggest and fanciest of websites. They put their money into keeping the parents healthy and happy and tending to the needs of the puppies. They do everything possible to raise happy, well adjusted puppies that will be welcomed and loved in their new homes.

I guess my point is, bigger is not always better. There are a lot of small breeders out there who do a wonderful job of whelping healthy and happy puppies. I've known a number of people who bought puppies from what were supposed to be first class breeders and ended up with puppies with all kinds of medical issues, many of them genetic.

My Lara came from a small breeder - one litter per year. Kim's puppies are tested for genetic diseases common to JRT's. The pups are raised in her home as opposed to outdoor kennels. They are well socialized with other dogs, adult humans, cats and small children. When I brought Lara home, she had no problem whatsoever adjusting to my household. Within 24 hours, it was as if she'd always been there!

I think we have to be very careful in distinguishing what we refer to as "backyard breeders" as opposed to small breeders who breed their pups for the love of their particular breed and are responsible and good breeders.

[Petunia]

If the dog/cat, rabbit ect. is in the pet shop, you are supporting backyard breeders if you buy said animal. I wanted to know who in the dog world (though they know what differences to look for between the ByB, and 'good' breeder) have bought pets from shoppes or the grungy back alley sale.

[rayter]

BYBs are nothing more than small scale puppy mills. Many backyard breeders are there only for profit.

[pinsnpugs]

I agree with Lara...the term Backyard Breeder is overused lately. Puppymills and backyard breeders are a huge difference IMO.

In my eyes, alot of BYB's are simply uneducated, low volume breeders who dont health test, do not show. They simply throw dog A and dog B together with no thought of health, temperament, or breed standard. It is just a side income for them, with no real dedication to the breed.

Puppymills are high volume scum suckers. Have hundreds of dogs in filthy, crowded conditions. mothers are bred from the first heat and every one thereafter until they die. Puppies are produced by the hundreds with no testing, no regard to the well being of the animals. They are treated as livestock and never socialized or know what human touch is. This is the scum of the earth IMO.

Hobby breeders, show breeders, etc many times also get the 'BYB' tag unjustly.....the terms get confused these days and overused out of context.

I have been involved with dogs in breeding, showing and rescuing alot of years...so many things I would do differently.....hindsight.....

[Yogi]

As one who has been involved in breeding for over 50 years as well as rescue, I do not have an expensive kennel set up. I still breed, but mine are raised in my home. Does this make me a back yard breeder? I have seen kennel facilities where there were in excess of 75 puppies and all this so the breeder could find just that one that she could show. This woman was not just an AKC breeder but also an AKC judge. Now I ask, who is the BYB or Puppymill? Too have all those pups just to get the one that she thought she could win a 75 cent ribbon with. The term BYB truly does not have a definition. It is bantered about but with no clear interpretation implies anyone who breeds from their home is a BYB. This in no way is the case. I breed from the home. My knowledge of the breeds I am involved is as extensive as anyone who has kennels and many breeding dogs. In my case I do not have a lot of breeding dogs and limit the litters. I am a hobby breeder who does test his dogs. They come from established lines and are healthy. Nearly all are pre-sold and none ever go to a pet store but to some, I am called a "greeder" when in fact I make little to no money off my litters. Truth is, I still owe my vet nearly $900.00 from my last litter. Which once the last one goes here in about 2 weeks will still leave me owning nearly $250.00.
It would be worth it if more people took more time to understand the breeding process and less time assuming that any and all that breed must fall in the category of reputable (large kennel facility with web site), BYB and Puppymill and spend more time just asking the right questions of the breeder. There you will find the answer as to who in fact is reputable and trustworthy with regards to their litters, pups, sires and dams. So many assume that if a breeder has a web site and thousands invested in large kennel this makes them a good breeder when in fact, they are in many cases a glorified puppymill. In the case of the AKC breeder, 75 puppies. She has to sell them which in turn does this not make her a puppymill?

[Lara's mom]

I couldn't agree with you more. The term, "Backyard Breeder" is unjustly hung on a lot of small breeders, simply because they're small. Personally, I'd feel a lot more comfortable buying a pup from someone who has raised it in a home as opposed to a huge kennel operation. It has been my experience that those who aren't trying to raise 75 + puppies at a time know their pups better and they are way better socialized than those who grow up in a kennel. Frankly, I can't see how anyone can raise and socialize that many puppies at one time and do a good job of it.

[Petunia]

I posted this same question in a rabbit forum I used to be a part of. I wanted to know if the rabbit breeders (who knew the dangers of rabbit ByB's and rabbits bought in petstores) had ever bought another animal from such a place.... I got the same posts there, as I am here.

I'm going to try this again..... Rephrase:

Knowing full well about dog ByB's, puppymills, and petstores (and other 'bad' places to get your furry friend), have any of you bought another animal from such a place? Cat/rabbit/lizard/anything

[Lara's mom]

No, I haven't. Nor, would I.