Oprah to investigate abuse at puppy mills REAIR May 29

[Spiritwind]

Breeding is a business. Breeders are not in it for the breed. They are in it for the MONEY.

Since you are not a breeder, so how can you say why responsible/reputable breeders breed dogs???

Yes, I have breed litters... of quality, happy and healthy Rough and Smooth Collies. I don't breed often, I've had this breed for just over 13yrs now, and I have to be honest this is the breed I love and this is the breed I want to have!! I currently own 6 Collies (2 smooths and 4 roughs) After having Collies for so long, I just don't think other breeds or mixes could compete... with the way I feel about my Collies!...

Yes, I've gotten dogs from shelters before, I've had a couple "mutts" that were great dogs, but responsible breeders are were I choose to go.. because I show my dogs.... not only are my dogs, show dogs, or dogs I do herding with on occasion or other performace activities, they are my pets and my babies!!.... I do not have them to make money off them!.. they are house dogs, they have 17 wooded acres to run on, they are rarely in a "kennel" environment... (unless I am going to be gone a day or two and have a friend coming to take care of them for me)..

Its been almost 2yrs since my last litter, but I am planning a rough and smooth breeding this year. IF responsible breeders make money on their dogs, then I must not be doing it like they do, because I have never made one cent off my dogs!.. All my dogs have their eyes CERF checked, hearts, thyroid.. etc..etc...etc. They are shown in conformation, I also do herding, agility, obedience etc..etc.. to prove my dogs quality for breeding. This is not cheap! It costs a lot of money to do this... Just showing in conformation alone is usually a couple thousand just to finish one dog... IF you are lucky! It can be much more... between entries and traveling costs and handlers costs if you send your dogs out with handlers...

On top of that.. caring for and properly raising a litter of puppies is expensive.. in just food alone a litter of 5 Collie pups can go thru 40lbs+ of food a week... plus all puppies have to have their eyes checked by a certified opthomologist between 5-8wks of age.... vet checks, vax, deworming... some breeders test all puppies for the MDR1 (ivermectin sensitivity) gene prior to placing in new homes, which is $60 per puppy.. or IF Grey Collie Syndrome is common in the family they will check puppies to make sure they are not carriers for that before placing, which is over $100-130 per puppy......

I have helped place "rescue" Collies in loving homes, which costs me money most of the time, for food, deworming etc...

I agree with ParNone... I own and show purebred Collies because of what they were bred to do and their abilities.. they are smart, they are versitle and able to complete so many different tasks... that is why some people choose to go to reputable breeders.... because they want a dog with certain characteristics...

[Emeraldgreen]

Everyone has some good points on this thread and it's obvious that everyone on both sides of this love dogs. I totally understand that if a person wants a particular breed for a breed specific activity that they would acquire a dog from a reputable breeder. As well, a person who just wants to save a dog and have a companion can and should go to a shelter. And for those who want to do both there is this option:

Breed Rescue Groups

I'm sure most everyone on this forum knows all about these groups and it's nothing new but I thought I'd throw it out there.

In posting this, I completely understand that the breed rescue organizations that provide these dogs would not in most cases be able to provide any paperwork or guarantee in any way that could prove that the dog being adopted has good lineage or health so it would not be the suitable choice for someone who is looking for those qualifications.
But it is one more option for people out there who are somewhere in the middle, wanting to rescue but also wanting a specific breed but not necessarily for breed specific activities and are comfortable with the lack of guarantee and background of the dog.

And, hopefully with people adopting from shelters, adopting from breed specific rescues and purchasing dogs from good breeders we can all work to give dogs good homes and keep breeds that people know and love going strong.
Spaying and neutering is the best solution to these over populated shelters!