Originally posted by wolfie

Aren't there purebreds in shelters too? Shouldn't it be outrageous that people breed purebreds, and then charge close to $1000 for puppies? I don't understand the double standard for breeders of mixes vs. purebreds.

And isn't it entirely possible that a breeder of mixes could be very responsible? Health test all their pups, show them in obedience ect, temperament test them, have a spay/neuter contract with buyers, screen homes, ect ect. If this person was breeding purebreds people would say they were responsible, but if they're breeding mixes they aren't?
I don't think we are bashing mutt breeders in particular -- but backyard breeders. Yes, we have purebreds in the shelter, but they come from backyard breeders (any reputable breeder would have a contract saying that if the person must give up the dog, it goes straight back to the breeder). I don't think that charging $1000 is a bad thing when a reputable breeder does it -- they spent thousands and thousands of dollars for their dogs to be in top condition to breed, and even at that price it's unlikely that they will make a profit.

I don't believe there is such thing as a responsible mutt breeder, because a reputable breeder only breeds for the better of the breed --- when breeding mutts, that's impossible because it isn't a specific breed -- it's a mixed breed, and who knows which traits from either parent it carries? Which traits would you want to improve and better in the course of breeding? For what purpose would this dog be bred, and with both parents being different breeds, will it serve the purpose well enough? Are both the breeds alike enough that the person getting the dog will know what to expect, or will it have an undetermined personality, coat, energy level, etc? Someone not knowing what they are getting and then getting stuck with something they didn't want is a dangerous outcome -- that just means more dogs in shelters.

Personally I think we should stick with the breeds we've got, and that there should be a lisence to breed. I think that anyone not fitting the qualifications of a reputable breeder should not be allowed to breed by law.

I recently talked with someone who had bought a shi-pom from a pet shop. Probably came from a puppy mill. Among the dogs in the pet shops here in Kelowna, poodle mixes are most common. That's because Kelowna is the retirement city of Canada -- lots of seniors want to live here, and they all like small dogs, especially poodles and poodle mixes. And I've also heard that puppy mills like to breed poodle mixes, because breeding purebred poodles is harder -- you get less puppies, and more birthing troubles. They say that if you breed a larger breed, liek a shi tzu, with a male poodle, you will get more pups, and the birth won't be as difficult.