THE HOMESPUN BLOG

The term Backyard Breeder is another one of those terms that you may see quite often as you search for a puppy. While the term doesn't carry quite the same sinister feel as "Puppy Mill," it isn't a compliment either. As with so many labels, this one has different meanings to different people. My definition of a Backyard Breeder is this: it is a novice breeder who has decided that they would like to enter the market but has not properly prepared themselves for the rigors of the job, has not made the necessary investments, and has not educated themselves enough to produce a reliably high quality puppy. Likely, they are doing the breeding as a "side hustle" and expecting that it will require a minimal amount of commitment. They are either not aware of what health and genetic tests can and should be done to parent dogs, or they are unwilling or unable to make the substantial investment into performing those tests. Finally, because they are not thinking of this as a full-time endeavor, they are unlikely to establish solid long-term business practices. They may really take good physical care of their dogs, and may even produce some cute puppies, but they just don't have a deep enough understanding of what they are doing to be fully trusted. I think the name gets misapplied often when it is referring to a serious upstart breeder or one who runs a small operation from their home. It is perfectly possible for a newer breeder to do a fantastic job provided that they have researched and implemented best practices, invested in the necessary testing and equipment, formed a relationship with an experienced mentor or two, and opened themselves up to the infinite educational material available on the internet and within the professional breeder associations. The fair hit against a new breeder is that they simply haven't yet established a track record of producing quality puppies who live long and healthy lives, nor have they had a chance to show their character in sustaining long term relationships with clients. Experience certainly counts, but the simple lack of it does not, itself, make one a Backyard Breeder. As far as the size of the operation, of course that can not be used as the measure of whether one should be given the label. Some of the best breeders in the world do very limited numbers of puppies, focusing on quality over quantity. The better term for a smaller professional breeder is probably something like "Boutique Breeder." My practice here at Homespun best falls into the category of Boutique. I run a small operation from my home, I focus on quality, I keep up with best practices, and I stand behind the puppies that I sell. Many of the methods used to detect a Puppy Mill (see my previous blog post on that!) can also be used to detect a Backyard Breeder. Most likely, a true Backyard Breeder will not have much of an internet presence, won't be able to produce health testing certificates or genetic test results, won't be able to converse knowledgably about common genetic diseases or other canine illnesses, and may give you a general air of incompetence. Look before you leap!

I have to admit that, when I am out and about in a social setting and the topic of vocation comes up, I have the slightest bit of anxiety over whether or not to share with others that I am a dog breeder. The reason is that I know, for many, the term "Puppy Mill" is so closely associated with my profession. It's hard to unclumsily say that I am a dog breeder but not THAT kind of dog breeder among strangers and acquaintances. But, since I am among friends here on my blog, let me delve into the topic a little. The term Puppy Mill means different things to different people, so let me first define what it means to me. A puppy mill is any breeding operation where the principle purpose is to produce as many puppies from as many female dogs as possible as cheaply as possible, often breeding females who are already sick or exhibiting genetic disease. AND Little care is taken to ensure that breeding lines are kept healthy and clean. AND The dogs involved in the operation (puppies and adults) are either abused or neglected or both. This abuse and neglect can take many forms, from failing to give mommas adequate food and water to locking mommas into a small area with their litters and not allowing them to ever take leave from them. We have all heard the horror stories about raids on breeder facilities where dozens of animals are in a state of filth or starvation or where momma dogs have not be groomed in their entire lives and their coats are matted to their skin. We shudder to think that we would ever support such a practice. Yet, despite the fact that many states have done much work in cleaning up the cruel practices that some breeders were carrying on, many puppy mill operations still thrive, with many unwitting families purchasing puppies from them, never knowing the conditions of the facilities. Have you ever seen the popular meme "When you order from Wish...?" If you do a Google search for that phrase, you'll see some pretty funny illustrations of what you might end up getting when you order from a service whose primary purpose is to churn out a cheap alternative to a premium product. Wish is a website, similar to Amazon, where you can go to buy almost anything you can imagine. I am sure that you can get good quality products from Wish, and the purpose of this illustration is not to throw shade on that business. However, many people have learned from experience that when you go shop on that site, you had better beware of the fact that you might not get what you expect, because so many of the sellers on the service don't have quality control as their main focus! The cheaper product you order might look EXACTLY like the premium version, yet you may find not long after getting it home that the problems lie just a bit beneath the surface. I am sure you can see where I am headed with this, but I will continue. You can think of puppy mills as a sweatshop for making puppies. The breeders who oversee the facilities are not worried about quality because their concerns run only as deep as how a puppy might look on the surface. Many of these breeders do produce cute puppies. But what is under that initial cuteness? Are there bad elbows or hips that will lead to easy injury and expensive surgery for dogs early in their lives? How about poor genes for vision that will ensure bad eyesight or blindness? Have the parents been cleared of genetic cardiac disease? Did the puppy have traumatic experiences early in life that will manifest in bad behavior later? So many of these questions are just not very important to a puppy mill breeder because of their focus on quantity over quality and their goal of pricing their puppies at what seems like a bargain. So, how can you avoid supporting such a facility? Ask about a warranty. In Pennsylvania, the only guarantee that is enforced by law falls under the Puppy Lemon Law, and will only cover a puppy which exhibits a SERIOUS active illness in the first few weeks after sale. Good breeders will stand behind their puppies for at least one full year for genetic defect. Ask what physical testing is done on parent dogs. At a minimum, the breeder should be testing for hips, patella, eyes, and heart, and parents should pass those tests as judged by a legitimate organization such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), Penn Hip, the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, etc. Ask what genetic testing is done on parent dogs. There are multiple genetic testing services that breeders can now use to sift out diseases that were once common. Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, von Willebrand Disease, Degenerative Myelopathy, Ichthyosis, and Chondrodysplasia & Chondrodystrophy are all diseases that can now be avoided if a breeder is aware of what parents are carrying in their genes. If a breeder isn't bothering to invest in genetic testing, beware. Ask if the seller belongs to any professional breeder organizations. Organizations like the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) do an excellent job of holding their members to a higher standard. Though not all good breeders belong to one, it is a good sign when you find one who does. Talk to them on the phone. If you spend some time talking to a breeder, you will likely be able to get a good feel for what kind of person they are. Are they impatient with you? Consider that a bad sign. Do they answer questions vaguely? Watch out. Do they seem to verbally squirm when topics like health testing and warranties come up? Consider passing on their product. Consider the price. Whether you are shopping for a car, a pair of sunglasses, a new laptop, or a puppy, you will find wide ranges of pricing on the market. As we know, "you get what you pay for." Sometimes, going with the "bargain basement" price can work out, but often that is not true and you end up paying more in the long run for having chosen the cheap inferior product in the first place. Ask whether the breeder is subject to state inspections and has certificates that they can share with you. Most states require that breeders pass one or two inspections per year to stay in good standing. Familiarize yourself with the requirements of the state in which you are considering purchasing and ask the breeder for proof of their compliance. Puppy mills definitely still exist, but the more aware you are of the signs, the easier it will be to identify and avoid them!