HUH? You have a pet dog now, but you want to make breeding illegal? So, where will pet dogs come from after breeding is banned? Or maybe you want just a very few carefully chosen elite to breed; then you'll be crying when you can't get a pet dog for under $10,000, or whatever high price the rare few avaiable dogs will cost. How about we concentrate first on getting the puppy mill situation under control since we know them to be truly reprehensible. IMO BYBs are a relatively small part of the problem, and most probably treat their dogs quite well. They're just not as selective about their breeding stock as some of us. Some people posting here are way too radical...get a life.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps I misunderstood, but I don't think anyone on this thread was advocating making breeding altogether illegal......That being said, I do agree with the point made here that BYBs are a relatively small part of the problem. Notice the phrase is "relatively small"--acknowledging they are a problem, but not the biggest problem. Many, many "back-yard breeders" care deeply for their dogs and would never mistreat them as the true puppymills do. While they often do not breed completely to standard, many fit the description of a "reputable" breeder in every other way. Again, please note I said "many", not "all". I do realize some do not; however, again they are a relatively small part of the problem.
Regardless of our views about breeding to standard, I don't think anyone would disagree that it is much worse to keep a dog in deplorable conditions than to breed a healthy off-standard dog. Looking at the big picture, it is a completely different thing to breed a healthy silver Yorkie in good conditions, than to breed a female every heat until she dies with no vet care, no human interaction, in cruel surroundings. And in the big picture, it does make more sense to spend your time fighting those breeding in deplorable conditions first....and then tackle those not breeding to standard.
This is the interpretation I made of Dudley's post, anyway. Apology in advance if I interpreted it wrong.
