deonk1 I am with you. We have a breeder in this area that prides herself on producing under 4lb adults. I can only imagine how small a 12 week old puppy is if they are going to be under 4lbs as an adult. She selld them for 1200 to 2500. She says that they cost more because they are so tiny. She is right about that. Without careful breeding (Sire and Dam being tested) the tiny litters will cost more - to the owners in vet bills.
I do not call her a BYB because I have never investigated her practices and such but she does seem to be focused on the cost of the puppy.
IMO.
I do not understand people though that will pay that much for a mixed breed. Yes they come from purebreed lines but the litter is still a mix. I have seen beautiful "mutts" out there but I would not pay 1500 for him/her. I think if the public stopped paying the price then some of these BYB's would have to stop or at least reduce the price. If they are not making a huge profit on each litter it might just discourage them all together.
I have a friend who is a breeder. Her records are kept in order, litters tracked, Sire/Dames tested, kennels cleaned twice a day, etc. She does not breed for the money, she breeds because she loves the breed and enjoys what she does. She always has beautiful puppies and awesome representations of the breed as her puppies grow into adulthood.
Why is it so hard sometimes to be able to tell a bad breeder from a good one. It seems like the bad ones have "learned the script" and know the right answers now.
Sorry I rambled on. This is just such a tough subject for me. I am going to have to make myself stay away from threads like this. I lost a puppy at 6mos who had been breed by a BYB. It was before I knew better and it was a heartbreaking and expensive lesson to learn. My puppy's parents were half brother and sister. She had an very enlarged heart and severe liver shunt. She had a really bad seizure one night, went to sleep and never woke up. RIP Danika Grace.