How are the dogs different?Question:I've read about not getting a dog from a byb but Im not really clear on why, wouldn't you want the puppy to have a better life? Is their a difference in the way the dog will train and act as it gets older? If I get a Bulldog from a good breeder or Bulldog from a byb what might be the difference in the dogs when their both Bulldogs. Also whats the difference between a purebred and a mutt like a "designer dog". Why is the purebred the better dog? Can you also explain to me what exactly is a back yard breeder? Sorry about all the questions Im just don't know any of this stuff. Answer: Hello! :) I've read about not getting a dog from a byb but Im not really clear on why, wouldn't you want the puppy to have a better life? But if a bad breeder makes money off puppies the first time, they will probably breed their dogs again. So by buying a BYB puppy, you are encouraging the BYBer to produce more ill-bred puppies . . . all while thousands of animals die in animal shelters. :( Is their a difference in the way the dog will train and act as it gets older? If I get a Bulldog from a good breeder or Bulldog from a byb what might be the difference in the dogs when their both Bulldogs. Dogs from BYBers are far more prone to health problems, as BYBers don't health test the parents. In some cases the dog will not have the correct temperament for its breed either. English bulldogs, specifically, are prone to a TON of health problems. Skin problems, respiratory problems, allergies, eye problems . . . I would never, ever, ever get one from a BYBer. You are going to want to stack all the odds in the favor of health in this breed. This is also a very expensive breed because they regularly have caesarean sections at birth. Also whats the difference between a purebred and a mutt like a "designer dog". There is no difference, aside from the fact that one has an insanely high price tag and (IMO) a ridiculous name. Why is the purebred the better dog? A purebred is not inherently "better" than a mutt. But it's irresponsible to purposely breed mutts when so many are dying in shelters already, which is why people here are "against" the so-called designer breeds. We don't have a problem with mutts, just with irresponsible breeders. ;) If you decide to get a mutt, check Petfinder or visit your local shelter! I got my labrador mix at a shelter and she was a fantastic dog, intelligent and extremely healthy. Can you also explain to me what exactly is a back yard breeder? Backyard breeders fall into two categories: "I'm in it for the money" and "my dog is so cute." In the first category, you have people who are just plain greedy. They want to make money off their dog and therefore skip anything that would cost money, such as health testing and pre-natal vet care. In the second category, you have people who think the world of their dog and think that it should be bred because it's "cute" or "we want a puppy just like her." Of course, this is silly because EVERYONE thinks their dog is cute and wonderful. We have enough pet overpopulation problems right now, imagine how much more we'd have if EVERYONE with a cute dog let it breed! Neither of the people in the previous categories know much about their breed's standard (ie, what an ideal example of the breed looks like and how to spot flaws), does health testing, or shows their dog in dog shows or sports. By contrast, a good breeder wants to improve their breed of dog and ONLY breeds "proven" dogs . . . A champion in the show-ring, for example, or a dual champion (showing plus hunting). They test all their dogs for known health problems, which can include the CERF (eye test), OFA (hip test), and others. They will NOT breed a dog who "fails" a health test, even if it's a champion. They usually have a health guarantee on their dog lasting at least several years. A good breeder will also grill applicants rather than handing out puppies to everyone with $500. They want their puppies to go to great homes and not be the "novelty dog" who's tossed into the pound after it hits adolescence. Sorry about all the questions Im just don't know any of this stuff. No need to apologize, we learn by asking questions. :) Answer: A BYB is an uneducated breeder, who is often in it for the money. Why does this matter, you ask? Well, BYB's just don't know or care about health and temperment. Genetic defects are unknown since the breeder doesn't test for them, insisting that they gotta be healthy, look how playful the dog is, it can't possibly be sick!!! WRONG. Genetic problems are passed on to their offspring. A BYB who doesn't test for health issues (specifically eyes, hips and heart) has no way of knowing if their dog has it or not. In conclusion, if bulldog X is bred to bulldog X, and either or both parents can have these defects, and pass them on to their children. The pups will encounter these problems later in life, whether it come 2 or 8 years from now. Larger breeds that have problems with their hips may even get displaysia at only a few months old, and it is EXPENSIVE to fix it. We're talking quadruple-digits per hip. But of course, the BYBs don't care - the puppies are cute, and they sell! Another problem is temperment. BYB's just don't care. Only dogs of outstanding temperment should be bred, so their pups will have temperments of the like - at least, the majority. The same goes for aggressive dogs - the temperment is passed on. Hyperactive dogs? Same goes. Shy or fearful dogs? Same goes. Neurotic dogs? ...Same goes! Some breeds may be NATURALLY 'hyper', as some call it (such as border collies and jack russels) and some breeds may be NATURALLY protective or aggressive with other dogs/animals (such as filas or rotties) but should NEVER be aggressive towards humans or aggressive towards something that the breed isn't supposed to be aggressive toward. Relatives make up part of a dog's overall temperment. But of course, the BYBs don't care - the puppies are cute, and they sell! Not to mention, if you buy a pup from a BYB, you are SUPPORTING them to continue to breed and produce more ill puppies in the future, so more unsuspecting (and unfortuneately, uneducated) families will have these dogs in the future, and they will be problems and end up in a shelter. Nice, eh? So, to sum it up, if you want a potentially unhealthy and aggressive dog that will put a HUGE hole in your wallet in the long-run, sure - go for a BYB pup! ;) Answer: I've read about not getting a dog from a byb but Im not really clear on why, wouldn't you want the puppy to have a better life? Just to comment on this, yes, of course we want the puppy to have a better life. But more often then not, it will end up dead b/c of health problems, live a life full of pain, or end up in a shelter. But supporting BYB's only adds to the problem, and creates more puppies in need of a good home. If you really want to help, you can find dogs on petfinder, etc, that have come from byb's and puppy mills. Adopt and that will help :) My puppy came from a BYB, I adopted her from a local shelter, I gave her a good life, and the shelter got the money not the BYB :) Answer: Another point...Chances are if you like the look of a certain breed it's best to stick to a reputable, responsible breeder. BYB's breed anything and they don't care about the breed standard. Chaces are, you will be dissapointed with the way your puppy looks as an adult because they rarely resemble how the breed is really suppose to look when you go the BYB route. It's been said before, but please don't cut corners with english bulldogs! These dogs are a man made breed. They are bred artificially and deliver puppies by c-section. Anytime you have a man made breed it takes years of selective breeding to preserve the traits that nature would do away with. This is why bulldogs can have so many health problems. When you ad a breeder who doesn't care to the mix, things can get very ugly. :yikes: Answer: I've read about not getting a dog from a byb but Im not really clear on why, wouldn't you want the puppy to have a better life? Is their a difference in the way the dog will train and act as it gets older? If I get a Bulldog from a good breeder or Bulldog from a byb what might be the difference in the dogs when their both Bulldogs. Also whats the difference between a purebred and a mutt like a "designer dog". Why is the purebred the better dog? Can you also explain to me what exactly is a back yard breeder? Sorry about all the questions Im just don't know any of this stuff. Like already explained, a BYB is someone who's either in it for the money, or for an inexcusable reason like (She's so cute) or (I just want to breed her so she can experience motherhood) or (The kids want to see the miracle of life) or (I want a puppy just like her). These all are WRONG reasons for breeding. Breeding should be done for the betterment of the breed, period. A purebred dog is by no means better than a mutt. I own a Silky Terrier/Yorkie cross, and I love her to peices. I don't love her any more or less than my purebred Yorkie. The difference between a BYB Bully, and a Bully bred by a responsible breeder is that 1, when you buy a BYB puppy, you're supporting the BYB, so that he can breed more unhealthy, untested dogs. 2, you're most likely buying a poor example of the breed which isn't always awful if you're only wanting a pet, but it normally leads to number 3. 3, You're probably buying an unhealthy puppy. I was taught that when you buy a puppy, you look at his eyes, nose, and ears, and feel his body for hernias. If none were bad, you're getting a good healthy dog. This is not the case, however. Dogs can have hip problems, or heart problems, that are not outwardly obvious. The dog may not be sick at that moment(or seem it), but they are more likely to develop problems later than a pup bought from a RB(responsible breeder). Of couse you want to rescue a BYB puppy, but do it buy purchasing a pup from a RB, or Shelter, or buy calling the local SPCA if you think the puppies are being mistreated, or ill-kept-for. Do not support them. I wish you luck in finding a puppy!!! It's great that you asked these questions, it's the only way you'll learn. ;) Some of us had to learn the hard way... Answer: I've read about not getting a dog from a byb but Im not really clear on why, wouldn't you want the puppy to have a better life? The puppy needs a better life, but by buying from a byb you are supporting their "business" and funding more litters of substandard breeds. Is their a difference in the way the dog will train and act as it gets older? If the dog has not been properly socialized, yes...there could be a difference. Also if the pup was poorly bred from parents with bad temperaments it could affect the pups attitude. If I get a Bulldog from a good breeder or Bulldog from a byb what might be the difference in the dogs when their both Bulldogs. The bulldog from the byb will end up with more health problems than a real breeders bulldog. byb's do not (typically) do proper health tests. Also whats the difference between a purebred and a mutt like a "designer dog". A purebred has been around for (sometimes) hundreds of years. Most have, at least, been around since the early 1900's. Designer dogs are a mix of 2 purebred dogs to create a "new" mutt for byb's to sell. They make profits off of naive, uneducated people that think a "designer dog" is a new breed. They lie about "hybrid vigor/better health/temperament/no shed/etc" in order to make money. Let me clarify that there is nothing wrong with a mutt, but breeding mutts intentionally (or breeding purebreeds that are substandard) is what aids in overpopulation. Why is the purebred the better dog? They have been proven over the years for a specific look/task/temperament. Mixes/designer dogs have not been. Mixes have their own trials and stuff that they can do, just not under a "kennel" name. Again, there is nothing wrong with a mutt unless you want/need a dog bred for a specific purpose. Can you also explain to me what exactly is a back yard breeder? A byb is someone that breeds dogs that have not been properly health tested, have poor (or no) guarantees, are not bettering the breed, do not title the parents and sometimes sell pups to young or under false pretenses (mini's, new breeds, etc). Let's not forget the outrageous prices byb's put on the poorly bred dogs and mixes they sell. You'll probably get better, more detailed, answers from others on chaz. :) Answer: Wow that was a lot of feedback.. Okay so I understand now why getting from a byb isn't going to help me or the puppy but now my question is how do I keep away from them? I'm sure some really know how to sell them selfs and their "healthy, well bred, perfect" puppies. Also I only mentioned Bulldog as an example. Answer: Wow that was a lot of feedback.. Okay so I understand now why getting from a byb isn't going to help me or the puppy but now my question is how do I keep away from them? I'm sure some really know how to sell them selfs and their "healthy, well bred, perfect" puppies. Also I only mentioned Bulldog as an example. Well, here are just a couple of things that will let you know you are dealing with a responsible breeder. 1.) The breeder is involved in some type of competition with their dogs. (i.e. conformation showing, field trialing, lure coursing etc.) These types of competition show that a breeder actually cares about an outsider's opinion of their dogs and that they are trying to breed to meet a standard of excellence. 2.) The breeder screens their breeding stock with specific health tests. The breeder should be able to provide you with results of these tests. (i.e. OFA, CERF) 3.) The breeder does not breed their female before she is two years old. 4.) The breeder only breeds one or two different breeds of dogs. 5.) The breeder produces one or two litters a year, that's it! 6.) The breeder makes you answer questions to see if you are a proper fit for one of their pups. 7.) The breeder belongs to a local or national breed club. 8.) The breeder will provide you with a written health contract, pedigree and vaccine record. 9.) If you are buying the dog as a pet, you are made to sign a spay/neuter contract and the pup is sold on limited registration. 10.) You must agree that if you ever can't keep the dog it is returned to the breeder. Answer: showpug said it all - I'd just like to add a few things (minor). They also should be feeding good food and understand proper nutrition, have all vaccinations up to date (on parents and pups), should have started basic training with the pups (leash/potty/commands) and preferably raise them indoors and be properly socializing them (as much as is safely possible). Answer: Here is an example of a good breeder: http://bluespiritkennel.com/ Example of people you'd want to stay away from: http://www.puppiesforsalebynet.com/index.htm Best of luck! You should stick around, there is lots too learn! ~Tucker Answer: Basically, it should be easier to get a low-interest home loan from the bank than a puppy from a responsible breeder. :) Answer: Good posts !!!! GOODBREEDERS don't need to advertise ......especially in the paper !! A GOOD website will post up coming litters , but should not have any puppies left . Go through a Bulldog club .... they will have approved breeders on file. Answer: Here is an example of a good breeder: http://bluespiritkennel.com/ Example of people you'd want to stay away from: http://www.puppiesforsalebynet.com/index.htm Best of luck! You should stick around, there is lots too learn! ~Tucker Great examples, wow I couldn't imagine speding $1500 on a mix....I had trouble spending $1500 on my purebred Yorkie! :lol-sign: Those pups on the second site are so cute, too bad they couldn't have been born in a better environment. :( Answer: Hi McKenzie. I checked back on your post to see how you were doing in your search for puppy info. I read initially that you were looking to purchase a Boston Terrier, around Christmas time. Now I'm seeing that this was actually a Boston-Bulldog mix. That is a very different dog and a breeding I would never reccommend. While there are excellent Bulldog breeders in the U.S. (my vet being one of them.) even they have problems with their dogs. This is not a breed I'd reccommmend for small children. It is also a short lived breed. If you do find a good breeder whose covered all of the nessecary health guarantees you'll want in your purchase agreement, this breed will cost you a small fortune. (Sounds like everyone else has given you the detailed info about types of testing you'll want in place before even considering a Bulldog/Bulldog mix.) So, I have to ammend my initial post... if you want to add a family pet to your household and it's a mixed breed, I hope that you'll consider giving a very deserving shelter pup a chance. Answer: I checked out both websites and I found the puppiesforsale site so interesting. I can't believe that someone would pay that much for a puppy just because it fits in a cup. I don't have it set in stone that I'm getting a Boston Bulldog but I thought that I had found a great breeder who told me her dogs would be great with my son. I've been doing so much research and when I talked to my husband about getting a puppy I had no I idea it was going to be this difficult. I really want a puppy that can grow with our family. Both our families are huge dog lovers and I couldn't imagine our son growing up without one. I have looked into all the spca's around our area but I haven't found one dog that was suitable for a family environment, actually I was told that most of the dogs couldn't go to homes with kids under 16. Trust me I have been at this whole dog thing for over 4 months. Answer: Have you checked out www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl yet? This is an EXCELLENT questionarre that will help to give you a better idea of the breeds that are suitable for you and your family. Will you let us know what it comes up with? Answer: Have you checked out www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl yet? This is an EXCELLENT questionarre that will help to give you a better idea of the breeds that are suitable for you and your family. Will you let us know what it comes up with? that's awesome! i went and got a 100% match for a havanese! :eek: they are cute! :D although, do you think they put trouble w/ children on all small dogs because of their size? they didn't do that on Havanese (which are small) but almost all the other small breeds said trouble with children....I found that strange, as the last 5 or 6yrs all we've had have been small breeds, and we've never once had a problem towards children...i suppose it's all how you raise them...:confused: ? Anyway, good luck to the OP in finding a dog! :) Answer: http://www.bichon.de/havanese/havanese3.jpg :eek: Look at that ADORABLe Havanese! My neighbor had one, but he was like 12, and had his hair shaved all the time! I never knew they were so adoable! :D http://www.szafi.hu/domoszloi/pictures/Havanese/havanese-Dafni-1-eves-4b.jpg There's an adult! How cute! Reminds me of my friend's Maltese, Moppy & Lizzie! -CUTE Answer: That Havanese sure is a cutie! :D Someone in Charlie's puppy class had a black & white one, she was such a cutie. Ignored the other dogs but loved people (but I'm sure that was just her personality) I agree, the K9 Country Quiz is really excellent...the results are so exact, it's amazing. Does this breeder have a website? If you don't mind me critiquing them...:o Answer: If you fall in love with a breed, you fall in love with the STANDARD. Breeds are supposed to look a certain way and behave a certain way. What good would a 50lb hyperactive Great Pyrenees do as a livestock guardian? What good would a 100lb couch potato Border Collie do as a sheepdog? When you find a breed that you like, it's a given that you want a dog that looks and acts like the breed should. THIS is why you don't want to buy from a BYB. These unscrupulous breeders who pay no attention to standards are not breeding to produce good examples of the breed. They are not striving for excellence in health, temperament and structure. Most "backyard bred" dogs DO NOT fit the breed standard in temperament or structure, because these breeders don't care about the standard. They care about breeding "cute puppies" or making money. Some don't have the slightest clue what they are doing and some just want to make a buck. Often, dogs from BYBs have health issues because these breeders do not bother spending the money on health testing prior to breeding. After all, if you're going to make money, you need to cut as many corners as possible. I know someone is going to jump in and say that responsible breeders and those that promote responsible breeding are on some kind of "high horse". Not true. I HAVE a dog from a BYB. I know firsthand the product of unscrupulous breeding. Ripley is a VERY cool little dog, but he does not act like a Papillon should. Does it mean that I love him any less? Of course not. But if I was to do things over again and truly loved the Papillon breed, I would go to a breeder who bred the best dogs possible. Who bred dogs to be EXACTLY like Papillons should be, with no "personal preference" modifications to the standard (don't like small Paps? Let's breed 15lb ones!) If you don't love a breed for what it is supposed to be, why bother getting a dog from a breeder at all? Why not get a rescue dog? Why not just go to the shelter and pick out a dog or puppy that tugs at your heart? A standard for looks and temperament is what makes a breed a BREED. If you don't care about standards, why do you want a purebred dog? Answer: That Havanese sure is a cutie! :D Someone in Charlie's puppy class had a black & white one, she was such a cutie. Ignored the other dogs but loved people (but I'm sure that was just her personality) I agree, the K9 Country Quiz is really excellent...the results are so exact, it's amazing. Does this breeder have a website? If you don't mind me critiquing them...:o Aww I bet it was cute! Are you talking about the OP(about the breeder)? If not, I got those pictures off of Google Image Search. There may be a breeder listed there. ;) :D Lauren (Dixie's Mom) Answer: Are you talking about the OP(about the breeder)? If not, I got those pictures off of Google Image Search. There may be a breeder listed there. ;) :D Lauren (Dixie's Mom) Lol, nope that was directed to the OP :p Wonderful explanation RD! Answer: Lol, nope that was directed to the OP :p Wonderful explanation RD! Gottcha! ;) Answer: I'm a match for a . . . harrier? What kind of breed is that? Answer: A Harrier is a hound, similar to the English Foxhound. Weight: Between 45-60 lbs and are very active and playful :p Answer: The K9country thing is pretty accurate, but if my breed of choice didn't show up on there as a match I wouldn't be discouraged. It's a rough guideline for breeds that you might want to consider, not a steadfast, end-all selector. :) Answer: This is my opinion, I am no dog expert, but I am a voracious researcher and researched breed characteristics before i decided on the Collie. It took me a long time to find my dog, because I realized that, as with other breeds, Collies can inherit some very devastating illnesses. And just like humans, genetics play a huge role with animals, up to and including personality characteristics. Our biology classes also taught us that inbreeding can ultimately bring out undesirable recessive traits. So I set out to find a breeder who understood genetics before mating her dogs. I myself was tempted to buy a Collie from a BYB locally, because Collies are not that easy to find around here and this breeder was just an hour away and just FULL of litters, if you get my drift. But I had already done my reading and I resisted. A year and a half later, I got my Tosca. Now, only the psychic hotline can tell me that nothing will EVER go wrong with her health, but I do know that she has a far better start in life having been borne of properly bred parents. When I received her, she had been microchipped, checked by an opthamologist (written report), had her first shots, was wormed several times, and I was able to see records to prove that she was borne of dogs that have normal eyes, thereby heavily increasing my chance of avoiding the dreaded Collie Eye Anomoly. I was able to visit and see the parents any time I wanted to during the process, and the same went for the puppies. In addition to this, my dog has inherited wonderful personality characteristics from her parentage and was already socialized in many respects and partially housebroken when I received her. If I had purchased a Collie from that BYB, I could have easily purchased a heartache on all these counts. BYB's are a business. It is the rare conscientious breeder who makes big bucks on breeding. They do it out of love, and more often than not, they might just break even after all is said and done. In the case of my breeder, she produced only one litter this this summer. She was very careful to whom she sold her dogs, was not selling a commodity, but rather saw it as passing on an extention of the best qualities of the breed. She demanded spaying/neutering, and she guaranteed the health of my dog. She also had me sign a contract that stated that if for any reason I could no longer keep Tosca, then the dog was to return to her. She is very educated about the characteristics and cautions of the breed and she did her darndest to pass that knowledge onto me. She is heaviliy involved in organizations that promote the best of her breed and I got the very strong sense that she would rather keep a puppy than sell it to the wrong person. My breeder even spoke to my veterinarian. I am sure that if he hadn't told her he would give me one of his own kids to raise if he had to, I would have never made it to the list, which is generally a long list with good breeders. Best of all, my breeder is always there to talk to and lend some sound advice. I feel as if I am part of her family now, and in a sense I am. In addition, I know the full heritage of my dog, and have all her papers to prove she is who she is, including her full pedigree. There seems to me to be a world of difference between BYB's who put two dogs together and yield puppies and conscientious breeders who take care in the breeding of their dogs, always mindful of genetics and the well being of the litter that follows as a result of careful and diligent planning. Tosca was worth both the wait and the extra dollars. By a mile. Answer: Well put, everyone. MacKensie- I read an odd post. I.d. , credit info theft. I may be mistaken about who that was, (my apologies if I am) but if this info was about you, I hope it's really "you" I'm now talking to. About back yard breeders. I know many. Because I "show", I hear about how disgruntled legitimate breeders are with them, on a regular basis. My advise... when you buy a puppy, regardless of who it's from, ask to see both parents. Spend sometime with the litter in the breeders home and check out the environment, how she/he houses and cares for the puppies. Ask to see all appropriate paperwork before purchase. (Registration papers, health guarantee, purchase contract.) For certain breeds, the rating on OFA hip and cerf. eye checks. If they are not doing these checks, ask why. Ask for referals, other pups sold to owners in the area. Most breeders will be happy to give you this info. Most responsible breeders sell their dogs on a spay/neuter contract to pet homes and they are accessible for any questions you might have before and after purchase, never making you feel as if you're inconveniencing them. Also helpful, most breeders of more than one litter per year have to carry a hobby/kennel license. Even if they're raising the dogs in their home. Punch in their name, with the Better Business Bureau in your city and make sure there are no complaints filed against them. Bottom line, get everything in writing. Happy puppy search!! Answer: Low and behold I was a 100% match, answering all questions honestly, for the Labrador Retriever. :) Answer: Wow that is a cool dog breed match test. Although the choices they gave me are not dogs that appeal to me at all whatsoever. It told me the top 4 that I should look into: Chinese Crested which I do not care for at all, ugly really Japanese Chin which I also don't care for, funny looking, I don't think they are too common either Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, which going entirely on looks alone I dislike hehe. I don't care for that sort of tri colored look. And lastly the Shiloh Shepard which ironically is another breed I have never cared for. I specifically tested for the few breeds I have picked out over time that I absolutly do not like :lol-sign: right with the belgian shepard dogs I will recommend it to people though and I can see coming back and using it again in the future when my living situation is a little more settled. Not that anyone cares but I prefer breeds like chows, pits, irish wolfhounds, alaskan malamutes, great danes and ironically yorkies and pugs |
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