What is a Backyard breeder? Written by Pamela Erbe Avid Dachshund Adoption Advocate and Volunteer
A backyard breeder is someone who keeps a number of dogs and either breeds them deliberately or just lets them breed. Backyard breeders may have a few dogs or many, one breed or several. They usually have no understanding of or concern about the breed standard, genetics, socializing the dogs, and maintaining their health. Don't confuse them with "hobby breeders," who breed small numbers of dogs and care for their dogs well.
A backyard breeder who is successful in selling puppies may decide to expand and become a puppy miller -- someone who breeds dogs with profit as the one and only motive and concern. More often, though, backyard breeders simply allow the dogs they have to breed, and they often keep many of the offspring. They frequently end up with too many dogs to care for properly. Backyard breeders get new dogs from a variety of sources, among them from ads offering dogs "free to good home" Of the 53 million dogs in the U.S., about two-thirds come from backyard breeders. They are the single greatest cause of the pet overpopulation crisis in this country. The worst of the backyard breeders sometimes come to the attention of local animal control authorities, who may negotiate with a breeder who is keeping dogs in truly deplorable conditions to release at least some of the dogs to a shelter. Shelters then often turn to rescue groups, because they know that the dogs -- unsocialized, requiring more medical care than most shelters can afford -- will have to be euthanized.
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