What is a "Retail Puppy?"
A Retail Puppy is a puppy that has been produced for profit. These are the dogs found for sale in pet shops, in the newspaper, the internet, roadside, and in parking lots. Their breeders are most often referred to in the dog world as "Backyard Breeders" or “Puppy Mills.”
Backyard Breeders (BYB) and Puppy Millers (PM) are individuals, families, or groups of people who breed for profit at the expense of the animals they breed. The bare minimum of care is given. The pups look good because they are so young and are sold so quickly. These puppies usually leave the litter as soon as (and in some cases, before) they are weaned, presents special problems, such as lack of socialization with the mother, difficulty potty training, and developmental issues.
The typical BYB or PM will house their breeding dogs in kennels, either on their property or on land just outside of city limits to avoid laws governing the maximum number of animals allowed. Typically, the conditions of these kennels, along with the conditions of the dogs themselves, are less than basic. Most kennels are constructed of substandard materials, dirty, have no regulated temperatures, little or no shade, no grass, and little to no room for the dogs to move around comfortably.
The dogs receive little interaction with humans as they are considered “stock”.
The unsanitary conditions can lead to future potty training problems, as well as many diseases, such as Distemper, Parvo, and Bordetella. A pup can have these diseases for a week or more before symptoms show. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, and worms also run rampant.
When considering purchasing a puppy in pet shops, in the newspaper, the internet, roadside, and in parking lots, remember that behind that cute little puppy lies the sickness, parasites, and genetic inbred traits of a sad world its parents are still trapped in.
If the conditions are so bad in these Puppy Mills and Backyard Breeder places, then aren't I "rescuing" a dog from a horrible situation?
By purchasing a puppy from one of these sources, you may be “saving” the puppy from a horrible fate, but you are also reinforcing the BYB or PM’s belief that future litters will be equally profitable.
You are actually perpetuating the problem.
The best way to “save” a puppy from the same fate is to refuse to support the BYB or PM. If the demand does not equal the supply, the BYB or PM will not produce a profit, thereby eliminating their sole reason for breeding.
On the other hand, a reputable breeder will only produce a litter of puppies when they are certain that doing so will better the breed and come closer to achieving the American Kennel Club's (AKC) breed standard.
A reputable breeder will most often LOSE money when producing a litter of puppies, due to the exorbitant amount of health, genetic, and temperament evaluations performed on both the sire and the dam before breeding. If even one of these many traits is less than desirable, the breeding will not take place. A reputable breeder will "finish" a dog in a sanctioned show ring (obtaining a certain number of points from knowledgeable judges) before they consider breeding.
A reputable breeder will plan a litter of puppies months, if not years, in advance. They will most often have approved applicants for their puppies long before their birth. These applicants will have fulfilled a set amount of educational requirements, reference checks, home checks, and, in some cases, background checks before they are approved.
It can take months, if not years, for an approved adopter to take home a puppy from this breeder, but the large majority of adopters would agree that the wait was definitely worth it!
What is a "breed standard?" The breed standard is a set of specific criteria, established by a legitimate registering agency (most commonly the AKC in the US), which states what the standard dog of that particular breed should look and behave like. It includes bone and muscle structure, coat, head shape, body shape, size, and so on. While it is impossible to achieve a "perfect" breed standard, reputable breeders strive to produce puppies that will be closer to breed standard than their parents.
The only way to guarantee that a dog’s looks, temperament, and personality meets AKC breed standards is to receive a championship status in an AKC sanctioned show ring.
When a puppy is advertised in the paper as "DNA Tested", what does that mean?
When a BYB (Backyard Breeder) or PM (Puppy Mill) breeds for profit and has a particular stud dog that produces more than 7 litters in a lifetime or 3 litters in a year, the AKC requires that the sire be DNA tested to retain the AKC registration on the puppies. In other words, breeding for profit is NOT encouraged by the AKC. And chances are, if you see "DNA tested" in a newspaper ad, it means that individual is breeding for profit, not to better the breed.
When a newspaper ad for puppies states that a puppy has "Champion Bloodlines", what does that mean?
Usually, not much. It could mean that the seller entered the sire or dam of a litter into one small, unsanctioned show, 5 years ago, and it won a ribbon. It could also mean that there is a true champion in the dog's family tree....about 7 generations back. It does not mean the pups parents are champions, or will this pup be.
Be a smart buyer.
ASK to see the championship documentation. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. True championship bloodline Great Danes sell from $1000 and up, and the adoption process is as rigorous, if not more so, than rescue's.
A reputable show breeder will never meet you, accept cash, and give you a puppy on the same day. Reputable show breeders will determine which puppies will go to a "show" home and which will go to a "pet" home, and will retain certain rights even after the purchase. And you will almost never find a show breeder advertising their puppies in the paper.
What does CKC registered mean?
The term “CKC” can refer to the Canadian Kennel Club (a reputable registry), but more often (at least in the US) refers to the Continental Kennel Club. The CKC (Continental) differs from AKC registration in one major way: A dog (puppy or adult) without registered parents can be registered with the CKC, but not with the AKC.
Many people falsely believe that a “Registered” puppy is somehow better than an unregistered one, regardless of its registration club. The CKC (Continental) provides breeders of unregistered dogs with the opportunity to obtain “registration” for any dog, without proof of genetic background. To register a dog as CKC (Continental), the owner can submit a document signed by two witnesses (who do not have to be judges, breeders, or experts on the breed…in fact, they can be your next door neighbors) stating that the dog is indeed the breed they claim it is, along with three pictures of the dog. No further testing or documentation is required.
The CKC (Continental) registration application does not require notarization, nor do the photos. There are several registration clubs out there. Some are legitimate and some are not.
So what does all that mean to the BYB??
Remember, the BYB is looking to make a profit on their dogs for sale. Because many individuals do not know the difference between the AKC and the CKC (or any other registering club) Just stating that the dogs are “CKC Registered” or “From Champion Bloodlines” can give the erroneous impression that their dog is somehow more valuable, even rare.
Many breeders require the signing of a contract when you purchase a puppy. The fact that a contract is required should not imply that the breeder is reputable. The conditions set forth in the contract are what differentiate a reputable breeder from a BYB or puppy mill.
The standard BYB or PM contract will “guarantee” a puppy’s health for 72 hours on a limited basis. Some conditions may be guaranteed for as long as a year. Unfortunately, for both the buyer and the puppy, most genetic defects will not present themselves until adulthood, when the contract has expired.
The major difference between a BYB contract and a reputable breeder’s contract is the focus: The BYB will consistently concentrate on the transfer of money, and the reputable breeder’s contract will concentrate mainly on the health and wellbeing of the dog. You can expect the reputable breeder’s contract to touch on the living conditions of the puppy, the feeding of the puppy, required veterinary care, a mandatory spay or neuter of a pet quality puppy, and the breeding rights and restrictions of a show puppy. The reputable breeder will have a strict, enforceable clause in their contract regarding the ownership of the puppy. If, for any reason, you should no longer be able to care for the dog, you will be contractually obligated to return the dog to the breeder FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE DOG.
A reputable breeder will maintain a lifelong interest in any puppies they produce. You will be able to call on them for advice, support, and information for the lifetime of the dog. A BYB, on the other hand, will most likely forget your name as soon as you hand them their money.
If I buy an AKC registered dog, I'm getting the "cream of the crop," right?
Not at all.
Consider the following quote from the AKC’s website (www.akc.org):
"AKC registration is NOT an indication of quality.
Most dogs, even purebred, should not be bred. Many dogs, though wonderful pets, have faults of structure, temperament or health that should not be perpetuated. Breeding animals should be proven free of these faults and common genetic defects (such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, eye and heart disorders) BEFORE being considered for breeding. If you do not know what genetic defects to beware of, please contact a reputable, responsible breeder who will be able to answer your questions. Breeding should only be done with the goal of IMPROVEMENT - an honest attempt to create puppies better than their parents, for a positive contribution to the breed. "
What's the difference between a "show quality" dog and a "pet quality" dog?
(These are terms that you will most often hear from a reputable breeder, although some BYBs and PMs have “wised up” and have adopted the terms to give a buyer a false sense of quality for the BYB or PM dog.) The terms refer to those dogs produced in a litter from a sire and dam that have finished in the show ring. Because there is no such thing as the “perfect” dog, even in the show ring, it follows that not all puppies in a litter will be “show quality.” Those puppies that do not promise, in the breeder’s opinion, to meet the breed standard suitable for the show ring, will be adopted to pet homes that have a desire to adopt a well-bred, healthy puppy with genetically sound parents, but have no desire to compete in the show ring, thus the term “pet quality.”
Those puppies that are considered show quality will only be sold to those individuals who are willing and able to commit to the massive amounts of training, education, financial burden, and travel requirements of adopting a show dog.
Okay, so you've talked me out of buying from the newspaper and pet store, and the prices of a reputable breeder are a bit out of my league, so I'll just head to the pound and pick up a purebred Great Dane puppy (or adult) there...Easy, right?
Well, finding a new companion at the pound is a very noble thing, indeed. In fact, we find lots of our rescue dogs in the pound. There's nothing wrong about it, and in fact, you could definitely save a dog's life by doing so.
But here's the problem: How do you know why that dog is there? Is it aggressive? Does it hate kids? Other dogs? Men? Cats? Does it jump on windows and doors until they break?
Expect to find traits you don't admire and be willing to train them out of the dog you give a second chance to.
We spend time with these dogs before we take them into rescue, and once in rescue, we continue to evaluate them. We teach them the things they need to know to be your new best friend. If you know a good animal behaviorist, ask them to come with you to help you evaluate the dog before you pick them up.
If this isn't an option, go slowly. Spend time talking to the people who spend time with the dogs. If you’re a sucker for sob stories, you’ll be in trouble as soon as you walk through the door. Don't fall for the first sad set of eyes you see. (And you'll see hundreds.) Don’t expect to see very many, if any, giant breeds on the adoption floor. The sad fact is that a kill shelter can provide food and shelter for several smaller breed dogs while one giant breed dog can take up the same amount of resources. The general thought is (and we can’t blame them, really…) “I can save 4 smaller dogs or one giant dog.” So, most of the time, the giant breeds never make it to the adoption floor.
Luckily, when the kill shelters get what looks to be a purebred dog in (including giant breeds), they call their local rescue contact. The rescue comes in to evaluate the dog and determine if it is a good candidate for rescue. If rescue has “passed” on a purebred dog, you can bet there’s a good reason.
Rescue groups makes every possible attempt to provide an accurate temperament evaluation, a positive breed determination (and with puppies, that’s sometimes difficult!) and provide medical attention and training before we adopt the dogs out…things that kill shelters just don’t have the resources to provide.
What Can You DO to find out more??
Ask Questions!
Ask Shelter Workers on the phone and in person.
Ask Trainers and Behaviorist.
Ask Us. Rescues. We are always fielding questions.
So go ahead! Ask.
Rescue welcomes questions, whether you are looking to adopt or have a breed of dog that they specialize in and just need some information. We are not veterinarians, we are not licensed behaviorists, but we are people who have a great deal of knowledge about the particular breed(s) we specialize in. Feel free to contact your local rescue to learn more!
Related Articles: