Anybody Can Breed A Dog: How To Spot A True, Licensed Dog Breeder From The Backyard Pet Breeders
Backyard breeders is the phrase used to describe any breeder that breeds animals to make money and is indiscriminate about the breeding. While a breeder may seem legit because he or she breeds a specific breed and type of animal and charges you a fortune to buy it, you may find that you are sorely cheated later. For example, if you buy a purebred mini dachshund, and you expect that this little dog will not get very big, and then it ends up getting quite a bit bigger than you expected it to, it is possible that you bought from a backyard breeder who was only trying to make the dogs look small to garner big money. Since anyone with a fertile male and female animal can be breeders, here is how to spot a true, licensed dog breeder from backyard pet breeders.
The Animals All Have Papers and Documentation from a Kennel Club
The purest of breeds, and those bred for champion bloodlines, all have documentation from a Kennel Club or are registered animals. Even the runt of the litter should have papers. Animals without papers could easily be any two breeds that are closely related in size and stature, or two mixed breeds that look like the real animal. You do not know what you are getting with a backyard breeder beyond what that breeder tells you that you are getting. While it is far more expensive to buy a purebred animal with papers, you at least know for certain what you are buying and there are no hidden surprises.
The Breeder Proudly Displays His/Her Kennel Membership Certificate
Breeders pay a hefty fee to become registered and licensed breeders of any breed. If Yorkie breeders show you a piece of paper from the American Kennel Club or their breeder's license granted to them by purebred Yorkshire Terriers' Club, you know that you are getting a real Yorkie. Likewise, for any other breed of dog in which you are interested--ask to see their license and registration. If they do not have them, they are backyard breeders and you need to run from that location.
The Breeder Focuses on One Breed and Limits the Number of Animals on the Property
Backyard breeders often turn into puppy mills, with the breeder breeding more than one type of dog and not really keeping the animals separate. A licensed and/or registered breeder, on the other hand, focuses on one type of breed only, and keeps only the mating pair on the premises plus whatever recent litters of puppies. There may be a couple of extra dogs of the some breed if the breeder took the option of keeping a puppy from a litter rather than keeping the profit from the puppies, but this is rare. The animals should also be free to roam, happy, well-fed and content, all noticeable the minute you step into the breeder's house.
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