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The Importance of Purebred Dogs

It's much more than just looks and showing

By Paige Published 2 years ago 13 min read
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Lockenhaus Rumor Has it V Kenlyn 2017 winner Westminster

Dogs have been an important part of our lives for thousands of years. Since the dawn of man. Wolves accompanied us on the hunt, guarded our homes, and ate our scraps. As humans evolved wolves had to as well.

So we started creating all sorts of dogs for all sorts of jobs like hunting, guarded, lap companions, herding, working/carting, and lots more.

Many dogs breeds have been bred to extremes which caused these dogs to develop horrific health issues that can appear at any age, as well as temperament and genetic issues.

Puppy selling pet stores and mills help create these issues as they are not like reputable breeders in any way.

They do not care for their dogs with no health testing, temperament testing, or socializing. The dogs live in dingy, dirty. and terrible small cages where they've never seen sunlight, grass, or receive proper healthcare. Just because they give you a pedigree or other papers doesn't mean they are reputable especially if they breed off standard colors, have an overly large stock of dogs that don't appear well cared for, all pet store puppies come from puppy mills even if they have a Kennel Name or give you papers.

According to Baling out Benji a stopping puppy mills organization. Has the following information on puppy mills. You can read more here https://bailingoutbenji.com/about-puppy-mills/common-myths-about-puppy-mills/

1. "Large Scale Commercial Dog breeding (commonly referred to as the puppy mill industry) is legal and thriving in the United States, as well as other parts of the world. Puppy Mills are licensed and inspected by the USDA and state agencies, while the breeders are allowed to meet the bare minimum of standards. These are survival standards only, nothing more, and the breeders are given “educational opportunities” to change, even after the worst violations and conditions.

Each year, the Humane Society of the United States puts out the “Horrible Hundred Puppy Mill List” and you will see that most of the breeders on the list are USDA licensed. You will also find that many of the breeders on the list are repeat offenders and have had horrible violations year after year, without being shut down by the USDA."

2. "This is a line that most pet store owners and employees use on their customers. While they may know the name of the breeder they use, chances are they have never been to their facility. If a pet store employee says this to you, ask to see the documentation that shows exactly where their suppliers are located. Sadly, more often than not, the store will not show any paperwork unless you are buying the puppy.

And if they do show you papers, you will find out that the breeders they “know” aren’t even in your state."

3. "...Buying a puppy in a pet store is simply making room for the store to sell another puppy mill puppy. As much as we know the puppies are little heartbeats, the store sees them as a product. It’s a simple matter of supply and demand. Only when customers stop buying the puppies will the suffering in puppy mills end. By walking away and not buying that puppy, you are showing the pet store that there are no customers for their product and they will order less next month. As they keep ordering fewer dogs, the puppy mills will begin to produce fewer puppies and downsize their number of breeding adults."

4. "While the puppy you are purchasing might not appear sick, many of them are riddled with genetic diseases that won’t appear until later- that is if you are lucky. Many pet store puppies are sold with kennel cough, giardia , and, in a lot of cases, even parvo.

Even though the pet store offers a health certificate from a vet, it isn’t anything special that the store does. It is required for any puppy sold commercially across state lines. It only means that the puppy has had a very brief “wellness” check by a veterinarian. This examination does not include testing the puppy or his or her parents for genetic disorders, parasites, or testing for diseases. And if the pet store is offering a one-year health guarantee, read it over very carefully! They are designed to protect the store’s interests more than the consumers and can be full of exclusions and loopholes.

Sadly, if your puppy is sick, most stores require you to return the puppy in order for you to get a refund or a new dog. "

5. "By law, any breeder selling to a pet store MUST be USDA licensed. Here are some quick facts about the minimum standards set forth by the USDA:

-Inspections are “Risk-based,” meaning that facilities that meet a certain criteria are inspected “as seldom as once every 2 to 3 years.”

-Cage size: must be 6 inches larger than the size of the dog, on all sides

-Up to 12 dogs can be housed in one cage

-Dogs never have to be let out of their cages. Breeders only need to have an exercise plan

-There is no limit to the number of dogs a breeder can have—many have over 1,000

-There is no age limit for breeding dogs. If a dog is able to produce puppies for ten years, that’s how long they could be in the facility."

Puppy mills and the pet stores that support and supply sickly puppies are dangerous. If you buy your pet from this store be it a puppy, kitty, or any other pet. You are supporting an abusive industry.

Some pet stores even claim they are rescues when they are actually puppy mills.

The most popular breeds in these places are designer mixed breed dogs that can have lots of health issues or genetic issues that aren't disclosed until it's too late. lots of people believe if they adopt a pet store puppy they will be rescuing it but that's not true at all. It means the puppy mills can keep pumping out more puppies and supplying them to stores.

Rescuing a dog is great too but there are a few things to be aware of which will be mentioned later on.

Purebred dogs are important not just because of the purposes they were bred for or just for confirmation/showing but also for modern-day companionship or work or sports, with purebred dogs you can be aware of health or temperament issues in the pedigree.

Sure you might want a companion or a working animal and not a show dog. However, if the dogs in the breeding program have performed in shows or in any sport/work capacity you know they are a great specimen of their specific breed and your puppy will be a great dog regardless of what you are looking for.

Reputable dog breeders know how to spoil and pamper their breeding stock. They give them plenty of food, water, shelter, training, and love that puppy mill dogs don't get access to unless rescued.

Purebred dogs are super important, not just for dog shows and sports but also so we can keep a certain breed population healthy and strong. Plenty of people research a dog for their family every year.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association. About 83.7 million have dogs in their homes this year alone.

During the pandemic, lots of people adopted or fostered rescue dogs or got them from responsible breeders. Which helped increase the number of purebred dogs available for adoption, especially dog breeds that could become endangered or even extinct like dog breeds of the past.

According to the American Kennel Club. "Many breeds today have very small populations. If these breeds were any other kind of animal they would be considered endangered..." That's one important reason why we need reputable breeders.

Breeds such as the Scottish deerhound, otterhound, and the Skye terrier require breeders in order to increase the population in order to keep the breed from ending up extinct like older breeds such as The old white English terrier, Wooley dogs, Russian Newfoundland, and the tweed water spaniel. (The tweed water spaniel is the ancestor to the modern-day Golden Retriever.)

It doesn't matter if you're looking for a working, show or just a family pet. If you can find a reputable breeder for the breed you'd like. They can give you the health information and pedigrees of your puppy's parents and grandparents, AKC register information, and microchip and temperament testing for the puppies in the litter.

So they can pick the best puppy for you. (Not many breeders let you pick your own puppy but it happens on occasion.)

If you have a mixed breed dog you've probably heard the argument that they are healthier than purebreds and are hypoallergenic. Some mixed breeds don't cause severe allergic reactions but that doesn't make them hypoallergenic.

While some mixed breeds seem healthier than a purebred dog. According to the article Myths and Truths About Mixed Breeds Vs. Purebreds by The Barking Royalty states that. "Researchers discovered that other genetic disorders might occur equally often in both groups. they include:

  1. Heart Disorders
  2. Cancer
  3. Orthopedic Disorders
  4. Eye Disorders
  5. Endocrine Disorders

On the other hand, certain disorders are more common in purebred dogs, although the chance that your dog will develop these disorders depends on its breed."

Both groups can develop any sort of illness or disorders. However Mixed breeds can be prone to certain illnesses depending on what they are mixed with. It's very important to research what type of do you want whether you want a purebred or a rescue.

Rescuing a dog is great but remember that rescues often come with a lot of baggage from terrible pasts that sometimes even the shelters or rescues aren't aware of.

Some rescue dogs have terrible mental health issues that even with training and medicine can't help. This will often lead to multiple rehome attempts or in extreme cases behavioral euthanaisa. They might also have chronic or genetic health issues that costs thousands of dollars to treat.

So it's important to decide what will work best for you and your family but be aware that even rescues can have issues and not be as reputable as they seem to the public.

Here is a list of traits a reputable breeder has.

According to the Burmese Moutain dog club of America. Reputable breeders will do the following

1. Puppies are sold on the premises not shipped.

2. breeders do not sell puppies to wholesalers, brokers, dealers or retail shops.

3. Dog setup is clean and well kept.

4. Breeder insists that the puppies for sale will be at least 8 weeks old before being placed.

5. Sire and dam of the litter were tested for genetic health before the breeding.

6. Puppies for sale and dogs for sale have been introduced to children and other animals as a part of their socialization.

7. Breeder reviewed some of the problems some people have with the breed.

8. Breeder asked if you plan to breed the dog. Your contract should spell out spay and neuter or what is required if you are going to show your dog?

9. Breeder is available as a resource for advice and support for the life of the dog.

10. Breeder promises to take the dog back (not return your money) if you can’t keep it, for the life of the dog.

11. Breeder provides a contract for your review and goes over it with you.

12. Breeder raises no more than 2 different breeds of puppies for sale and dogs for sale. It is very difficult for a breeder to be competent in more breeds.

13. Breeder is a member of a breed club.

14. Breeder’s primary concern is finding a good home for the puppy, rather than getting paid.

15. Breeder asked you lots of questions about your lifestyle, family, experience with dogs and other pets, and why you are looking for a dog for sale. The Breeder was happy to answer all your questions and made you feel comfortable asking for advice.

16. the Breeder shows their dogs in conformation.

17. Breeder breeds puppies to support their own bloodlines. The Breeder does not breed for profit.

18. the Breeder selects the puppies out of the litter best suited for you and your family.

19. The Breeder’s priority is the placement of the puppy in the best home and circumstances for all.

A doodle

They also list the red flags such as.

1. Sells males for less money than females.

2. Sells “Show Quality” puppies while they never show themselves.

3. Sells any puppy with full registration for more money, regardless of the quality or health of the puppy.

4. No reputable breeder sells puppies to a broker.

5. Does not have verifiable health clearances on hips AND elbows, of at least MOST of the dogs on the puppies pedigree. If you are told “our Vet said they are healthy” this is a BIG red flag!

6. Breeder discourages you from visiting their home/facilities, or suggests” you meet somewhere to get your puppy.

7. Requires money upfront before any paperwork (such as pedigree info. or contract) is provided.

8. Requires non-refundable deposits before their bitch is bred or the litter is whelped.

9. Sells puppies without a written contract.

10. Puppies registered with other than the AKC registry or Canadian CKC registry.

11. Has PayPal or credit card system set up for payment.

12. Says “I just breed nice puppies for nice people.” What this REALLY means is “I am selling them to anyone who comes up with the cash.”

13. Breeds multiple breeds. (two breeds should be the Maximum.)

14. Sells unregistered puppies or charges additional money for registering puppies.

15. Advertises in the newspaper.

16. Does not provide pedigree information or provide the family health history of the parents.

17. Does not allow you to see the mother of the puppy.

18. No registered names of dogs on the pedigree or breeder’s website.

19. Using registered names that are false.

20. Dogs or breeder not listed in the breed club or health testing database."

21. Will ship puppies anywhere in the world.

These red flags are important to look out for because if you aren't careful you could end up with a terribly sick puppy and no one wants to deal with that when having a puppy should be a fun experience.

Golden retriever retrieving waterfowl

There's lots of ways to check to make sure your puppy or dog is coming from a reputable place. Go to shows, sporting events, talk to others in the dog community or in breed groups online. People will be more than happy to help you find a breeder or rescue that can help you find the dog you are looking for.

Purebred dogs are wonderful companions, working and sport dogs. Mixed breeds are good dogs too and can also be great working and sport dogs too, but they can have mixed personalities and instincts.

For example, a Pomsky is a mix of a Husky and Pomerian. Has the stubborn and noisy traits of both dogs as well as the protective instinct of the Pom. Certain mixed breeds like this are not for the faint of heart.

As are a lot of mixed breeds such as doodles poodles mixed with any other dog. Doodles are good dogs but they have the high grooming matinence and energy of a poodle and whatever other dog they are mixed with. Which can occasionally cause problems for the owner.

Not all mixed breeds are bad, however. Canine Companions for independence often have Golden-Lab crosses that are trained as service dogs. These mixes make sense because they are very similar in more ways than one apart from looks.

Dogs are wonderful animals and are a huge part of so many people's lives. If you want to bring a dog or any pet into your home. Do your research and prepare yourself. Dog lifespans vary by breed but they are a huge commitment. They require exercise, a good diet, training no matter the breed, and lots of love

greyhound running
GSD in a show.
a CCI dog turning on a light

German shepherd herding

Labrador retrieving waterfowl

A Pomsky

dog
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About the Creator

Paige

Hi, I'm Paige and I love to read and write. I love music and dogs. I mostly will write about my favorite things. Enjoy

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