B R E E D E R S :
the good, the bad, & the ugly W R I T T E N BY : H A L I S E L E RT, STAFF WRITER
Most readers of Lowcountry Dog Magazine know we fully support local shelters and rescues in their mission to end animal homelessness. These organizations work daily to place dogs and puppies of all breeds, ages and sizes into loving forever homes and here’s the shocking part—they even have PUREBREDS. Even the “best” breeders have their dogs and puppies end up in shelters and rescues. That said, we have recently felt compelled to break down the different types of breeders, in the event one of our readers chooses not to get their new friend from a shelter or rescue organization. We hope you will find this guide helpful, but still encourage everyone to check out rescues and shelters before resorting to purchasing a dog from a breeder. TYPES OF BREEDERS— Breeders can be broken down into four different categories, 1. Hobby Breeders, 2. Preservation, Heritage, and Show Breeders, 3. Backyard Breeders, and 4. Commercial Breeders. Anyone who has a dog that either impregnates another dog or becomes pregnant itself can call themselves a breeder and depending on the type of operation they run, they will fall into one of the four categories. In South Carolina, there are currently no laws governing the breeding of dogs, so ethical and moral values rule
If you choose to shop for your next pet, be sure you know the types of breeders available. the day when determining whether a local breeder is up to snuff. A Hobby Breeder is someone who occasionally breeds, but does so in a planned nature. They should be able to explain how and why they chose to breed and can provide detailed information on both parents. Often times, Hobby Breeders breed their personal dogs and the dogs live in their house with them, which means the puppies are born in a safe environment. A quality Hobby Breeder will conduct health screens on any sires and dams prior to having them mate and will not breed dogs that carry the genes that will lead to health issues. Hobby Breeders typically only breed one type of dog and are well versed in the needs of that breed. A Hobby Breeder should limit the amount of litters their female dog has and ensure she is healthy prior to, during and after the pregnancy. A quality Hobby Breeder will require any families who are interested in purchasing a puppy sign a contract, and many will include health guarantees for part of, if not all of the dog’s life. Finally, a quality Hobby Breeder will include a clause in the contract that if the family cannot keep the dog for life, it must return to the
