Puppy mill or not

[warriec]

I live in a really small country in the Indian ocean. Rottweilers are popular here too. We have 2 kennel clubs in Sri Lanka. Some of our biggest breeders do not have more than 12 dogs which are lavishly kept and well fed. Some of these breeders puppies are also winning in the confirmation show ring.

The main kennel club calls these breeders as puppy mills because they are breeding to earn money regardless of how good there puppies (show winners) that they are breeding. Is it fair to call them a puppy mill. I think it is ok to make some money from dogs long as you get quality puppies at the end and show confirmation winners prove so.

Also the main kennel club have stop accepting there registrations now. I totally think its not a fair practice by the kennel club.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by warriec

Also the main kennel club have stop accepting there registrations now. I totally think its not a fair practice by the kennel club.

i think there must be more to the story.

[targonrotts]

i agree there are 2 sides to every story. i don't think a registry will stop taking registrations just on what you stated.
but in regards to puppy mills,
i consider a puppy mill people who churn out puppies constantly, with no regards to proper health testing and breeding practices, who only sell for money and no regards to what type of home is getting them and no proper guarantee and puppy buyer support. who never show their dogs in any field and claim to have champion lines when the nearest titled dog is in the 4th generation...if.

[warriec]

What is defined as puppy mill, anybody breeder could be called a puppy mill, there is no exact guide line for the definition.

[Kevlarsdad]

Originally Posted by warriec

I am writing from Sri Lanka and our breeds are limited and small so are our kennels. Some may say that we are backyard breeders because of our limitations. Most breeders have about 2 or 3 dogs which they breed from because the market is small and its not fair to compare to kennels from the developed countries.

I have been breeding Dalmatians & Bull Mastiffs with success in the show ring for the past 9 years and now I have got myself into Rotties. I really do love the breed but I know that to be successfull you need to breed from the best and do lots of home work before breeding.

My friend gave me a promising bitch at 5 months as he could not look after her, she wasnt in great condition but I really do love her but because I have an eye for perfection its bugging me so I am in 2 minds of selling her. Should I keep her or sell her off or should I keep her and spay her?

I need some breeder advise as I consider myself an amatuer with some luck. Should I get an adult as its always safer to know what she is turning out to be rather than risk it turning into something not so promising. I have access to some good dogs from abroad to enhance our dogs in Sri Lanka. The funniest part is that I will never recover my cost after shipping as the market prices are so low here - it cost about USD 7000 to get a dog down but puppies sell at USD 350. Remember, I have to import an equally matching partner to breed from as there are not much good dogs. My investment will be USD 14000 in total in others words I have to sell atleast 40 puppies to break even if i dont add the addtional cost or vaccinations, feed, training and vet fees, registration etc... I guess I breed because I love dogs...

I would like oppinions from more experienced breeders in a situation like mine.

** note that due to the size of the country most breeders from developed countries consider us as BYB, which is true to some extent.

I read this other thread that you started and from what I am getting from this thread is that you should not become a breeder. It looks like you are in it for the money. You did do your homework and found out that you have to sell over 40 pups just to make a profit. That is just a remarkable number, I would go for a much easier feat, like go become a doctor or lawyer... it is likely that it will cost you less money. My suggestion is that maybe you should wait until you have owned more than a few rotties separately. By that, I mean have owned 5-6 rotties and have gotten to know what you are looking for in the breed and breed for that quality, temperment, and above all... health.

I also looked at your begginning post on this thread and see that you said that most breeders have more than 12 dogs... which is it... 2-3 or more than 12? You said that the dogs are lavishly kept and well fed. I am sorry, but if they spent as much as you would have to for each breeding pair... they will have to churn out hundreds of dogs "just to break even." Also, just because they are well fed and kept may only mean that those "breeders" are only protecting their investments. They are probably producing bad, inbred, sickly dogs... hundreds of them.

As much as I love my little girl, I wouldn't even think about breeding her to start a kennel. I do have lots of experience with dogs but not with rotties. I would leave it to the professionals. You said it yourself... "I consider myself an amatuer with some luck". Unless you are not making a living off of your dogs and don't mind about being in the negative... you are going to be considered a byb and owning a puppy mill. Sorry dude.

[warriec]

I would like to mention that due to the situation of the country, most of the puppies are coming from BYB - almost 99.5%. We really dont have any kennels or professional breeders. I just want to say that, people will breed poor quality dogs if people don't bring new good bloodlines. I know that many people buy a dog just for name sake.

I like to take an example for dalmatians. Nobody imported new blood so its mostly line and inbreeding - most of the males dont live past 5 yrs as they get bladder stones which is common in dalmatians. There spots are very poor too.

I think the term puppy mill and BYB have no proper guideline and that people can call anybody what they see - its a matter of opinion - which really changes country to country.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by warriec

I think the term puppy mill and BYB have no proper guideline and that people can call anybody what they see - its a matter of opinion - which really changes country to country.

Definition of a puppy mill, one of 5,978 results pulled up by a search on "definition of a puppy mill."

Puppy mill (known as a puppy farm in the UK and Australia) is a common term used to describe large scale dog breeding operations. The term originated among critics of these operations. Small-scale puppy farming is usually called backyard breeding.

Critics argue that puppy mill operators ignore duties that are standard among responsible dog breeders - raising dogs in humane conditions, providing good socialization and formal training, and screening potential dog owners for suitability. Critics say that these "puppy farmers" are motivated only by profit rather than a commitment to the breed standard or any empathy for the animals in their care. It must be pointed out, however, that some excellent breeders run profitable large-scale operations with knowledgeable staff and superlative veterinary care, so size and motive alone are not indicative of the quality of the breeding program.

Puppy mill dogs may live in overcrowded, inhumane conditions, are poorly socialized, receive no training and often suffer from medical afflictions that are not disclosed to potential buyers. It is not uncommon for these breeders to misrepresent the breed of dog being sold, and the vast majority of these animals are sold to pet stores.

Purchasing dogs from a pet store is therefore strongly discouraged by reputable breeders and animal shelter employees alike; it is assumed that many animal shelter dogs are pet store dogs who were purchased on impulse and abandoned when the owner lost interest. While many pet stores claim to purchase dogs from "local breeders" instead of puppy mills, this is often untrue or is a difference in name only, as reputable breeders generally do not sell animals to pet stores.