What is a BYB?!?! -- This Is!!!!!

[SableMom]

This is for all the folks out there who are new to this discussion board and do not understand why everyone gets so defensive when breeding is mentioned! This is an ad that is actually running in a classified section on the net (I will not give the address for 'ethical' reasons).

**I HAVE A NINE MONTH OLD ROTTWIELLER AND WANT TO BREED HIM. I AM JUST LOOKING TO GET A STUD FEE OR PICK OF THE LITTER. DOG IS AKC REIGSTERED I HAVEN'T RECIEVED CERTIFICATE YET.**

I cut and pasted this directly -- all the misspellings (including the breed name!!) are courtesy of the 'breeder'.

Now, Why is this a BYB? Where do we start? This 'stud' dog is ONLY 9 months old. No dog should be bred at nine months old. First of all, the dog is still a puppy himself. Second, the dog cannot be OFA certified until he/she is 2 years old. No Rottweiler should be bred unless it is OFA certified because the breed is already riddled with inferior individuals that have severe hip/elbow problems!

The dog is AKC registered, but the owner doesn't even have the certificate yet! Being AKC registered does NOT insure any kind of quality. The AKC registers all pups of two AKC registered parents, regardless of the quality or health of either the pups or the parents!

If this owner is in this for the money, he/she is a sad individual. If he/she wants another dog, GET A RESCUE! If you are serious about breeding rotts, you need to do your homework! Both parents must be OFA certified, titled and excellent quality. Getting your dog titled and certified costs alot of money and requires a great deal of time! If you are not willing to go through the hassel, PLEASE DO NOT BREED. Do not buy a puppy from a BYB -- you are only helping them perpetuate their 'business' and you are more than likely getting a poor quality dog. If you are not interested in showing, please consider a rescued dog -- Thanks to all the BYB there are more than enough "excess" rottweilers to go around!

I'm sorry that I sound angry, but I am. I have a rott that a 'friend' of mine GAVE me because she couldn't place all of her pups. The dog is full blooded, but I didn't get the papers (she is a spayed pet). She has had a great deal of health problems in her 9 month life because she came from a BYB ranging from severe worm infestation to coccidiosis to elbow and hip problems (already at 9 months!). This FREE dog has costed me about 200$ just from these problems alone. Don't get me wrong, I love the dog dearly, but it is not fair that she has had to go through all this because she is from a poor breeding. And believe it or not, this 'friend' is considering breeding the mother of this dog AGAIN!

To all the GOOD BREEDERS out there -- Will the AKC register pups from a 9 month old dog? I know there is an upper age limit (I believe it is 12 years -- I may be wrong) but is there a lower age limit? Just curious.

[This message has been edited by SableMom (edited December 28, 1999).]

[AngelBunny]

SableMom:

As much as I love this place, it's gonna give me dental problems from gritting, grinding & gnashing my teeth in rage at the stupidity, idiocy, & pigheadedness that some people display.

Let me, however, think positively. The Internet means reams of information are literally at one's fingertips. There are very few reasons that people who want to buy a Rottie can't educate themselves beforehand.
Let me think even more positively: We're looking at the end of the era of the BYB and the pet store.

[Carol Burke]

The AKC rule on age is: "No dog or litter out of a dam under eight (8) months or over twelve (12) years of age at the time of mating, or by a sire under seven (7) months or over twelve (12) years of age at time of mating, will be registered unless the application for registration shall be accompanied by an affidavit or evidence which shall prove the fact to the satisfaction of the AKC".

[SarasMom]

7 and 8 months minimum age? How bad can it get? The AKC needs to get its act together!

[SableMom]

7 or 8 months!!!! Can you believe that an organization like the AKC would register pups from a 7 month old female? That would be equivalent to a pre-teen girl having a baby! Very stressful on the dog's physical body. And I doubt any dog is 'ready' to mother pups at 7 months old. It makes you wonder how many people are breeding these dogs on their first heat! And it makes you wonder how many litters from such young bitches are killed by the mom or starve to death b/c she doesn't know what to do with them!

[rottiholt]

I hope this don't sound BAD but as long as the people can find homes for the pups they
are gonna breed them.
It is us the softy's that make their lifes
easier. We use the word NO to drugs we need to say NO to the pups. Like I said it sounds
BAD but this is how it is gonna be.
Soon as the homes get harder for these people
to find then they will think twice about doing it again. Rotts were the #1 dog in this
town where I live. MADE me ILL to see all of this crap. I did rescue ALOT of their dogs. Then I could no longer find homes for them I
had to stop taking them. Well it has been 2 yrs now since I was offerd a rescue.
However the Dalmation is the #1 popular dog here with ALL the small breeds close behind.
It is sad to say no but IF you can then try.
It is a SAD way to stop it but I don't see any other way.

------------------

[SableMom]

rottiholt,
It may sound BAD to some people, but I think your remarks are pretty much on the mark. If a person can breed their dog, sell the pups at 6 weeks with no vet care for 200$ each, they will! If you or I bought a pup from them and had a problem, they would not care. Since they usually advertise in local papers, the chances of finding the breeder again is slim to none. Then if you could find the breeder, you have no contract or guarantee so what is he or she going to do? Tell you it's not their problem --at least that's what I would guess.

I still believe that if you want a rott you need to either buy from a reputable, ethical breeder or rescue from a shelter. That way you are not supporting the BYB!

FYI I once had a beautiful full blooded red doberman female named Penny. I adopted her from our local shelter at 6 weeks old. The "breeder" (and I use the term loosely) took the pups to the shelter as soon as they were weaned. He told the shelter that if the adopters wanted the AKC papers, they would have to pay him 40$ for the puppy papers. I didn't buy them b/c she was a pet and I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of making that 40$. But think about it -- He had virtually no money in this litter b/c he shipped them to the shelter as soon as they were weaned with no shots or anything. THEN he made 40$ off of every set of papers that he sold -- there were 6 pups in all. SAD situation. She escaped from my fence and got hit by a car just shy of her first birthday. I really miss that dog!

[Nancy Estes]

AKC's lower limit on breeding age is really to accommodate toy & other small dog breeders. Because they do not have separate rules for different breeds/sizes the younger age becomes acceptable for all breeds. There was some discussion about changing this some years ago but it was outvoted by the small dog lobby. This is unfortunate for breeds that should not be bred at a younger age. However, AKC is mainly a dog registry, started out as such and that is basically their mandate. It cannot be compared to ADRK - which is exclusively for Rottweilers. Like it or not, them's the facts.

Nancy