I think a lot of people have misconceptions about what a breeder is exactly. Most know that you don't buy puppies from a pet shop, but if they are in the market, don't want to rescue, where do you get a puppy from?
Newspaper? Umm, not exactly. There are several types of breeders and unfortunately they have all been put in the same category, but all are not created equally. I would like to take some time to describe what the different types of breeders are.
First you have "millers". They are the ones that breed dogs by the masses and they either sell them directly to corporations (Hunt, corp), pet shop or they sell to a broker then they sell to the store. Obviously the conditions in which these puppies have been raised are not ideal, and the quality of the puppies are usually on the poor side.
Keep in mind, when you are purchasing a "purebred" dog, you are doing so because you like a certain look and temperament. Why spend $2000 at a pet shop for something that looks or acts nothing like the breed intended too? Ohh, I know why, they take credit cards or have payment plans. I suppose you will need to pay payments after the thousands of dollars of vet bills that are gonna be racked up.
The next type of breeder is a backyard "BYB" breeder. They typically have a small facility in their "backyard" that hosues 1-4 different types of breeds. They breed to sell puppies to the general population and sometimes even to brokers (who then sell to shop owners). BRB are doing nothing to preserve the breed, they are soley breeding for CASH! As soon as one of their stock comes in season they are bred. Many times BRB are selling AKC dogs, so don't think just because it has "papers" it is important or special, it is not. It means NOTHING! In my opinion BYB are just as bad as Millers, just on a smaller side. They get greedy and they get more dogs, breed more litters and sometimes even cross breed to get more puppies or advertise "designer breeds". You will often see this type of breeder selling puppies on Internet classified sites, newspapers, and personal websites.
Let's talk designer breeds for a minute....
The most common among pugs is "Puggles", a cross between a Beagle & Pug. Now why on earth would you cross something that digs, howls, has joint issues, with something that sheds like a mo-fo, and is also known to have serious structural (joint) issues....that is fine breeding! Both breeds are not without their problems and you go and compound those genes and it makes for alot of Puggles in rescue and shelters, trust me I see it first hand!
The next type of breeder is called a kitchen breeder. While they may have good intentions, it falls short of a quality breeder. Kitchen breeders normally have 2-5 breeding bitches and 1-2 studs on site. They breed their pets for cash. Although they may love their pets, they are doing no genetic testing and they usually know very little about the breed standard and what the breed is suppose to look and act like and most of all how structurally sound they are. These types of breeders also advertise in the newspaper and the Internet as well.
Lastly, there are reputable breeders. These are breeders that pour their heart and soul into the breed and know what the standard is, how to improve their line, they know their pedigree's inside and out and they produce sound & correct puppies, mainly for their own breeding program. Reputable breeders DO NOT breed to sell puppies, nor do they advertise in newspapers or websites. They breed so that they can begin their next generation of Champions and it is their step to perfecting the breed. Reputable breeders belong to breed clubs, rescue organizations, show their stock in AKC conformation shows, and most of all are advocates of the breed. They should be knowledgeable about the history of not only their pedigrees, but the ones that make up the generations before. Most reputable breeders have long waiting lists, because they do very limited amounts of breeding. However, getting a puppy from a breeder like this will pay off in the long run and is worth the wait. Remember buying a puppy is a lifetime commitment and having a breeder be there for a lifetime should be just as important.
When the time comes for you to add a puppy to your family. PLEASE consider that this is a 15-18 year commitment and that cheap is not always best. In the State of Florida you can expect to pay around $1200-1800 for a puppy from a reputable breeder. Still cheaper than the pet shop on the corner but more expensive that from the newspaper. However, I will guarantee at the end of the 15-18 years the puppy from the reputable breeder will cost you FAR less. Remember it is QUALITY NOT QUANTITY, when selecting a breeder.
I always encourage people who are looking for a quality puppy to contact a reputable breeder. Many of them welcome calls/emails and are happy to answer questions. I am always available to talk pugs, so email me at bdazzpugs@yahoo.com.
Here is a side by side comparison on breeders: http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/reputablebreeder.html
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