@Buddys:
I am sorry but I just have to ask this question "why do you want to breed?"
I know this wasn't directed at me but as a breeder, I would like to answer it. I love the entire process of researching pedigrees and looking at the ancestry through photos or hands-on evaluations of the dogs involved. I love trying to determine which conformational faults and virtues as well as health concerns are likely to be passed along. I love being there for the whelping and helping each little one into this world. I spend countless hours just watching and holding pups. I love to watch every bit of growth, physically and mentally. These changes can happen so fast that if you blink you can miss them. I love seeing the little blobs grow into puppies who look just as I expected them too. I love the new families who get them. They become part of my extended family and many have kept in contact for the lifetime of their dog. I love getting pictures and stories. It gives me such a warm feeling inside knowing just how happy I made a family by bringing that puppy into the world. These are just some of the reasons that I am a breeder.
It is just that there are sooooo many dogs everywhere. On this forum for example, there are always basenji's having to be re-homed for many reason: lost jobs in this economy, USA and Canada.
You are correct. The economy has taken quite a toll on people. Quality homes have became a bit more difficult to find over the past few years so breeders need to make sure that they can keep litters however long it takes to get them into the right homes.
I assist a dog rescue and there are more dogs than homes or fosters everywhere.
Go to any BRAT link or Basenji Rescue and you will see dogs available.
I have been a breeder for 20 years and also spent 10 years doing Basenji rescue. While there will always be a need for rescue, there will also be a need for responsible breeders. Why? First of all, if responsible breeders suddenly stopped breeding, breeds would disappear. Disreputable sources will continue to crank out poorly bred pups who, after a few generations, would start to turn into generic dogs. Secondly, it is extremely uncommon for the dogs in rescue to have originated from responsible breeders. If a dog does "slip through the cracks" and lands in rescue, then a responsible breeder will do whatever they can to take responsibility for that dog thus removing or reducing the strain on rescue groups. And, this not directed at anyone specific but is rather a general comment, everyone doesn't want a rescue. I know that it is "trendy" right now for people to own rescues. Potential pet owners are shunned for wanting to go to a breeder instead of "saving a life". This is wrong. No one should be made to feel guilty about it. And let's face it, a dog that is in a good rescue group or foster home is in no danger of being killed so you aren't saving it from anything. (Animals in shelters are a different story. You are saving a life if you adopt from a kill shelter.)
I think what I am trying to say is that if a person finds a good match for them in a rescue or shelter then I think they should adopt it. If they do not find a match or choose to go to a responsible breeder instead, then that's what they should do. ALL of the dogs/puppies need homes and they need to find the right dog for THEM no matter where it comes from.
Great explaination. Took the words from my mouth only you explained them like a gazillion times better than how i could have worded it. Im not good with that. but honestly, thats exactly how i feel about it too. Thank you for the post!
