I thought they could only have puppies twice a year?

If she's a) breeding for profit, and b) breeding more than once every couple of years, then yes, she is a backyard breeder. A responsible breeder breeds only for the good of the breed (i.e. for conformation/showing or working purposes), to a breed standard, does genetic testing beforehand, and is very picky about who their pups go to. Does that sound like your friend?

Responsible breeders also rarely make any money off of their litters. My father, who is a breeder, has one litter every two years or so, and plans it extensively, by comparing genealogy lines back as far as he can to get the best possible pairing that he can, doing genetic testing, etc. For him, the point of breeding is to make champions, and he goes about it very methodically -- it's a hobby for him, and he's not in it to make money!! Add in 3 months of vet visits, top of the line pet food, stud fees, and all the other stuff necessary to taking care of the puppies...and he makes no money, despite the fact that his puppies go for about $1200 apiece (he also always keeps one or two pups himself, and his breed usually doesn't have large litters).

Back to your friend, it seems rather unlikely that her dog could be having 5 litters a year, though -- most female dogs go into heat every 6 - 8 months. Perhaps she is sending you pictures of litters from different females?

Since it does appear that she is a backyard breeder, I'm not sure what you can do about it. Perhaps when she brings things up, delicately say things like, "Oh, I thought it was bad to breed a dog so often," or "I heard responsible breeders don't do ______." You risk losing your friendship, though.

It definitely sounds like she's breeding several female dogs;
I my own self would "complain" or make a report to the city, & not worry about the loss of the friendship of such a person.

There is no way a female could have 5 litters in a yr. She must have several females. She is probably not admitting to this because she doesn't want to pay for a breeders license or licensing for un-spayed pets. Having a breeders license means you can be inspected anytime. A multiplayer like this goes in the same category as a puppy mill. rivkadr gives a good idea of quality breeder in her post.

She definitely sounds like a BYB. It's so unfortunate more people aren't aware of this. I myself spent years researching my beagle before I got her, but never once did it really occur to me that there might be people out there unfairly and improperly breeding dogs.

Unfortunately the breeder I went to was a BYB - but I had no idea. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have even gotten out of the vehicle, I would've turned around and drove off. She didn't ask anything about me, where I lived, how old I was, anything. She handed over the pup and vet records, I gave her money, and that was that.

I wouldn't trade my girl for the world, and I'm thankful I got her and not a different dog - but I wish I hadn't supported such an operation.

There needs to be more awareness about back yard breeders like your friend - because as long as people are buying puppies, these people have no reason to stop, even if they know they're doing harm to the breed. Even people like me who thought they did everything right, researching the breed, making sure I knew everything involved in owning a dog, that breed, the finances, the time, etc. Methodically planning out when and such to get the puppy - nothing spur of the moment about it - but I still had no idea. I'd never bought a puppy before, and I'm sure many first time owners like me, have no idea, even if they put as much consideration into as they can.

More attention needs to be brought to the issue, to make it harder for backyard breeders to do what they do, and as often as they do.

Five litters a year? HUH? You definitely have some wrong information.

I think, munkos, that a lot of people think that so long as they're not getting the dog from a pet store (i.e. puppy mill) that they're doing the "right" thing. A lot of people just don't realize there is a difference between backyard and responsible hobby breeders, and that unfortunately the backyard breeders contribute a great deal to overbreeding (and they also provide some of the pups that are at pet stores, too). I'm glad to hear that you've educated yourself in the years since -- I wish everyone who was going to buy a puppy would just sit down and do some research. There's plenty of information out there nowadays on the internet and elsewhere, so there's really no excuse. Seems like people put more effort and research into buying an HDTV than they do into buying a puppy...

I know there are some people out there that would like to paint all breeders with the "bad" brush, and just do away with breeding altogether. I think that's short-sighted. There are many responsible breeders out there, who as I said, are very picky about who their dogs go to -- getting a dog from my father entails a lengthy interview where you have to meet very specific criteria, and signing a detailed contract. Pet quality dogs are spayed/neutered, and it's built into the contract that if you are unable to keep the dog, my dad will buy the dog back. His walls are festooned every year with Christmas cards from owners of his dogs, so that he can continue to see how they are doing every year. His dogs are NOT dogs that end up in animal shelters or contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. And if we did away with purebred dogs altogether, wouldn't that be a shame? To not have Dalmations, German Shepherds, or Beagles anymore?

Yes, there have been several breeds that in past years have been poorly bred and have health conditions, but a lot of that blame can be laid at the feet of people who don't know what they're doing, or backyard breeders churning out stock for profit. It's possible to get any purebred dog registered with the AKC so long as its parents were registered -- but as someone who has worked with dogs most of my life, I can usually tell you if it's a well-bred example or not. There are a lot of damn ugly purebred dogs out there, and 9 times out of 10, those poorly bred dogs came from backyard breeders or pet stores. It drives me nuts when someone shows off a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd that barely looks like the breed that it's supposed to be. Even the "pet quality" dogs that my father breeds are gorgeous (and very healthy) examples of the breed...just not champion quality!

On the other hand, I do think that more people should stop focusing on having purebred dogs. If more people would adopt mixed breeds from animal shelters, then the backyard breeders and pet stores wouldn't have a market to sell in. IMO, I think breeding needs to be very heavily regulated (which my father probably wouldn't want to hear, but it is what I think), and licensing fees passed. If the backyard breeders couldn't make a profit on it, then they'd stop doing it. And people like my father who are doing it as a hobby would continue to do it at a higher cost. Such is life.

Sorry, I ranted a bit in this. This is a topic dear to my heart, and I tend to go off on it a bit...

Rivkadr - I'm hoping information is more available now than when I was doing my initial research. I wanted a beagle for years, the one and only purebred animal I've ever wanted (or had, the rest of mine are gorgeous mutts!) By the time I was able to, and ready to get a puppy, I knew the breed inside out. I knew about food, what common toys and treats to avoid (tennis balls, rawhide, etc) but not ONE thing I came across ever mentioned anything about back yard breeders. I knew about puppy mills and not to buy from a pet store, etc. Buy beyond that - not much information on what differentiated a good breeder, from a bad breeder.

Once I did finally come across sites talking about BYB's - I felt kinda duped. I'd done everything possible to make sure I knew everything, and I'd missed out on knowing some very important information. And I'm willing to bet there are a lot of other people who thought they researched everything possible, but still have no clue about BYB's.

I think more awareness needs to be created. Not only to stop/slow down BYB's, but to ensure people are getting what they pay for, and not an unhealthy animal.

I worked with someone that had this crazy idea of creating a "new" breed using the mixed breed of the dog she had. If I remember it was 1/2 malamute(???sp??)1/2 something else. At one time had 10 full grown dogs, would dump litters of puppies at dog pound that didn't have the "traits" she wanted. I said something once about how nice mixed breed dogs were but the are so many destroyed by pounds each year because they have no home. Of course she wanted to sell me one of her pups and would want to maybe use it in future if she needed more "stock". She was a total nutcase but thought she was doing the world a favor by perpetuating the "line" of her wonderful dog. I think she had this grandiose idea that she would get some kind of an award for developing a new breed of dog. I don't know if she kept this up after I stopped working at that place...It just made me so angry.

I would turn her in.

There is no law against overbreeding dogs, so "turning her in" won't accomplish anything except a very strained work environment and probably the end of a friendship. If the dogs were neglected (denied necessary veterinary care, food, water, or shelter) or abused (physically injured in any way) then you'd have a case. But breeding dogs is not against any law.

Obviously she has more than one female, or she is studding out the male, since it is physically impossible for a single female to have 5 litters a year; 2 is the max.

I deal with breeders, mostly bad but some good ones, every single day. You can't reason with these people, there's no use trying. Once someone starts breeding animals, and they get some money for the puppies, they don't care about the quality of the animal or how many animals are killed because they don't have homes, or anything else. I've never known a breeder to stop for any of those reasons. Maybe they can't keep up with the physical/time demands, or they lose interest, or they start having a hard time selling all the puppies, but they never stop just because someone, even a vet, tells them that their animals are not worth breeding due to health or conformation problems, etc. If they are making money, they won't stop. And if they are making money, they aren't doing it correctly as already mentioned. Good breeders don't make money, or if they do it isn't much once you factor the veterinary care, food, etc.

Not all backyard breeders are bad. I know some who are doing a fantastic job, getting all the necessary genetic, OFA, etc. exams prior to breeding, only breeding animals with good conformation and in excellent health, having the puppies veterinary checked, dewormed, and vaccinated, keeping the puppies until at least 8 weeks old, not trying to wean them at 5 weeks old, socializing them, and everything else good breeders do. Unfortunately I know many more of the opposite whose animals only see a vet if there is something horribly wrong that threatens their ability to breed again and who don't care about the health of the parents or puppies because when it comes down to it, some idiot will pay a ridiculous amount of money for the puppies.

I'd find out more about your friend's breeding operation before making any judgements. She may just have a fabulous male who is in high demand for studding and she keeps some of the best females. Or she could be a very poor breeder. But the number of litters doesn't really mean anything, IMHO.

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. I don't know much about breeding dogs, but it seemed odd to me that she frequently said that "Missy" was pregnant, and then she would e-mail me pictures of the puppies. But you're right, Meghane, I should reserve judgement because I don't exactly know what is going on at her home nor do I know that much about breeding dogs. Maybe she has other females that she's breeding - I really don't know. All I know about is Missy.

If I had a coworker who told me their dog was pregnant on more than one occasion, I probably would start asking questions, like: "Didn't you just tell me that she pregnant a few months ago?" and "Certainly that can't be good for her, to be pregnant again so soon?"

Of course there are "people" I'd like to ask those similar questions? "Weren't you pregnant this time last year?" and "You know they make pills that prevent that?!"

joepyeweed ~

I am sure that your comment,"Of course there are "people" I'd like to ask those similar questions? "Weren't you pregnant this time last year?" and "You know they make pills that prevent that?!" was meant to be funny because you can't equate animal breeding overpopulation with people. I can understand how folks joke about that amongst themselves but it would be rude to say that to someone. We do not have an overpopulation problem in this country. In fact, from the studies I have read, people are not even replacing themselves in the U.S. I am not accounting for people that have larger families because there are those that prefer not to have any children or to limit it to one.

Robyn

It could be rude depending upon the context.

I would never say it to my neighbor's daughter who is pregnant with her THIRD child at the age of 20, no husband, three different fathers, no job, no home, living on public aid, abandons her children at the drop of hat to hang out with her friends. Two of her children are less than 1 year apart. I was thinking about her when I made the comment.

I have said it to my friend when she was complaining about how she quickly she got pregnant with her second child. "You do know there are pills to prevent that.." We both got a chuckle.

People are animals. Though they make their own choices. Responsible pet owners spay and neuter. Responsible people should be selective about their mating habits too!

I am a breeder & female dogs only come in heat about every 6 months, sometimes it can go up to 8 months in a year.

Two litters in a year is the most she could possibly have from one female! I only breed every other heat, so one litter a year for my female. It is unhealthy for the female to have a litter each time. Their bodies have to recover & build up again, plus a good breeder would want healthy puppies & if the momma isn't healthy, the puppies will suffer too!

My female would be skin & bones if I bred her everytime & that is just not a responsible breeder who does that.

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. I just went back through some old e-mail from the past year and found 5 different ones with pictures of 5 different litters. This co-worker "friend" must have more females than the one I'm aware of - "Missy." When I get an e-mail from my co-worker she always refers to "Missy's litter" or "Missy's" pregnant again. Apparently she has more females than just Missy.

I wouldn't hang out with a friend like that.

Do what's right for Society and for dogs- turn her in to animal control or the city ASAP!

"People are animals. Though they make their own choices. Responsible pet owners spay and neuter. Responsible people should be selective about their mating habits too!"
Joe, lol. I've always believed people should have mandatory birth control. But this is for HT I'm afraid.
It makes me mad when pet owners and people don't think about the consequences of what they are doing!
Carla

Runswalken, can't you read????? What would I turn this person in for??? What specific law is being broken?? Huh? Please cite the specific law.

Go back to Meghane's post where she says - "There is no law against overbreeding dogs, so "turning her in" won't accomplish anything except a very strained work environment and probably the end of a friendship...but breeding dogs is not against any law.."

What would turning this person in to animal control or the city accomplish?? It's not against the law to overbreed animals - it's a moral issue, but animal control or the city, the last time I heard, don't deal with moral issues.

I do not condone what this person is doing - if I did I wouldn't have started this post in the first place.

It's not against the law to overbreed animals - it's a moral issue, but animal control or the city, the last time I heard, don't deal with moral issues.

Actually, sephia, it depends on where you live. Some cities or counties require you to have a breeding license if you breed more than X amount of litters per year. As an example, here's the LA County information. If you really do care about this, you could look into your city or county ordinances, and see if she is breaking any laws...and then turn her in if she is.