REDUCTION OF LITTERS PER YEAR - Page 2

Breders cut back on their litters.  Great idea    But I doubt it will happen good old fashion greed   Money money money!!!

Some good ideas BUT one of my main issues with doing rescue is that the breeders don't tattoo or microchip so we can find out where these dogs are coming from.  It would be great if we could track these breeders/kennels so we can put out the info in a public way so people know to stay away from breeders who won't take their dogs back.  Also we get alot of people that don't even think to contact the breeder.  We've had some "reputable" breeders in our area that were contacted to take back their dogs, one said is she spayed and as soon as I said yes they didn't want her back, the other said the dog was the owners responsibility not theirs.  I can definately see why rescuers get so frustrated by certain breeders.  Unfortunately the good ones get lumped in there with the bad. 

Not sure how to change this cycle BUT it does need to change the dogs are suffering for it.

Amy

  Well,MUTTLOVER 25,brought up the point about the breeder who did not want the pup back after finding her to have been spayed.I do believe that shelters are to stringent,and quick to Neuter/Spay,or require a contract of intent.This may seem counterproductive to some,but many people would indeed take a dog as a second owner if not held to that requirement.There is a prevailing belief that these dogs must immediately be altered,but this may be one reason why they end up destroyed,or even why they are dropped off to begin with.Many people would like the opportunity to carry on the characteristics,or shall i say a part of the dog they love,so as to minimize the loss of something so close.There is nothing like having a pup from your favorite dog to sit with the night of passing of the elder.I realize this contradicts the premise of the comment that I started today.However,I am speaking in the context of a single litter to be planned at some point in the elder dog's life,so as to provide a sense of contuance.

Very true Jon. I have a 8 year old bitch who was a rescue, suppossed to be spayed when I got her. Ended up noticing her heats about a year after getting her. I had her spayed at about 3 yrs old, never bred. She is the oldest healthiest GSD I have owned, even not having a clue about her ped, I have often wished I could breed her to a nice male and see what came of it. She's far from built perfect, had a broken leg at age 7 mo, that healed kinda funny but she doesn't let it slow her down. Wish I had been around bitework when I brought her home. With no training, she shows natural tallent in the protection dept, good prey, super agile and more stamina than a horse. Even in her greying age she is smoking my younger dogs and logging in twice the miles durring run time. I'd like to see more dogs hold up like she does.

 You would think that the AKC would be at the for front of helpeing reduce mass breedings as a orginization that stands for proper crae and handling of dogs ...WAIT what am i saying the more litters the more money they make... I,ve always said if the AKC were really concerened about the well being of dogs like GSD they would not issue litter registration unless both breeding partnersd were ofa in the range of normal...

  I would like to thank everone who submitted comments today,NEW YEARS DAY,2009.All of the comments have been constructive,without the need to imitate the JERRY SPRINGER SHOW.What a refreshing change of pace.

I fully think there should be a limit of litters a breeder can breed per year. Who cannot agree that producing upwards of 100 pups a year is ridiculous?

I agree mass breedings turn me off. Any breeder with more than 5 females "usually" scares me off. I run for the hills if all 5 bitches are bred twice a year. Run extra fast if they are all bred to the owners own stud. Like that 1 stud was the perfect match for all of those females.

I don't agree that dogs that are rescued should be bred whatsoever, thats why there are so many in the shelters now!  Unfortunately from what I have personally seen most owners have not a clue on breeding/raising/selling dogs and if they were allowed to decide if and when to fix their rescue dogs we would have even more litters every year.  I definately think that mandatory spay/neuter of all shelter animals is the best and only decision. These dogs are in rescue for a reason why produce more that might end up there? If everyone had to volunteer for a local kill shelter they might change some opinions on spaying/neutering and the fact that most people are not responsible pet owners.  Our local shelter just had 14 pups come in today, pure bred Border Collies, the owner gave away 5 but still had all the rest to find homes for, they ended up at the shelter I work with today. Moms were two sisters that were kept outside in a 6 foot high pen, owner couldn't believe that they could get pregnant since its a 6 foot high pen, no top of course. Just one of the too many ignorant people out there.  Again the dogs are the ones suffering.

Amy

"Some good ideas BUT one of my main issues with doing rescue is that the breeders don't tattoo or microchip so we can find out where these dogs are coming from.  It would be great if we could track these breeders/kennels so we can put out the info in a public way so people know to stay away from breeders who won't take their dogs back.  Also we get alot of people that don't even think to contact the breeder.  We've had some "reputable" breeders in our area that were contacted to take back their dogs, one said is she spayed and as soon as I said yes they didn't want her back, the other said the dog was the owners responsibility not theirs.  I can definately see why rescuers get so frustrated by certain breeders.  Unfortunately the good ones get lumped in there with the bad. 

Not sure how to change this cycle BUT it does need to change the dogs are suffering for it.

Amy"

Amy, so very true.