What is an ethical breeder?
It took me a long time to find a breeder that I felt checked all the boxes of being an ethical breeder. I had pretty much given up on finding my dream breeder and was a click away from compromising with a breeder that was, eh, okay.
But then I found C2C Border Collies, and I’m very glad that I did! I have such an amazing boy! The breeder is the first line of defense in making a temperamentally sound animal. There are many critical milestones that you don’t get to have any influence over because they open and close while your puppy is still with the breeder. An ethical breeder can mean the difference between an amazing canine companion or a 15 year headache.
I asked Connie from C2C to write about what ethical breeding means to her.
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This is my idea of what an Ethical Breeder is:
Ethical Breeding starts out with a complete understanding and knowledge of the breed (purpose, traits, etc), the desire to better the breed for future generations and willingness to constantly learn :)
That's just the foundation. Beyond and expanding on these three things, a good ethical breeder will do all of this and more.
* They will DNA test breeding pairs before even thinking about breeding them so as to produce healthy puppies, then back that up with a written Health Guarantee.
* They will keep your foundation dogs safe, happy and healthy in all ways, physically and emotionally. This involves giving them a normal life with the freedom to just be dogs, not merely to live their lives in kennels without emotional interaction or love. Keeping breeding dogs is a whole different set of challenges than keeping normal altered (neutered/spayed) pets. It's a big responsibility that one has to be prepared to face. Being an ethical breeder to me means providing them a life outside of just producing puppies.
* Ethical breeders will screen new families and make sure the puppy is a good match for their family. Placement is SO important to ensure that each puppy has found their "Forever Home". and with that being said:
...*an ethical breed will ALWAYS take back one of their puppies at any time, and for any reason.
* Ethical breeders will make a lifetime commitment and take responsibility for their puppy families and be there for any of their concerns and questions.
* They will make sure that a buyer/owner be a responsible dog owner too and sign a no-breed contract along with understand the responsibility and best practices for spaying/neutering their puppy at the appropriate time.
* Good ethical breeders will only breed when there is enough interest in a particular litter (no extra puppies, but if so, a good breeder will know that those "extra" puppies are their responsibility to keep or be placed in appropriate forever homes, without question).
*Next we get to a real understanding of the breeding/whelping process. A good breeder will always put their female's health and welfare foremost to the actual "having puppies" aspect of breeding. If the "mom" is not happy/healthy, neither will the puppy be healthy/happy.
* I believe that also means keeping your retired breeding dogs, because they ARE a part of your family.
* An ethical breeder will be prepared to take on the financial responsibility to withstand unexpected expenses and unplanned scenarios. Planning ahead is crucial and having a reliable reproductive Veterinarian specialist available in invaluable. They don't come cheap, but ethical breeders will not "fly by the seat of their pants" when it comes to the health and safety of breeding and their dogs/puppies. Emergencies happen and a good breeder will always be prepared to be there for their animals. I have heard of well meaning breeders that were not prepared financially and thus, risked the life and health of their dog and puppies because of that.
* I believe an ethical breeder has a protocol in place for rearing their puppies (for a minimum of 8 weeks), understanding neonate developmental stages to give their puppies the ability to have the best start possible. This includes socializing, understanding fear imprint stages, early neurological protocols, and positive experiences so they can thrive in our world.
* An ethical breeder will do regular health records including parasite control and age appropriate vaccination or titer testing.
*An ethical breeder will not allow a puppy to go to a new home before minimum of 8 weeks old, nor before a through Veterinarian Health Exam is completed.
*An ethical breeder will identify your puppy with a microchip and provide registration paperwork for your puppy.
*An ethical breeder will follow up with new puppy owners and be there for them in all ways to ensure a smooth transition into the puppy's new home.
* Ethical breeders will always "make it right" when things don't go as planned and always in the puppy's best interest.
Unlike what some people think... it IS okay for an ethical breeder to make a profit, just not at the expense of their dogs and litters. An ethical breeder will not focus on just profits. They will give back much of what they make. Also, unlike what some people think and say, having more than one litter a year doesn't make you a puppy mill. Many breeders rotate their females often, so it's not too hard on the moms. Actually, the more often a breeder breeds, (within reason) only makes them better at it and more experienced, as long as they use good judgment when breeding and litter placement. We all know what a puppy mill is.
Good breeders are truly passionate about what they do and only want the very best forever families for all of the puppies they produce. Believe me, you WILL be screened, tested, vetted, FB stalked and given the side eye, until we feel 100% comfortable that you are worthy of one of our puppies. Don't take it personally. It's what we do best. lol.
To be honest, the big picture doesn't look like a "perfect" one with cuddly little fur balls, snuggled up next to your beating heart, sweet music playing in the background. It is more often a picture of chaos ...rowdy, biting, unruly, wild little maniacs, (with no end to the poop clean-up) that you just can't help but love. Despite the holes in all your pant legs and shirt cuffs, each and every puppy that leaves a breeder, also leaves a hole in their hearts as well as they go to their new homes, like a passing of the baton, into the anxious arms of a new world, hopefully one you've prepared them for. It's always bittersweet, but inevitable. It's the reason we do it. There is nothing better than knowing you've been a part of that "match made in heaven". At that moment, that puppy family is forever YOUR family, through thick and thin. Even if a breeder does it right and feels they've done their best...a good one will still have sleepless nights wondering if baby is okay and if they could have done even more. So next time, you try to do just that... more. And we just have to trust our gut that the little life you watched take it's first breath, is safe in the arms of someone that loves it as much as you have. Once in a while, unfortunately, you have to hear about an accident that cut that life short and all you can do is cry and mourn the loss as if it were your "child"...and then move on because the puppies that are in your care need you now and they need you whole. The deserve only all of you.
A good breeder doesn't have to have a luxurious, fancy set up. A good heart is a must, though.
Connie