breeding blues (ethics question)

[dogsarebetter]

I have a question on how I should feel about something. I know how I do feel about this... and I honestly think that this is how I should feel... but I want some support


The kennel I work at are breeding some blue merels to blue merels. Blue + blue = possible double dilutes. A double dulite is often born with no eyes, and deaf. And they are breeding these blues to blues because the blues that come out not double dilutes supposivly makes very pretty show dogs.

I dont feel its right to be breeding blue to blue with them knowing very well that they could mostly end up having to be pts. Should I feel this way?

and in your opinion is 28 dogs, and 4 litters on the way WAAYYY to many dogs?

 

[Lizmo]

You know how I feel

 

[dogsarebetter]

i guess i want to hear people say
"yeah Manda, thats wrong! they shouldnt do that! you are thinking correctly"

thanks lizmo

 

[sam]

I can't think of a less ethical breeding practice than purposely breeding dogs together such that 1/4 pups will have serious health problems and disabilities probably resulting I them being culled. I assume they are culling them? (wether they are or aren't it's still the worst breeding practice I can think of)I think that's horrific. So yes I'm in full agreement with you. Very sad. If they are doing that, I can only imagine what else they are doing

 

[dogsarebetter]

to my knowlege that is the only unethical thing they are doing. besides having too many dogs IMO

 

[Lizmo]

i guess i want to hear people say
"yeah Manda, thats wrong! they shouldnt do that! you are thinking correctly"

thanks lizmo

Okay....

"Yeah Manda, That is wrong! They Should not do that"!

 

[MafiaPrincess]

It's like breeding double dapple doxies..
Apparetly unethical people do it because the dogs are stunning. But you can get blind dogs, no eye dogs, deaf dogs, no ear dogs... Which would be why any breeder worth anything doesn't.

 

[dogsarebetter]

if where you worked was doing this would you quit your job (among some other reasons i may post about later)
am i supporting this by working for them?

 

[lakotasong]

Sounds like a show mill to me.

 

[dogsarebetter]

does the fact that almost every dog is a champion and they have all of the health testing mean anything?
i was always under the impression that they were a reputable kennel. and plus they were smooth collie breeders of the year for 11 years!!!

 

[~Jessie~]

I do NOT agree with breeding merle to merle. There is, I believe, a 35% chance of defects when merle is bred to merle. Puppies can be born blind, deaf, with incorrectly formed organs, etc.

 

[Whisper]

If they are breeding dogs with such a large chance of serious proven defects, then there is no doubt that it is unethical.

 

[Delisay]

I know what you mean about this. I recently read some information by a pedigree Poodle breeder who very openly has been in-breeding and line-breeding for decades, and who is well known for producing show winners...

She was describing how she scrupulously CULLS puppies with any trace of a genetic problem which, as you can imagine, means a fair few animals. Not only that, but whenever puppies are born with a problem she culls the parents too! Yes, she doesn't neuter them, she culls the adult dogs!!

I was absolutely blown away. Strangley, this woman appears to care about the wellbeing of the animals which she 'allows to live'. She doesn't see the contradiction between apparent care, and breeding highly intelligent living beings for slaughter all for a 'reason' as trivial and selfish as personal artistic preference.

(Maddeningly, as is far too often the case, this woman meets all of the criteria usually espoused for being a 'responsible breeder'. I think I'd rather adopt a neighbour's accidental mutt.)

Del.

 

[~Jessie~]

Actually, I meant to say that merle to merle causes 25% chance of defects... merle to all white causes 35%. I was running out of work when I wrote that

 

[stevinski]

28 dogs in kennels, 4 litters a year, breeding merle to merle, i personally dont agree with that, and wouldnt call them a responsible kennel,
but i am very uptight and would only consider a handful of kennels a responsible kennel.

are the litters kept in runs?

 

[dogsarebetter]

no, raise in the house.

 

[sam]

There are LOADS of big red flags going up for me about these people. Just because a kennel has produced many champions, doesn't mean they are good or ethical breeders.
I'm answering the question you asked in your other thread here- I would leave that job and not associate myself with those people anymore esp if you are considering getting further into dog and dog showing. I can't stand by and watch, let alone take part in anything so bad for dogs. It seems like it's been bothering you for a long time. People leave jobs all the time and they've given you many reasons not to stay. It doesn't have to be a big confrontation- you could just hand in or mail in a letter of resignation and give them a date that will be your last day. You don't need to say why.
Personally I would also talk to someone in the breed club about their breeding practices.

 

[showpug]

Have you aked them about it? Maybe you could word it in such a way that makes it sound like you just want to be educated more on the subject. Like "oh, I didn't know you could breed merle to merle?" That may open a discussion on the subject.

Personally, I think responsible breeders breed for the well being of the breed as a whole and to preserve healthy lines. To care more about producing "pretty" showdogs than the overall health of what they are producing is a very sad practice. Why run health screens at all when you are purposeley breeding unhealthy dogs?

I just don't understand this show game that people play. Gives serious breeder/exhibitors a really bad reputation and makes me very angry.

As far as the number of dogs they own and litters they breed, I think it sounds like a lot. BUT, if all the dogs are well cared for and provided for and the puppies are raised in the home it doesn't sound horrible. I would be more concerned with what they are breeding...

 

[Melissa_W]

I'm not a breeder, but I think it's very wrong. I would never buy from a breeder that did such a thing, champion lines or not. There's just no justification for it, imo.

 

[Dreeza]

"yeah Manda, thats wrong! they shouldnt do that! you are thinking correctly"!!

I also am biased, as i dont really see the whole appeal of breeding purebreds as pets (yes yes, i do understand the positives, and im not *against* it, i just think its sad b/c of all the dogs in rescues)