Too many litters?

I have to disagree with you. I raised Pembroke Welsh Corgis and honnestly they are a great companion dog. If I raised only show dogs, my prices would have had to be rediculous and locating good quality stud dogs of the same show stock would cause stud fees to be rediculous as well. Thus driving the prices way up for people who want a good family dog with a good personality. While I agree that if you do not intend to breed your dogs, they should be spayed or neutered, I have to disagree with your position that if you don't show your dog, you should have them fixed, that just seems to me like a form of biggotry. Take another example, Hunting dogs. If people only bred their Britany dogs for show, where would the average bird hunter go to get good hunting dogs? My Pembroke Welsh Corgi was a granddaughter of one of the Queen of England's dogs. She was picture perfect and most definitely of show quality. Her father had earned his champion marks. That didn't mean I had to show her to breed her. I bred her to sell puppies to people who wanted good companion dogs at a reasonable price. I was a reputable breeder. My animals, all kinds, get regular veterinary care, while I did do most of my own vaccinations except rabies, which in my state requires a vet to do. I did my own tail docking and dew claw removal. Backyard breeders who don't overbreed, and take great care to see that their puppies are properly registered and go to good homes should be able to do so without people saying they aren't quality show dogs. My last female Australian Cattle Dog was show quality and she wasn't even papered. According to an Australian veterinarian I met, she was the ideal breed standard. Stood correctly, the markings were perfect in size, and she was of the perfect height/weight. This vet informed me that she was also a show judge in Australia. She was at the local veterinary college teaching, and I had gone in to pick up some coggins tests for my horses and had the dog with me.

I never said puppies had to be show quality to be sold as a pet/companion. Nor do all reputable breeders sell their dogs at a high price, nor do they make a profit very often, if at all. At least this is how the ones I met were. I have even known such a breeder to give away a pup or two for free...and these were purebred puppies! My own dogs were priced lower than usual, yet came from reputable breeders that usually sell pet quality dogs for more than what I paid. Sure, they have one fault that makes them undesirable in the show ring, yet backyard breeders have been known to overcharge for this same fault and call these dogs "exotic" instead. They are the ones cheating the customers out of their hard earned money. Some backyard breeders may not over breed their pets, but in reality most of them do, especially the ones that are in it for the money. They want as much money they can get from these animals before these pets die, and if it means pumping out pups, then so be it. And still most charge the same price as reputable breeders, especially if they are purebred, yet don't even get the health checks done, that as you know are so costly to breeders such as yourself. Shouldn't any pet owner that wants to breed their pets do at least this to help insure their pets don't have problems that they could pass on to their offspring which can be so costly in the long run for the buyers, if it turns out there ARE problems? All these costs that the buyer has to dish out can rack up to a lot more than one could have paid for from a reputable breeder, plus with a reputable breeder customers can have peace of mind that if their pet happened to have health problems, they can return said pet to the breeder and have the option of getting another pet, get a refund, or keep their current pet. But with buying from a backyard breeder, customers do not have this option to return their pet or get a refund. Or do they? Please enlighten me, because I have never heard of such a thing. Also, what happens to these animals, if heaven forbid the new owner has to get rid of their pet for one reason or another? Reputable breeders tend to take these animals back so the can try and find them another home. But the customers that got their pets from backyard breeders may drop them off at the pound (even if it is a last resort), because backyard breeders want nothing to do with them or their pets. Just look at all the animals in shelters. Sadly most of these are put down because of so many people don't want to get their pets spayed or neutered and these animals have litters (whether it is one or several). Spaying and neutering not only helps to keep the pet population down, but it can help pets be healthier too. Even temperament wise. I always hate hearing these horror stories of people (mostly kids) being attacked by the family dog. And almost always the dog wasn't fixed. I was attacked by such a dog when I was a kid. He was fully intact, but wasn't being bred. He was just a part of the family. The attack was unprovoked, but since he had all those extra hormones, maybe he felt I was a threat, who knows? I have no doubt there are good and bad breeders out there, whether they are backyard or reputable. But I'd rather go with a reputable breeder any day, just because of some of the things I mentioned. Sorry, If I'm babbling, it's late, I'm tired, and you hit a nerve. LOL I'll get off my soapbox now. Goodnight! :)