JUST. DON'T. DO. IT. LEAVE IT TO THE PROS!
It has been absolutely unreal when it comes to the amount of owners who want to breed their dog once before they're fixed so they can have one of their "children". I just don't get it. It is the single most selfish thing you can want when it comes to being a dog owner. If a dog is not registered, it is a mutt. WE DO NOT BREED MUTTS. WE BREED TO BETTER A BREED. A MUTT IS NOT A BREED. SO WHY BREED MORE MUTTS?
I see it every day on Facebook and other sales sites. People want to breed their mutts because they think they are Pit Bulls and want a puppy who either looks just like their dog or a puppy who acts just like their dog. Well, HELLUR folks. There are millions of dogs and puppies in shelters and rescues. You're telling me out of ALLLLLLLLLL the shelters and rescues, you cannot find a puppy who looks similar to your dog? Especially if your dog is a BBM. I mean hell, they're all labeled as Pit Bulls because they share a few characteristics with one another. So why not just go to a shelter and adopt a mutt who also shares characteristics with the mutt you already have.
Let us break it down. BBMs tend to have large litters. We'll say an average of 10. You stud out your mutt because you want a "father-son duo" (which is dumb by the way). You find an equally as irresponsible BYB who you've made an agreement with. You are going to keep 1 male out of the litter - your pick.
Fast forward 2 months, the puppies are here. Just as expected, your big man has helped to produce 10 perfectly healthy puppies... for now. You are definitely keeping the male you picked. So we know for sure 1/10 puppies will live a good life with one owner.
The owner to the dam was able to keep 1 puppy because just as you wanted, she also wanted a duo, but rather a "mother-daughter duo" (which is also dumb). So we now have 2/10 puppies who will have forever homes.
An average statistic conducted by myself (I have been employed by 2 shelters and still regularly volunteer) shows that no matter how hard you try to find good homes, 7/8 of those puppies will be re-homed within the first year of being alive. Bringing our total to 3 forever homes.
1/7 of those puppies will find their forever homes because they are equally as amazing as their parents and they have gotten lucky to find owners who see them as a lifetime commitment. Bringing our total to 4 forever homes.
1/6 of those puppies will find their way to an abusive home, being left to eventually die due to neglect and/or injuries. Keeping our total at 4 forever homes and one dead puppy.
4/5 of those puppies will be re-homed at least one more time due to behavior problems caused by faulty breeding due to the unknown history of their ancestors. We now have 5 forever homes and 1 dead puppy.
1/4 of those puppies will be surrendered to the shelter because they have to move and their new landlord does not allow pets. Eventually, the puppy has been PTS (put to sleep) because they need to make room for new dogs and puppies coming in. We now have 5 forever homes and 2 dead puppies.
1/3 of those puppies will fall ill due to a genetic disease. One of which could have been avoided by not breeding because having a lineage could have showed proof of the genetic disease existing. So we now have 5 forever homes and 3 dead puppies.
1/2 of those puppies will find their way to live outside with little to no human interaction for the rest of it's life. We now have 6 forever homes and 3 dead puppies.
The last puppy will find it's way to a no kill shelter waiting to be fostered or adopted. Sadly, the puppy has now turned 11 years old without a single person interested in adopting. He is known as the shelter "Pit Bull" that everyone loves, but no one wants because he didn't come into the shelter while he was in his cute puppy stage. We now have 6 forever homes, 3 dead puppies, and 1 who will soon die of old age in the shelter.
So, breaking it down a little further. You two irresponsible BYBs have kept your 2 puppies. They live a good, happy life. One of your buyer's also kept the puppy giving it a good, happy life. 7 of the puppies were re-homed at least once. However, only 2 of them were able to have a good, happy life. One of them has lived a crappy life because they have no one to show them love and attention every day, or rather any day. One died due to you irresponsibly breeding puppies with genetic diseases. One puppy died in a shelter. One puppy lived the rest of his life in a 5X5 kennel. One puppy was abused to death. And you you have no clue any of this has went on. Feel shitty now? YOU SHOULD!
This is what happens because you only want ONE puppy from your male or female. This is the harsh reality. Not to mention, this will happen again. At least half of those puppies will have litters themselves. Then the cycle will continue. Be happy with your dog you have now. There is no reason to keep breeding dogs when you can just as easily find the mutt you're looking for in a shelter. That's all there is to it.
Leave the breeding to the "professionals".
If only papered dogs were bred, that would take care of at least 70% of shelters overpopulation problem. If dogs were ONLY bred by reputable breeders who follow breeding ethics to a T, that would take care of 100% of the population. Reputable breeders have contracts. They stay in touch with ALL of the puppies new owner's throughout the rest of their lives. They KNOW what happens with their puppies. They take the time to meet you in person. They want to know your address. They want references. They want your number, your S/O's number, your email, your physical address etc. They will do whatever it takes to ensure their puppy is going to a good home. If you aren't willing to cooperate with said breeder, they will not sell to you.
Don't want to pay the prices a reputable breeder has set for their puppies? Save your money! Do you still find the prices to be ridiculous? Go adopt a dog from the shelter. Can you AFFORD to buy the puppy? If not, don't get one period. Dog's aren't cheap. You need to figure their expense off of a 15 year commitment. For one dog, a lifetime supply of dog food costs an average of $8,100. That doesn't include toys, bones, carpets replaced, drywall replaced, shots, random vet checkups and emergencies. If you can't see yourself spending between 800-$1,500 on a well bred dog from a reputable breeder, you shouldn't be able to see yourself spending $8,100 on dog food.
There you have. Agree. Disagree. I don't care. Just know, whether you agree or not, I'M RIGHT!
