Cattail Ridge
Kennels
Useful Information
What is a backyard breeder?
A backyard breeder is a person who thinks that having a dog of each sex registered with AKC
means litters of cute puppies and oodles of money.  It generally means having no concept of
genetics or even doing the basic genetic testing to tell whether their dogs will be passing along
crippling or even lethal defect to the adorable puppies they want you to buy. This is the risk you
are taking when you pick up the classifieds and look at all the AKC puppy ads.

You can tell a back yard breeder from a reputable one by asking questions.  A reputable breeder
also sells dogs at his or her home so that you can't tell just by looking.  If you ask to see a
pedigree or proof of health clearances, a good breeder will show you, because they checked
their dog's backgrounds before breeding.  A backyard breeder will say, ASCA, or whatever reg.
they use with champion lines" and not have any thing to show you. A good breeder will want to
know what kind of home that you will provide for the dog and ask you questions, the back yard
breeder will be already counting the money you brought.
Especially in Australian Shepherds, do not buy a dog without seeing the parent's OFA (
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certificate and CERF (eye exam). This means they had their
hips X-rayed and were found to be free of hip dysplasia and their eyes checked by a qualified
ophthalmologist. Hip dysplasia is a progressive degenerative disease that is painful and
crippling with age. It is a growing danger for most large popular breeds because of
indiscriminate breeding.

A good breeder also knows about their dog's relatives to know whether there have been
problems with dyplasia, eye defects, epilepsy, and other genetic defects in them or their
offspring.  A careless breeder will look astounded and either say they have not idea or cook up
a lie real fast such as "He sees real good so no need to check those eyes!, or "She can jump a 4
foot fence flat footed so her hips are good!" Don't believe it, ask for proof of health checks.


Pet Shop Puppies

Pet shop puppies are the very worst option of all. Pet shop puppies come from puppy mills. Dogs
with no genetic checking at all, breed on an industrial scale and they are usually neglected to the
point of being barely alive, their puppies shipped out in boxes to stores for about 20% of what
you will be charged. Puppy mills are regularly closed down when health or animal welfare
authorities investigate and sometimes the horror stories even get in the media. Puppy mills and
their clients exist to make money. The problem with that is, they are treating dogs as a
commodity. Refuse to do business with any store that sells puppies and tell them why, if stores
find doing business with the mills more aggravation than profit, they'll stop, otherwise they
never will.

The most important thing you can do to help stop dog overpopulation is to always spay or
neuter you pet!

TEN WORST EXCUSES TO NOT
SPAY OR NEUTER A PET:

1. Just one litter and we'll have fluffy spayed.
(Studies show that virtually the entire pet overpopulation stems from the "just one litter"
mentality)

2. My dog doesn't run loose so he doesn't need to be fixed.
(Murphy's law says otherwise)

3. We always find homes for the puppies.
(And that means an equal number of puppies at the pound will be killed)

4. I want the children to witness the miracle of birth.
(Then watch Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel)

5. My dog is so wonderful and unique, there should be more of her.
(the shelters are full of wonderful and unique dogs, most of whom have a few days to live)


6. It's not natural.
(There hasn't been anything "natural" about dogs since we domesticated them thousands over
years ago their training & reproduction)

7. I just couldn't look my dog in the eye if I had him castrated.
(Watch it, you're anthromorphising)

8. A female dog should have at least one litter for medical reasons.
(Medically, factually, and ethically indefensible)

9. Neutering my dogs will make him fat and lazy.
(Too much food and too little exercise make a dog fat and lazy)

10. Fixing my pet will change its personality.
(See #8)

                                                                    By: Calvelier Aussies
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