I so agree with you Houndstooth. I actually have a client who is a responsible breeder. I will never understand the desire to buy a “designer dog” for lots of money when, as you said, there are so many in shelters around the country. I once visited a place based on an ad in the paper. The place had a barn, a trailer (like the ones in trailer parks) with tons of dogs barking inside. The “breeder” showed me a Sheltie in the barn in a stall. She was completely freaked out when I said I needed to call my mother on my cell phone to see if she wanted the dog. This was my first experience with a backyard breeder – we left and did not take the dog. I would have loved to have rescued him from that place, but I just couldn’t support giving this woman money so she could continue to sell animals this way. I reported her, but I often wonder if she was caught. Ads in the paper and ads online – it makes no difference to puppy mills and backyard breeders, but as you mentioned, at least you get to see where the dog came from.

BTW – I know you have RSS feed, but I can’t seem to get it to work. Do you also have a way to receive your posts via e-mail? I love everything you write, but I always seem to miss them while out walking dogs and such.

Thanks for this clarification. I just knew there were good breeders — the type you describe — backyard breeders, and large commercial outfits that were often puppy mills. I didn’t realize the term “hobby breeders” was popularly used to refer to the good kind!

Thanks. I think you make a good point that not every hobby breeder is virtuous. It’s easy to find rotten apples in every barrel, isn’t it?

I guess that’s why I want to celebrate someone who is truly doing the right thing.

Thanks for your kind mention of my post – and for the record, I think it’s good practice to think about unintended consequences before leaping into things!

It’s an interesting point you make about looking at a picture online. It’s actually the way human adoptions work too. People who want to adopt a child get a book of pictures or go online. Under the picture is a brief description. Evidently looks come first and personality fit is secondary. Weird, huh?