Dog Breeding Made Easy
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 29 Jul 2010
BDM explains how he got involved in a local dog breeding program, and how it changed his life. Dog breeding is the practice of mating selected dogs with the intent to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics. When dogs reproduce without such human intervention, their offsprings' characteristics are determined by natural selection, while "dog breeding" refers specifically to the artificial selection of dogs, in which dogs are intentionally bred by their owners. A person who intentionally mates dogs to produce puppies is referred to as a dog breeder. Breeding relies on the science of genetics, so the breeder with a knowledge of canine genetics, health, and the intended use for the dogs attempts to breed suitable dogs. The term 'backyard breeders' is commonly used in Canada and the U.S. to describe a breeder with a lack of knowledge and experience; while the term 'puppy mills' or 'puppy farms' refers to businesses that mass produce puppies of different breeds. Animal rights activists claim that breeding dogs in order to sell them is unethical, criticizing breeders who they believe are more concerned with profit than the animals' welfare. Critics cite breed registries for encouraging the inbreeding of dogs, thereby contributing to a proliferation of genetic disorders.