What is a Breeder?

A Breeder makes planned and deliberate decisions to select for desired traits—anatomical structure, temperament, health, breed type, and functionality to do the job for which the breed was originally intended. Breeding is both an art and a science. Breeders are in a constant process of evaluating the attributes of individual dogs (exceptional features and faults). Breeders make decisions on which individuals to breed together with the goal of enhancing exceptional traits and minimizing or eliminating undesirable ones. The goal of Breeders is to improve upon the quality of individuals in each generation.

Breeders have a vision of what they are trying to achieve with each breeding. The have a clear sense of the virtues and faults of the bitch being bred. They have chosen a sire for a particular bitch for very specific reasons; and they can articulate the virtues they hope the sire can contribute. Breeders have a clear vision of their ideal Irish Setter—the dog that epitomizes the Irish Setter breed standard—and they can describe it. Each litter is bred in pursuit of puppies that are as close to the Breeder’s vision of the ideal Irish Setter as possible. Breeders  have a clear picture of an ideal representative of the breed, know the virtues and faults of the individuals being bred, have a plan for what they want to achieve in a breeding, and have a way to evaluate their own success.

What is a Producer?

In contrast, puppy Producers (sometimes called “puppy mills,Backyard breeders) are breeders only in the sense that they have timed mating’s that have resulted in litters. The goal of producers is produce puppies to sell. If a mating results in puppies that can be sold, a Producer has been successful. The health and quality of puppies produced is not a primary goal as long as consumers continue to buy the puppies. Based on our years of experience interacting with the public, puppy mills exist solely because there is a consumer market demanding puppies at the buyer’s convenience. Producers fill this consumer demand.

Things to look for and consider

I recommend people looking for puppies read this article on How Do You Find a Responsible breeder; it has a lot of good information. https://talkdoglogic.wordpress.com/2018/05/20/how-do-you-find-a-responsible-breeder/ 

Buyers who want a puppy at their convenience, buy on impulse, shop by price, or who are unable to get a puppy from a conscientious breeder–because they do not offer the kind of home that will result in success with this breed–will likely get a puppy from a Producer. Producers are interested in the sale and not the future of the dog. Some people get dogs from Producers because it’s the first contact they make or they are uninformed consumers. Others get dogs from Producers because they can’t get a dog anywhere else, including rescue groups and animal shelters. “Puppy mill” Producers will continue to exist as long as there is a consumer market that will buy their dogs.

Unfortunately, shelters and rescue are the secondary puppy mill market. Breeders are required by their breed clubs to take dogs back and re-home them if it becomes necessary; and they often assist rescue if a dog they have bred ends up in rescue. Producers have no such responsibilities; the point of sale is the end of the relationship with the puppy and owner. Producers may not have invested time into socializing puppies, paid attention to temperament or health issues, and may have sold puppies to owners whose lifestyle is not compatible with the breed (which can result in behavioral and/or housebreaking issues). These characteristics increase the chances that the resulting dogs will end up in shelters.