Why do breeders sell "retired" dogs instead of keeping them for life?

GSD_Xander · 04-09-2011, 04:57 PM

Something I've wondered with breeder's - and I'm sure someone can answer this - is on a lot of breeder's web sites that I've visited I see a page on the site that lists "retired" dogs for sale (maybe this isn't common practice).

I guess what I don't understand is this...when I get a dog it's for life (for the whole life of the dog) and I fully consider them family.

However, I see some breeder's listing "retired" dogs that have had a few litters and then they're selling them...

I don't get that.

Why is it that breeder's can use a dog to make money and then sell it?

I mean - I understand that there is a limit to how many dogs one person can handle and give proper attention to at one time so if you want to be constantly breeding then you have to get new dogs but...why not just have fewer dogs, less puppies and keep the ones that you loved and that made you money until they pass on?

I'm not trying to start a war here on the forums - it is just something I don't understand and maybe I'm not looking at it right...

Emoore · 04-09-2011, 05:04 PM

If you retire a bitch at 6 or 7 years old, that's another 6 or 7 years you'll be keeping her if you don't re-home her. Pretty soon you'll have nothing but retired bitches and you'll be out of breeding all together.

Plus, there's an old truism among dog owners: 'males fight for breeding rights, bitches fight for breathing rights.' You might get two bitches that get along ok, but several? Probably not going to happen. So you're going to have to keep these old bitches separated, both from each other and from the younger ones, which means living out their remaning 6 or 7 years in crates or kennels. A good breeder will spay them and adopt them out to loving homes, where they can be an only dog, or perhaps one of two, that gets to live in the house as a beloved family pet instead of a kennel dog, constantly having to be rotated out and spend a very limited amount of time with her owner.

selzer · 04-09-2011, 05:15 PM

I love all my dogs.

I rehomed Rushie. I did love him. But he did not produce what I wanted to produce. I kept taking him to training classes, had an RN on him and a TDI. He was just four years old. A person contacted me wanting an adult dog who he could take to nursing homes when he inspected them, that would be good with the residents.

I had not considered rehoming Rushie. I absolutely loved him. But I got to thinking.

This was going to be a great home for the dog, with a family for just him. It was good for me because it would free up his kennel. It would be better for my other dogs, as the time I spent with him, the classes I took him to, was time I was not spending on them. It was good for the new owner.

When he met the new owner a week after the first visit, he walked in and put his head in the guy's lap.

I let him go.

Not everyone wants a puppy. Some do not want to go through the puppy stage. For some people an older dog is the right choice.

Rushie was NOT a reject. He was a well-trained companion dog that I would have been happy to give house room to forever. I am sure he gets more attention than I gave him in his new home.

GSD_Xander · 04-09-2011, 05:31 PM

I see what you're both saying - I guess that it is better they rehome them than neglect them/leave them in kennels.

I was just thinking that if you spaced out the period when you got your dogs you might be able to time it so - say...you'd have two bitches retired, two new female pups (that would need training/etc for a couple years) and then when they're breeding and ready to retire then they other two females will have gone to the bridge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

Plus, there's an old truism among dog owners: 'males fight for breeding rights, bitches fight for breathing rights.' .

You're definitely right there - I've seen bitches go at it for...seemingly no reason at all - maybe one just looked at each other the wrong way. That's why I keep one male dog and one female dog rather than two females...it's been easier that way so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by selzer

I love all my dogs.

I rehomed Rushie. I did love him. But he did not produce what I wanted to produce. I kept taking him to training classes, had an RN on him and a TDI. He was just four years old. A person contacted me wanting an adult dog who he could take to nursing homes when he inspected them, that would be good with the residents.

I had not considered rehoming Rushie. I absolutely loved him. But I got to thinking.

This was going to be a great home for the dog, with a family for just him. It was good for me because it would free up his kennel. It would be better for my other dogs, as the time I spent with him, the classes I took him to, was time I was not spending on them. It was good for the new owner.

When he met the new owner a week after the first visit, he walked in and put his head in the guy's lap.

I let him go.

Not everyone wants a puppy. Some do not want to go through the puppy stage. For some people an older dog is the right choice.

Rushie was NOT a reject. He was a well-trained companion dog that I would have been happy to give house room to forever. I am sure he gets more attention than I gave him in his new home.

That is true Selzer - not everyone wants a puppy...there were moments I had when I thought I must've been crazy for getting a landshark but it was still so much fun even though it was (and is) a lot of work.

I can't see myself ever not having a GSD now - and when I get to be my grandmother's age an older, already trained GSD would be the perfect dog.

That was a very sweet story about Rushie

===

I'm sure breeder's love all their dogs and all their puppies - I can imagine it must be incredibly heart breaking and sad at times having to say good bye to a favorite dog or any dog or even puppies

LOL - I've always thought I would LOVE to foster but I'm sure that's equally sad - you're happy and thrilled that the dog has found a great home but you're sad to see your friend go...it would be hard.

I guess I just felt like "how could anyone give up their dog?" but I didn't look at it from the perspective that it is better for the dog, the owner and a new family will get a great friend.

BlackthornGSD · 04-09-2011, 07:20 PM

I try to think of what is best for the dog. I do not think that I am always the best home for every dog. Sometimes, I am. Sometimes, I am not.

Especially for a dog who I bought as a titled, trained adult, would she rather split time here with me, sharing house time and play time, rotating between kennel and crate and house and yard, or would she rather live with an active family on 14 acres and a boy to follow around with and guy who loves to play ball and two grandmothers who like to hand out biscuits and a mom who works from home and wanted a companion and guardian?

There are some dogs who I could never part with--it wouldn't make the dog happier and it wouldn't make me happier. But often for a dog who joined me later in her life, I consider it the kinder, better choice to find her a loving, attentive family/person of her own. It would *selfish* for me to keep her--it would be to the detriment of her life, my other dogs' lives, and my own life.

And I tell the new home that this dog can *ALWAYS* come back to me--she has a home here for life if needed--but if there's a better situation elsewhere, that's what I want for her.

**lhczth** · 04-09-2011, 08:33 PM

GSD Xander, that is something I have always wondered myself. Maybe if I bought an older female for breeding I could understand, but even then, I feel sorry for those girls that have gone form one home to another and then to another. I don't breed often. I got Nike at 9.5 weeks. She had two litters, was spayed and she still sleeps on my bed at night at almost 11 years. Vala was born here. She is carrying her 3rd and last litter. She too will stay her life with me as will her daughter and son (who I will probably never breed). I also have a dysplastic daughter or Nike's (Alexis) and she too will live out her life here. I will breed less often or stop producing puppies all together before I will ever get rid of my older females. This is just me. Others must do what they feel is best.

KLCecil · 04-09-2011, 08:52 PM

Well they normally go to great pet homes where they get to be couch potatoes and get a lot of one on one time instead of living in a kennel or with a bunch of dogs fighting for individual attention.
Also is you look at it this way, if a breeder breeds once a year and keeps one pup from each litter (many do) you’re going to wind up with 6-7 other dogs in the house. Eventually it gets a bit crowded.

Emoore · 04-09-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLCecil

Also is you look at it this way, if a breeder breeds once a year and keeps one pup from each litter (many do) you’re going to wind up with 6-7 other dogs in the house. Eventually it gets a bit crowded.

Exactly. If you keep back one pup from each litter, plus your breeding females, plus your retired females, and of course responsible breeders are expected to take back any pups that their owners can't keep for some reason. . . you could end up with a BUNCH of dogs rather quickly. I think it's nice to put the old girls in a "retirement home" where they can be beloved family dogs.

selzer · 04-10-2011, 12:31 AM

Also, if you wait for your last litter to keep a pup from a bitch to go forward with. There is no guaranty that the pup will be breedworthy. So you keep a promising pup from each litter, or from most litters. So you cannot really just keep one or two puppies when your bitches are becoming geriatric.

CaliBoy · 04-10-2011, 04:59 AM

I am not a breeder, but as I read the answers of breeders here, it makes perfect sense to let a retired bitch go to a new home where she will be the Queen and will not have to compete with a lot of other dogs for the attention and love she craves. And for a breeder who has become very attached to the retired bitches, I think it is very kind and heroic of them to put the dog's needs first. Thanks to the breeders here for the answers to a question I had also wondered about.

04-09-2011, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
GSD_Xander Master Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 937	Why do breeders sell "retired" dogs instead of keeping them for life? Something I've wondered with breeder's - and I'm sure someone can answer this - is on a lot of breeder's web sites that I've visited I see a page on the site that lists "retired" dogs for sale (maybe this isn't common practice). I guess what I don't understand is this...when I get a dog it's for life (for the whole life of the dog) and I fully consider them family. However, I see some breeder's listing "retired" dogs that have had a few litters and then they're selling them... I don't get that. Why is it that breeder's can use a dog to make money and then sell it? I mean - I understand that there is a limit to how many dogs one person can handle and give proper attention to at one time so if you want to be constantly breeding then you have to get new dogs but...why not just have fewer dogs, less puppies and keep the ones that you loved and that made you money until they pass on? I'm not trying to start a war here on the forums - it is just something I don't understand and maybe I'm not looking at it right...

04-09-2011, 05:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	If you retire a bitch at 6 or 7 years old, that's another 6 or 7 years you'll be keeping her if you don't re-home her. Pretty soon you'll have nothing but retired bitches and you'll be out of breeding all together. Plus, there's an old truism among dog owners: 'males fight for breeding rights, bitches fight for breathing rights.' You might get two bitches that get along ok, but several? Probably not going to happen. So you're going to have to keep these old bitches separated, both from each other and from the younger ones, which means living out their remaning 6 or 7 years in crates or kennels. A good breeder will spay them and adopt them out to loving homes, where they can be an only dog, or perhaps one of two, that gets to live in the house as a beloved family pet instead of a kennel dog, constantly having to be rotated out and spend a very limited amount of time with her owner. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

04-09-2011, 05:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	I love all my dogs. I rehomed Rushie. I did love him. But he did not produce what I wanted to produce. I kept taking him to training classes, had an RN on him and a TDI. He was just four years old. A person contacted me wanting an adult dog who he could take to nursing homes when he inspected them, that would be good with the residents. I had not considered rehoming Rushie. I absolutely loved him. But I got to thinking. This was going to be a great home for the dog, with a family for just him. It was good for me because it would free up his kennel. It would be better for my other dogs, as the time I spent with him, the classes I took him to, was time I was not spending on them. It was good for the new owner. When he met the new owner a week after the first visit, he walked in and put his head in the guy's lap. I let him go. Not everyone wants a puppy. Some do not want to go through the puppy stage. For some people an older dog is the right choice. Rushie was NOT a reject. He was a well-trained companion dog that I would have been happy to give house room to forever. I am sure he gets more attention than I gave him in his new home. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

04-09-2011, 07:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlackthornGSD Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 1,094	I try to think of what is best for the dog. I do not think that I am always the best home for every dog. Sometimes, I am. Sometimes, I am not. Especially for a dog who I bought as a titled, trained adult, would she rather split time here with me, sharing house time and play time, rotating between kennel and crate and house and yard, or would she rather live with an active family on 14 acres and a boy to follow around with and guy who loves to play ball and two grandmothers who like to hand out biscuits and a mom who works from home and wanted a companion and guardian? There are some dogs who I could never part with--it wouldn't make the dog happier and it wouldn't make me happier. But often for a dog who joined me later in her life, I consider it the kinder, better choice to find her a loving, attentive family/person of her own. It would selfish for me to keep her--it would be to the detriment of her life, my other dogs' lives, and my own life. And I tell the new home that this dog can ALWAYS come back to me--she has a home here for life if needed--but if there's a better situation elsewhere, that's what I want for her. __________________ Christine Blackthorn Working German Shepherds

04-09-2011, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,695	GSD Xander, that is something I have always wondered myself. Maybe if I bought an older female for breeding I could understand, but even then, I feel sorry for those girls that have gone form one home to another and then to another. I don't breed often. I got Nike at 9.5 weeks. She had two litters, was spayed and she still sleeps on my bed at night at almost 11 years. Vala was born here. She is carrying her 3rd and last litter. She too will stay her life with me as will her daughter and son (who I will probably never breed). I also have a dysplastic daughter or Nike's (Alexis) and she too will live out her life here. I will breed less often or stop producing puppies all together before I will ever get rid of my older females. This is just me. Others must do what they feel is best. __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

04-09-2011, 08:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
KLCecil Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Randolph AFB, TX Posts: 244	Well they normally go to great pet homes where they get to be couch potatoes and get a lot of one on one time instead of living in a kennel or with a bunch of dogs fighting for individual attention. Also is you look at it this way, if a breeder breeds once a year and keeps one pup from each litter (many do) you’re going to wind up with 6-7 other dogs in the house. Eventually it gets a bit crowded. __________________ ~Kimberly Cecil~ Cataclysm von Dagg "Jaina"

04-10-2011, 12:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	Also, if you wait for your last litter to keep a pup from a bitch to go forward with. There is no guaranty that the pup will be breedworthy. So you keep a promising pup from each litter, or from most litters. So you cannot really just keep one or two puppies when your bitches are becoming geriatric. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

04-10-2011, 04:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
CaliBoy Master Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 561	I am not a breeder, but as I read the answers of breeders here, it makes perfect sense to let a retired bitch go to a new home where she will be the Queen and will not have to compete with a lot of other dogs for the attention and love she craves. And for a breeder who has become very attached to the retired bitches, I think it is very kind and heroic of them to put the dog's needs first. Thanks to the breeders here for the answers to a question I had also wondered about.

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