Whats wrong with BYB?

[hmasummers]

It seems like everyone on here is very against back yard breeders. I have purchased every dog I have ever owned from back yard breeders, or shelters, and so has my entire family (sisters, parents, etc.)
We have owned a Sheltie, Doxies, Boxer, Alaskan Malumute, and a few cocker spaniels all from people who just had two dogs and bred them. As well as several shelter dogs. My step dad had a Choc. Lab. She was not the best dog in the world, but had the biggest heart and was the sweetest dog ever (not a bad dog, I named my daughter after her; Brooke). He paid over $2000 for her and this was 18 years ago. However, all of our other dogs were just as good as her. None had health problems.
Naturally I did the same thing and purchased my GSD from a person who had thier first litter. She is a wonderful dog. She looks amazing, has a great personality etc. As did her parents who I met, they looked like dogs that could be used in shows etc. She seems to have good lines as far as I can tell. However, her parents were never OFA'd, and neither were thier parents but almost all of the dogs above and beyond that line seem to have been OFA'd and were used in competition. She is AKC registered, there was a health gaurentee, a puppy contract to ensure she was going to a good home, she even said she would take any dog back and find them a good home, she also had them vetted etc. I talk to her on a daily basis and she awnsers alot of my questions as best she can!
So why is everyone so against BYB? Is it because of the ones that are bad? Is it because of the hip problems that shepherds have? Did I just get lucky and should never take the chance again?
I mean this thread in no disrespect but I feel like I should either not be on this forum or should be ashamed because I didn't pay $5000 for my puppy and didn't purchase her from someone who had a website!!

[Omar Little]

Most people won't argue that you can't get a wonderful dog from a BYB. You are stacking the odds in your favor if you go with a reputable breeder, but there's no guarantee that the dog from the reputable breeder ends up with health problems and a short life and the BYB dog lives a healthy 15.

That said, it's more about an investment in future of the breed and it's credibility for me. Some of the best breeders will charge 3 to 10 times as much for a GSD as a BYB and still make less profit then the BYB (or take a straight loss). That money goes somewhere... it goes to ensuring the breed standard for years to come. As well intentioned as a BYB charging $200 may be, that can't do the same for the good of the breed as a very good breeder does.

[JackandMattie]

And I rescued all three of my (malnourished, overbred, unsocialized, fearful, aggressive, tick infested, heartworm positive, etc., etc.) dogs from puppymill/BYB backgrounds.

Just sayin'

[robk]

Understanding genetics is a learning process. Some time things work out and I am glad you have had good luck so far with your dogs. When you go to a reputable breeder who understands the genetics of the breed you greatly stack the deck in favor of getting a dog that meets your specific expectations.

[GusGus]

A lot of times breeders who don't take the time to learn the breed, title their dogs, and do the breed appropriate health checks often can have very bad results. You never really know what traits are being bred into your dog as opposed to having all the necessary actions taken into breeding from an excellent gene pool. When purchasing a puppy from a BYB you never know what temperament issues, health issues, genetic diseases are being bred into these puppies. Some of these breeders, BYBs, are in it for the money and not for the betterment of the breed itself. There are lots of people out there that are trying to keep the breed the way it was meant to be or better the breed by trying to breed for excellence and healthy stock. They are a sort of enthusiast of the breed, not just a person who sees dollar signs of their dogs.

Also, if a BYB breeds a litter of puppies that have temperament issues and/or health issues those puppies are way more likely to end up in shelters. A responsible breeder would do their best to ensure these issues do not happen or would most likely take the puppy back if it could not be handled by the new owner.

[Omar Little]

Also, I don't look down on anyone that uses a BYB... just giving my thoughts on why I made my choices.

[hmasummers]

Originally Posted by Omar Little

Most people won't argue that you can't get a wonderful dog from a BYB. You are stacking the odds in your favor if you go with a reputable breeder, but there's no guarantee that the dog from the reputable breeder ends up with health problems and a short life and the BYB dog lives a healthy 15.

That said, it's more about an investment in future of the breed and it's credibility for me. Some of the best breeders will charge 3 to 10 times as much for a GSD as a BYB and still make less profit then the BYB (or take a straight loss). That money goes somewhere... it goes to ensuring the breed standard for years to come. As well intentioned as a BYB charging $200 may be, that can't do the same for the good of the breed as a very good breeder does.

Very good points!!
So basically making sure you purchase a puppy from a breeder is just more likely to get a good dog, and that the breed standard is kept. Whereas with a BYB some may just be mass producing puppies to make money?

[ken k]

my Max is from a BYB, he`ll be 8 years in May, has cost me thousands in medical bills, bloat, EPI, etc, as far as his temperament and intelligence, thats priceless, if i had an opportunity to get another like him, it wouldn't matter where he came from

[Omar Little]

Originally Posted by hmasummers

Very good points!!
So basically making sure you purchase a puppy from a breeder is just more likely to get a good dog, and that the breed standard is kept. Whereas with a BYB some may just be mass producing puppies to make money?

Either for money or as a hobby, not normally breeding for the standard or not anywhere near the level that a high level breeder would. I understand some people can only afford a BYB, but at that point, I would highly suggest a rescue. There's still a lot of puppies that need rescuing as well.

[Ocean]

Nobody looks down on anyone with a BYB because they purchased the pup before they had the knowledge from this forum. And of course people here admire those who rescue dogs and thank them.

This is also a breed forum, and the breed is the GSD. What makes the GSD special is the SV - the parent breed organization in Germany - has stricter breeding standards than any other breed organization in the world. If the SV nor the GSD breeding system exists, over time, the GSD will just become your average pet breed.

Now there is nothing wrong about pets and pet breeds, but what makes the GSD such an exceptional pet or companion animal is precisely because it is the most versatile utility working dog breed in the world. And it only remains a working dog breed because of high breeding standards. My definition of a BYB is someone who breeds without following those standards at least in spirit if not on paper.