is dog breeding ethical?

Anyone wanting to get a dog would need to ask the important question. Should you adopt from a shelter or buy from a breeder? Despite the misconception that buying dogs from breeders is wrong, there are advantages to it. Whether you are adopting or buying, it’s important to understand that each of these has its pros and cons. 

At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, we will educate you on the benefits of getting your puppies from a reputable dog breeder like us. We hope that this article will help clarify any misconceptions you may have. We also aim to help explain why buying from breeders can be beneficial without you feeling guilty at the end.  

Some people would agree that there are plenty of dogs in shelters. They are euthanized instead because no one wants them and some people keep on breeding dogs for money. Remember, when we say credible breeders these are the trusted ones. They have built a reputation for themselves in the industry because their clients trust them. Their customers respect their work because trusted breeders follow moral and ethical breeding practices. These are the kinds of dog breeders who are not after the money but rather the welfare of their client and their dogs. Reputable breeders are those who meticulously do the work to make sure that breeding standards remain high and the dog’s health is prioritized. They also aim to improve the lineage of the dog and avoid genetic issues as much as possible. 

Dogs from breeders are part of a solution and not a problem. By the end of this article, we hope that you have a better appreciation for dogs from breeders and be open-minded in getting from them. 

Credible Breeders Follow Ethical Standards

It is a known fact that there are breeders out there who are in just for the money. These people don’t care about the pet’s health and future well-being. They will keep on using the dogs for breeding so long as they can produce offspring. Once they are old, they will just be left in the shelters. According to Paws.Org, 90% of the puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. Backyard breeding and puppy mills are a problem in the breeding industry. The animals produced from these facilities do not undergo the right medical checkups. They are often placed in over-populated and dirty pens. These poor animals are produced for profit alone. In addition, in most cases, the so-called breeders lack the basic knowledge when it comes to responsible breeding. 

Responsible breeding, on the other hand, is different. We at Stokeshire make sure that we follow ethical practices all the time. This also means that we carefully vet our clients to make sure our dogs will not be delivered to undeserving homes. Breeding our dogs isn’t just a business or a hobby, we make sure that we stand firm with our mission - to breed to health, temperament, beauty, and trainability. We carefully select our breeding team to produce high-quality litters. When choosing the parents, the following are taken into consideration. 

• Puppies that can sustain eye contact 

• Easily trained and affectionate 

• Confident, calm, and does not get startled easily 

• Highly focused and eager to please 

• Can be handled even by strangers

Since the parents are vetted carefully, it’s easier to trace the litter’s lineage. Possible health issues can be avoided or anticipated. Now that we’ve established the importance of getting a puppy from a credible breeder and not just any dog breeder, learn the benefits of dealing with trusted breeders. 

Major advantages of buying from a reputable breeder

Below are the important advantages of getting your dog from a trusted breeder. This is why research must be done first before taking home a pet. 

Health screening and the dog’s well-being are prioritized

Dogs from shelters and pet shops can be susceptible to health issues without the proper health screening. If you are getting a dog from a breeder with trusted credibility, you are assured that genetic testing and health checks were done. At Stokeshire Designer Doodle, we make sure that all our parents' dogs have undergone a medical background check before the breeding process. This is done through our partnership with EmbarkVet. This is essential in reducing any possible genetic disorder that could be passed on to their litters. This gives the puppies the best chance of living a healthy and happy life. What makes us different from other breeders is that we offer a three-year health guarantee. 

In-depth knowledge of the breed’s characteristics and temperament

One of the advantages of having a credible partner to work with is their wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to breeding. These are the people who have committed time and energy to learning about the dog’s characteristics and temperament to work with them better. These trusted breeders also use their in-depth knowledge to properly vet the right people for those puppies. We offer puppy assessment testing with professional trainers. Additionally, we guide pairing to families. 

At Stokeshire, we have dedicated our lives to making sure that we are well-equipped the handle and breed designer doodles. As the saying goes, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ These dogs give us immense power and privilege but with it comes some heavy duties. 

Lifetime support and guidance are provided by reputable breeders 

Whether you are a first-time dog parent or not, it would give you some peace of mind knowing that there are people you can count on in times of need. There are also viable resources that you can access anytime. If you visit our website, our blogs represent a wealth of information that could guide you. We also provide online education and training videos to better guide pet owners on how to look after their puppies. You can also email us to ask for inquiries or support, our team will get back to you promptly and help address the concern. 

Limiting the issues with rescue dogs 

If you are getting dogs from a shelter or rescue house, you should be aware of the possible behavioral issues. Remember that these dogs were raised for money. It’s more likely that they have not undergone proper training at all. Their breeders probably think that enrolling these puppies in training schools is just an additional cost. Their profit will be cut back. Apart from possible health issues, these puppies could also be suffering from previous traumas. As a result, their temperament could be an issue for anyone adopting them. This could be still addressed but it will take a lot of your time, money, and energy. Without knowing the background of the puppies, you may be putting yourself into a deeper responsibility. 

Moral and ethical considerations: Trusted breeder

Why would you feel guilty at all if you know that you’re getting your puppy from a credible breeder? You know that these people have followed the moral and ethical standards of breeding and raising puppies. You are helping out the canine community. To be considered a trusted name in the breeding industry, it must take them years to build their name. In addition, they should have been providing quality service and have been receiving good feedback. These are the kinds of breeders who take into consideration the preservation and improvement of future breeds.   

How to Help Dogs in Shelters?

The ones stated above are just a few of the advantages of buying dogs from breeders. Let’s say you finally decided to get yours from a breeder but still want to help those in the shelter. You can check for opportunities to volunteer. You can spend your time doing voluntary work for dogs in rescue shelters. In addition, if you have some spare money, use it to buy essentials for these rescue dogs. If you don’t have the time and money, you can still help by advocating for ethical breeding practices. Help raise awareness against puppies in mills. 

Get yourself educated and make an informed decision 

In conclusion, there are plenty of misconceptions about buying dogs from breeders. If you plan to be a responsible pet owner, the right thing to do is to get yourself educated first. Take time to research rescue dogs and dog breeds by trusted breeders. This is essential so that you can make an informed decision without feeling guilty about it. If you still have some doubts about responsible breeding, check out our website. Learn about our story, our mission, and our brand. We hope that it will help enlighten and encourage you to give breeders like us a chance to deliver happy and healthy puppies that will change your lives forever.