Why do people buy dogs from non-reputable, irresponsible breeders?

So very true!! People buy from BYB becuae they do not want to pay the price for well breed dogs but they want that Rott, or That pit. Most of these BYB and people who buy from them also think grocery store food is great for your pets!!

I think you are making a lot of inaccurate assumptions. Big name breeders are not always any more responsible than "backyard" breeders--someone who has a nice dog who decides to breed a litter or two. Big name, big breeders always use this argument to throw business their way.

I show and breed dogs, and I have known a lot of well known breeders, big names in the breed and active, sometimes officers in the breed clubs, who are totally irresponsible and breed only for profit, although they espouse their responsibility and concern for the breed. Anyone who breeds more than 2 litters a year, in my opinion, is a puppy mill.

Our breed recently had an incident where one of the old-time, big name breeders and one of the founders of the breed and breed club was arrested and had 30 dogs confiscated by animal control. The dogs were in horrible shape, and many of them had to be put down on the spot or later euthanized. Worse, many of the other big name breeders knew of the situation but kept quiet out of friendship/loyalty.

Regardless of where the puppies are advertised, if you want a nice dog, go to the person's home and see the puppies, their parents, and their living conditions for yourself. But remember, not only should the buyer be screening the seller, the seller should be screening the buyer.

Don't be impressed with big breeders' show wins either--a champion before a dog's name doesn't mean squat from a big breeder. Big breeders take 4 or 5 of their own dogs to a small show, where theirs are the only dogs entered, and of course they win--and get their championships, without ever competing against another dog in the breed. OH, there are tricks to the trade, and big breeders know them all. A one-time backyard breeder whose dog is a champion or who has won a national specialty is more likely to produce a good quality puppy than a big breeder. I have observed that percentage wise, backyard breeders produce more champions than big breeders. If a big breeder produces 30 puppies a year and 2 or 3 turn out to be champions, then after 10 years they have produced 20 or 30 champions and every one oohs and ahhs about them, but their percentage is less than 10% champion rate. A back yard breeder who produces 5 puppies and 2 turn out to be a champion has a 40% champion rate. Do the math. I bought one of my dogs from a backyard breeder who had never bred before, and who bred one litter which produced 3 puppies. All three, including my own, are now national and international champions. This "despised" backyard breeder has a 100% champion rate. I'd do it again.

I think thats great but in order to create a stronger argument, you must also consider and defeat any possible counter arguments that people may have. For example, who gets to choose who is responsible ? Where exactly do you draw the line between responsible and irresponsible? (Imagine I Am A Breeder) Who gives someone else the right to decide what I do with my property (my dogs)?

One, because they bought it at a pet store and were unaware (or didn't care) where it came from, Two, to save a few bucks.

But, basically, it's one of the two...don't know any better or don't care.

I'd go one further...Every dog owner who was able, for every pure breed PET (not breeding stock or show dog) that person has, they also get it a mutt companion from the shelter. They'd be empty in no time.

A lot of people think that it is prestigious to be able to say they have a purebred puppy. I think those people a lot of the time have a normal American "I want what I want right now" attitude, and don't want to take the time to research, look for good breeders, and probably be added to a wait list. They just get them where they are available.

Because some people do not think of dogs as living, breathing creatures that have feelings and the ability to feel pain. They think of them as possessions, objects. They want a pure breed so they can brag about the expensive dog they have, but they usually do not care about the animal.

People don't educate themselves on much of anything before they do it these days. Once a person sees a dog they like, they usually do no research on it or breeders and get themselves into problems.

The same reason that people like you just ask questions to rant and make a big debate online where it doesn't even matter. I find this very annoying. People are here trying to get help for their pets and what not. And people like you who already know the answer to your own question obviously are taking away the chances of somebody's REAL question being answered by somebody who knows what they are talking about. Find some kind of blog or something to let out your feelings. Dang

because they are cheap-the people that is