The horrors of overbreeding
Time has come to make changes in how dogs are bred

Several of my past articles have dealt with irresponsible breeders and the horrors of puppy mills. As a dog lover there is nothing I like to see more than a well-bred dog that performs up to its breed's intended use. As a dog trainer and canine behavior consultant, I deal first-hand with the behavior problems that can be traced back to improper breeding and socialization of dogs.
I have met both ethical and unethical breeders. Some people say that they participate in dog sports for the love of the sport. Later I find out that their real intention is to win many titles on their dog so they can ask a higher price for the pups. Then again, I have good friends who breed dogs and actually lose money on the litters they produce because they already have invested so much in the health and good qualities of their dogs and puppies.
The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have passed different versions of a farm bill. In an attempt to reconcile differences in the proposed law, it is now in a conference committee of Senators and Representatives. The Senate-approved version contains a provision that has earned the title of Puppy Protection Act. This portion of the proposed law has animal rights groups at odds with the American Kennel Club and members of the dog breeding industry.
This PPA is intended to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture enforce the Animal Welfare Act by encouraging swift and strong actions against repeat violators of the AWA. Backers of the PPA believe that it will also address the problem of incessant overbreeding by commercial breeders. Other supporters of the act believe it will require that dogs be adequately socialized, enhancing their well-being and helping to ensure fewer behavioral problems in the future. Opponents feel that the bill will allow government to intervene where it does not belong by telling dog breeders when and how they should breed and raise their dogs.
One of the groups that has been most vocal against the PPA is the American Kennel Club. According to the AKC, the PPA requires the federal government to set standards for when and how frequently to breed dogs. The AKC believes that the decisions on whether and when to breed should rightfully be made by owners, not by the federal government. The AKC believes the proposed act sets an unnecessary and dangerous precedent for the federal government to attempt to control the breeding of domestic animals.
The AKC is also concerned about the practicality of the federal government establishing and enforcing "socialization" standards for puppies and dogs. The group states on its Web site that there is no basis in current science, and no consensus among breeders, veterinarians or animal behaviorists, as to what constitutes acceptable "socialization standards." According to the AKC, breeders follow myriad practices for socializing dogs and puppies depending on the circumstances in which the animals are kept, the purposes for which they are bred and the differences in breeds and in individual dogs.
The AKC Web site goes on to say that the PPA would impose a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" standard on violators of the Animal Welfare Act, an authority the AKC says the USDA already has. They feel that the act only reduces the discretion of the USDA inspectors to apply the standards of the law in individual cases and to deal with violators. The AKC further feels that the department will be bogged down in bureaucratic requirements and litigation because the PPA will create an incentive for dealers to challenge every violation rather than providing an incentive to come into compliance.
The major problem the AKC has with the Puppy Protection Act is what they cite as the possibility of government intervention into private homes to regulate breeders. The AKC is concerned that the act would allow the USDA to go into hundreds of thousands of individual homes to inspect and regulate the conditions under which hobby and show breeders and ordinary pet owners maintain their pets. This could include how and when dogs fanciers breed and socialize their dogs and puppies.
Backers of the bill, led by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, say puppies that have had human contact are easier to manage and less likely to be abandoned by their new owners. These groups state that the puppy mill industry has mobilized its forces in an attempt to defeat the PPA. They also assert that groups opposing the act are currently circulating false information about the act in hopes of having it defeated.
Animal right groups believe mistreatment of dogs in large breeding facilities is chronic. Many puppy mills provide substandard veterinary care, inadequate food and shelter, and overcrowded cages. Breeding animals that have outlived their usefulness are routinely disposed of.
The HSUS asserts that some breeders treat dogs like breeding machines. Animal rights groups proclaim that many of these dogs are forced to live in puppy mills for their entire lives. The HSUS Web site claims that these dogs are kept there for one reason: to produce puppies nonstop, beginning at a very young age. These dogs are often killed or auctioned off to unknown fates once their reproductive capacity wanes.
Animal rights groups also claim that consumers are defrauded, believing they are purchasing healthy animals. Puppy mill puppies often face an array of veterinary problems after purchase; they may also harbor genetically borne diseases and abnormalities or behavioral problems that do not manifest for years.
My original intention for this article was to try to give a nonbiased view of the Puppy Protection Act. However, after reading the PPA in its entirety, I find myself agreeing with the provisions of the act. There are those who read this column who will not agree with my stance and I respect their right to have their opinion.
However, I believe that the time has come to make changes in how dogs are bred in this country. It is time to put a stop to excessive commercialized overbreeding of dogs and eliminate the puppy mill industry. Whatever side of this controversy you support, you can call your senators and representative via the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and let your voice be heard.
Eamon P. Riley is a professional dog trainer and animal behavioral consultant. For suggestions or comments, he can be emailed at dogmanusmc@aol.com or by calling 689-9483.