Why Breeders Sometimes Place Dogs
This is a question I see A LOT on social media. It is often framed in this quite contentious way, conjuring an image of a breeder discarding a dog once it no longer has monetary value. So what’s the story here? Are breeders regularly casting off dogs once they can’t produce puppies?
Like almost everything in the dog world, there is a significant continuum of answers. There are absolutely breeders that will sell/rehome dogs that can’t breed because they no longer have a monetary value. We could confidently classify these breeders as “commercial” breeders or (more pejoratively) as “mills”. Either way, these are not the hobby breeders who are dedicated to their breed. These are not the breeders who are taking extreme care to find the right home for every pup and standing behind them for their entire life. These are not the breeders who are investing in health care and painstakingly reviewing pedigrees to make the correct matches.
However, those wonderful preservation breeders do still place dogs. Does this mean they don’t *really* care? That their dogs are not *really* part of the family? Of course not. There are several reasons that excellent breeders will place dogs.
A Full House
All too often, the people who are quick to demonize a breeder for placing an adult or retired dog are the same people who will vilify a breeder for having “too many dogs”. What is too many? I would assert this is a very different answer for different households. There are plenty of people that have one dog who spends most of its time outside/tied up without interaction with the family. Walks are few and far between. Vet care is minimal. For this household, one dog is too many.
Plenty of multi-dog households exist where each dog gets tons of time and attention, the dogs are trained and exercised, their environment is enriched, and they live a great life. Different people can manage different numbers. A good dog person knows what they can handle, which is why not all dogs can stay.
Breeders who place a dog after they have contributed to their gene pool and future program are doing so in the best interest of that dog. They will find them the right match with the same comprehensive screening they use to find ideal puppy owners. They know this dog well. They know whether they will thrive with a buddy or would prefer to be the only dog. They know what sort of activity level will suit them best.
Their heart will break as they see their beloved dog off to their new world, feeling the loss more keenly than a puppy for all the wonderful time they’ve spent together. But this decision is made with love. They choose what is best for their dog, to move on to a home that will cherish them rather than selfishly keep them.
Breeders need to keep space in their homes for new up-and-coming dogs. So some will head off to new adventures, and some will stay forever. Regardless of the decision, it has been made in the best interests of the individual dog.
Evaluating Puppies
We can tell a lot by looking at an 8 week old puppy. In many breeds, this is the blueprint for how they will grow up. However, you can’t truly know what you’ve got until a puppy matures. That promising front may fall short. That tail set may not settle in to where you anticipated. Or the bold puppy may end up being a bit more reserved.
Many breeders will “hold back” a pup or two and watch them mature. They will decide whether these pups will be part of their future breeding plans later on down the line. Sometimes, as they mature, they are no longer an ideal breeding prospect. The breeder may then decide to place this young adult in a home.
With limited time and space, a dog who will not be part of a breeding program may be better suited as someone’s beloved pet. Or perhaps a promising dog does not enjoy being shown. The selfish decision would be to continue showing to achieve the breeder’s goals and breed the dog. The selfless decision is to look at this beautiful pup and recognize show life doesn’t suit them and find them a home where someone can enjoy their gorgeous pet.
Hustle and Bustle
Multi-dog households tend to be active and exciting, and tons of fun. Dogs wrestling, going for group hikes, having a blast. However, some older dogs don’t appreciate the chaos. Breeders may be faced with a situation of a beloved retired dog who no longer enjoys the rough-housing. Perhaps an older dog doesn’t get along with a new young addition. Some problems can be managed with crate/rotate - only having certin dogs out together.
In some cases, crate/rotate isn’t ideal. It may mean the older dog is getting less time/attention as time is finite and is now being split between groups of dogs. An older dog may potentially be in danger from rambunctious young dogs.
In some cases, a retired dog will be better suited to a quiet home environment. Somewhere they can relax, knowing they won’t be accosted by an enthusiastic young dog seeking playtime.
The reasons a breeder may place a dog are multitude. However, one thing that is consistent is that all of these decisions are made with the dog’s best interests in mind. Breeder placements can be an excellent fit for people seeking a dog. Not everyone’s life is suited to the high-intensity demands of puppyhood. Some households would rather welcome a young adult who already has some life skills and training. Some households are eager for a gentle, quiet senior dog to share their lives.
Breeders are among the most dedicated dog people out there (assume whenever I say “breeder” I mean “reputable/dedicated/preservation breeder”). They are the ones investing time, money, and significant effort into ensuring there will be excellent dogs available for the rest of us in the future. They balance their time/space/money/goals/plans and always try to make the best choices for their beloved dogs.
