[doganjo]

To play Devils Advocate for a moment - not all puppy farms are bad - just nearly all! I have visited one which seemed to be doing a good job for all the animals young and old I must admit I could not find fault.

If you were allowed to visit it is highly unlikely it was a 'puppy farm' - more likely someone who has taken up breeding as a way of making a little money but still looks after their dogs - you said "seemed to be doing a good job for all the animals young and old I must admit I could not find fault".  I used to be friends with someone of that ilk on here and wouldn't never class them as a puppy farm.

A lot of people try to make money from breeding dogs an can only succeed if they reduce costs or increase the selling price.  The only way to increase the selling price is to have winning dogs in field or bench - or find stupid/gullible buyers.  Reducing costs is done by not feeding adequately, not weaning early, not attending to illnesses.

I agree entirely that all breeding should be licensed and that it is high time our MPs pulled the finger out!  And that includes our illustrious 56!!!!!

[Me]

I agree entirely that all breeding should be licensed and that it is high time our MPs pulled the finger out!  And that includes our illustrious 56!!!!!

I agree with the sentiment to an extent. Personally I hate the regulation I labour under as it is and think it is excessive. You are in danger enough of inadvertently becoming a criminal with animal ownership. Would the laws you are calling for see me clapped in irons should my bitch mate with a loose dog when I am not looking because I have not paid a fee to a regulatory body somewhere? Would paying the fee increase animal welfare anyway or just be a burden to normal people?

I spent last Monday night driving the width of the country to the nearest place that offered "training" so I can apply for a transporters authorisation number. We need this to legally transport animals more than 40 miles. It cost £120 fee, £40 fuel and a night of my life. It sounds like a good idea and no doubt well meaning people called for it to be made law that everyone sits a test but is a load of rubbish. The questions are utter nonsense and it does not make anyone a better haulier. To take one eg. "A lamb with lesions on its mouth is MOST likely to be suffering from" I wont insult you by telling you what the actual answer to that question is, but suffice to say the actual answer was not an option in the multichoice paper, the answer they wanted was foot and mouth disease...     

[doganjo]

Would the laws you are calling for see me clapped in irons should my bitch mate with a loose dog when I am not looking because I have not paid a fee to a regulatory body somewhere? Would paying the fee increase animal welfare anyway or just be a burden to normal people?

Allowing your in season bitch to run loose and get caught is as much a crime in my eyes as anything!  no offence as I;'m sure you wouldn't do that, but i feel very strongly about unnecessary dogs being born just for the discarded ones to be killed when they can't be found homes.

[Me]

None taken! (And no this has never happened - yet! Just the opposite actually, now I have a nice stud dog line up my whippet refuses to come in season). 

[doganjo]

None taken! (And no this has never happened - yet! Just the opposite actually, now I have a nice stud dog line up my whippet refuses to come in season).

And I assume you have done all the  recommended KC health tests, the sire is tested too, and you have a puppy list?  Again no offence, all responsible breeders would do this.

[Me]

You are getting a wee bit preachy now I must admit! No offence 

[doganjo]

You are getting a wee bit preachy now I must admit! No offence

Perhaps, I am passionate

[Me]

Well maybe when I achieve world domination I will let you decide who is allowed to breed dogs 

[doganjo]

Ah but I'll maybe get there before you 

Don't you think it's good to be passionate about something?  I hate seeing all these pictures of dogs that are being killed because there are not enough homes to go around. 

Then there are all these labradors that can't walk by the  time they're two - hip dysplasia not tested for because their breeders didn't think it was worth the money or didn't make themselves aware of the problem.

But that's Ok, I won't go on, just forget I mentioned it.

[Kitchen Cottage]

http://www.inbrief.co.uk/animal-law/licences-for-the-breeding-and-sale-of-dogs.htm

[doganjo]

http://www.inbrief.co.uk/animal-law/licences-for-the-breeding-and-sale-of-dogs.htm

Yes this is the law at present - it just isn't strict enough. IMHO

[Kimbo]

...and enforcement is at an all time low as local authorities don't have the money to spend on animal welfare

[smallholdingsister]

Absolutely in agreement that the breeding of dogs should be careful and limited.
I know this is the dogs forum, but there a lot of people who have defective horses that are lame/dangerous and so they...breed from them and produce more lame/dangerous horses.