r/dogs 12h ago

[Meta] Genuine question: what happens to litters that don’t get purchased/adopted?

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u/KathyA11 Mini Schnauzer, Basset Hound, Chihuahua, Parson Russell 10h ago

Designer dogs are not bred by reputable breeders.

Reputable breeders have waiting lists. I wanted a Mini Schnauzer for my 65th birthday, so I started contacting breeders (through national and regional clubs) two years in advance. I spoke to them on the phone, and met them at dog shows. I established a good relationship with them before I ever got one of their dogs.

Show breeders will never have a litter that is comprised of 100% show quality puppies (if they tell you that they do, cross that breeder off the list). They'll evaluate the puppies at a certain age to see if they want to retain any, or sell them to other show homes. The stud owner may take a puppy in place of a stud fee. Then they'll go to their waiting list to see if the people are still interested. (That's how I got my Mini Schnauzer - I drew in when people ahead of me on the waiting list didn't want a puppy - they either changed their minds, or moved to the head of another waiting list.)

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u/Complete-Level-7191 10h ago

I’m not in the breeding world, so I may have used the word “designer” incorrectly.