29/10/2026
AM I A PUPPY FARMER? And what actually makes a responsible breeder? 🐾
It's an uncomfortable question, but perhaps one worth asking.
In the dog-breeding world, labels can be thrown around rather freely. A breeder might be judged by the number of dogs they own, the number of litters they produce, their facilities, their health-testing protocols or whether their breeding practices align with someone else's personal philosophy.
But is responsible breeding really that simple?
I have spent the last seven years breeding Border Collies, and before that, 18 years of breeding and competing at the highest levels successfully with Alpaca.
I take the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world seriously, and I am continually learning, researching and refining my breeding program.
I don't claim to know everything. I don't believe any breeder does.
But there is something I do believe strongly: we should be very careful about how we judge other breeders.
WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT OTHER BREEDERS?
I am often asked to recommend other Border Collie breeders.
I take that responsibility seriously. A recommendation can influence where someone finds a companion who may be part of their family for the next 12–15 years (hopefully more).
I don't simply hand out names. I make distinctions about what I actually know.
For example:
1. This breeder has lovely dogs and, from what I have seen, appears to raise their puppies well.
2. This breeder has lovely dogs, but I don't know how they raise their puppies.
3. This breeder follows excellent puppy-raising protocols, but I don't know enough about the quality, health or temperament of their dogs to comment.
4. This breeder is a person of honesty and integrity whom I genuinely like and respect, but I don't know enough about their dogs or puppy-raising practices to recommend them on those grounds.
5. This breeder has a large number of dogs, but I have no evidence or reason to suggest that their care or breeding standards are substandard simply because of the number of dogs they own.
There is a difference between liking someone, admiring their dogs and having sufficient knowledge to recommend their breeding program.
I won't pretend to know things I don't know.
BUT WHAT ABOUT BREEDERS WHO HAVE HAD WELFARE ISSUES?
I am aware of situations involving serious puppy welfare concerns, including parasite infestations that have resulted in multiple puppies requiring intensive veterinary care and, in some cases, longer-term consequences.
These are not trivial matters.
Regardless of how beautiful their dogs might be or what their competitive success may have been, I would not recommend those breeders to someone seeking a puppy.
However, I don't go around branding them as puppy farmers.
There is a difference between recognising genuine welfare concerns, making informed decisions about whom I recommend, and publicly attaching a damaging label to another person.
I also don't believe in endorsing breeders whose practices give me legitimate reason for concern simply because they are popular, have impressive pedigrees or produce some attractive puppies.
WE ALL LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES.
No breeder knows everything. No breeding program is beyond improvement. We all make decisions based on the knowledge, experience and evidence available to us.
Responsible breeding requires continual learning, honest self-assessment and a willingness to change our practices when new information becomes available or situations change.
It also requires honesty about what we know and what we don't.
I don't expect everyone to agree with my breeding philosophy. Nor do I expect everyone to make exactly the same decisions I do.
But I do expect that we can have informed discussions without resorting to personal attacks, assumptions or labels.
SO, WHAT MAKES A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER?
For me, it is the bigger picture.
The health and welfare of breeding dogs. Thoughtful selection of breeding partners. Understanding genetics and inherited risks. Temperament and physical soundness. Appropriate nutrition and veterinary care. The environment in which puppies are raised. Their physical, neurological and behavioural development. Honest communication with prospective families. And a willingness to accept responsibility for the dogs we produce throughout their lives.
A large number of dogs doesn't automatically make someone a puppy farmer.
A beautiful litter doesn't automatically make someone a responsible breeder.
A collection of health certificates doesn't tell you everything about a breeding program.
And someone's reputation doesn't necessarily tell you everything about their practices.
Look beyond the labels.
Ask questions. Seek evidence. Make informed decisions.
And before publicly condemning another breeder, perhaps consider whether you would be comfortable having every decision you have ever made examined with the same intensity.
Responsible breeding deserves scrutiny, but it also deserves fairness, honesty and perspective.
"My mission is to make life better for at least one dog today!"
Linda Pendlebury
Follyfoot BorderCollies
(Re-posted and edited from another breeders page, clearly, one who’s values I personally admire 😊)
