Breeding
Dogs
Why breed dogs under any circumstance? This is a question that every dog
breeder should ask himself or herself, and a response the prospective buyer
should be concerned with. Dog shelters in the United States euthanized 1.4
million dogs in 2007. Approximately half of these dogs were pit bulls or
pit bull mixes, the balance were spaniels, labs, mutts, and even basenjis.
The basenjis is fortunate, they do not remain in the shelters very long, but a
few are euthanized due to temperament or health issues.
The Basenji fancy
is blessed by genuine concern which the responsible breeders exhibit.
Responsible breeders provide for the long-term welfare of the dogs they
breed, including sheltering the basenjis that they bred that are no longer
wanted. The balance, produced by irresponsible breeders, is fortunate to
have the dedication of many wonderful people who do basenji rescue.
Majorities of these basenjis do end up in wonderful caring homes, but it is a
constant struggle, with more and more basenjis bred and placed carelessly.
These basenjis often have a difficult life, being unwanted and uprooted
before finally finding a place in life with a caring home. We cannot
emphase enough, do not purchase a basenji from the irresponsible breeders,
you are fueling the fire.
The question remains, why breed dogs under any circumstance? Every dog
bred is a factor in the canine overpopulation dilemma which has had
devastating results for the dogs and public.
The prospective buyer in good conscience should insist on a very valid
response.
Why buy a dog from a breeder in lieu of rescuing or adopting a dog otherwise
unwanted and possibly will be euthanized?
We consider ourselves a steward of
the basenji breed and are very much prepared to answer this question. We choose
not publish this answer, advocating a personal response from any breeder. We can tell you though; the response does
not involve the following;
- Breeding to meet the demand for basenji puppies or
breeding so that everyone who wants a basenji can have one.
- Breeding for profit,
business or for personal gain.
- Breeding based on the idea that a female dog must have a litter to be
complete or the experience of raising a litter.
- Breeding solely to produce show dogs.
- Breeding for ego, personal or emotional needs.
None of these responses justifies breeding dogs when there is such an overpopulation.
When we read some of the basenji puppy ads on the pet finder web sites,
boasting of having four or more litters to choose from, we can only ask
ourselves why. Why are they breeding basenjis? 1.4 million Dogs were
euthanized in 2007 and they are producing more. How will they justify
producing these puppies?
If you are considering purchasing a basenji from a breeder, please only
support those breeders who can truly justify the breeding of any dog.
No dog should be a disposable product, to be discarded (euthanized) when no
longer wanted. Nor should any dog be allowed to freely breed adding to the
overpopulation.
Please be a responsible buyer and a responsible owner. Be part of the
solution, not part of the problem.
Breeding Basenjis
Breeding a specific dog breed is part science, historian, art and application of
practical of experience. Breeding basenjis is all this and more. The
basenji breed is unique in comparison to many dog breed in the fact the breed
developed naturally in Africa rather than being a man made dog breed. The
basenji developed in response on the needs of the indigenous people of Africa
for a hunting dog. Nature selected who was fit for this task more so than
Man; dogs which failed simply did not survive. This process ran its course
for thousands of years, bringing forth the basenji. The basenji is still
considered a primitive breed in today’s world, recorded in history for thousands
of years, retaining many of the traits necessary to survive and perform the
tasks which are needed in central Africa.
In the Modern World, hunting with dogs for subsistence living is rare, if not
outright banned by law. The basenji has found the life of comfort. Many
no longer face the tough environment and day to day survival of Africa.
Man has now stepped in as who selects those fit to breed and to carry on the
breed's traits.
A basenji breeder has a great responsibility, a stewardship of a dog breed
created by nature for man's needs. Basenji breeders need to select breeding
stock which retains all that defines the basenji, the whole basenji.
In the Modern World, we established a breed standard to define a breed’s
physical characteristics, including a description of temperament and tasks.
We have conformation shows to evaluate a dog’s adherence to this standard,
hunting trials, agility events to test the dog’s skills and other events to test a
dog’s ability to work with man. Man has created many organized activities
to test our dog’s abilities that were once the basic skills and traits necessary
to assist man in subsistence living and the environmental demands confronted.
Basenji breeders who strive to retain the breed’s skills, traits and
characteristics are involved and support these organized activities to prove out
their breeding stock. When selecting a specific breed of dog, the
prospective owner needs to evaluate what the breeder has done to prove out the
breed’s skills, traits and characteristics. Breeding for the sake of
producing dogs for sale is irresponsible, contributes to the over population problem
and is destructive to the qualities which define the breed. Breeding to
produce dogs which do not conform to the standards of the breed or ignoring any
of the aspects which defines the breed is irresponsible.
As per our previously published breeding policy in 1994, we continue to strive
to breed only the very best basenjis which demonstrate the breed’s skills,
traits and characteristics which define the breed, basenjis which are selected
for longevity, quality of health and a temperament which serves man and the breed's
defined task.
We ask the prospective basenji owner to do their share, please only support
those breeders who adhere to a strict code of ethics which benefit the breed.
Support your local breeder who is knowledgeable in the needs of breed and
boycott all those who breed dogs irresponsibly. Consider the dog
overpopulation problem which plagues North America. Support only responsible dog
breeding.
The Responsible Breeder
There are many ideologies as to what defines the responsible basenji breeder.
The Basenji Club of America has published a
Code of
Recommended Practices created by the extensive effort of the committee
placed in charge of this task and input of the membership.
The Evergreen Basenji Club likewise has it's own
Code of Ethics
Such Code of Ethics or Practices is common with many of the breed clubs.
Membership in such breed clubs is an essential part of the Responsible Dog Breeders
résumé. It places a peer review of the breeder's practices and ethics.
Not all organizations exact such demanding policies. Membership in one of
the many pet breeding associations has little or no influence on the breeder’s
responsibilities beyond care for the dogs and transactions. They do not
address the specific requirements of the breed and fail to provide peer review at a
breed level. These pet breeder associations and their members tend to be
commercial enterprises formed to lobby against regulations imposed at a
national level, such as the United
States Department of Agriculture or at State level against the pet breeding
industry. With 1.4 million dogs euthanized in 2007, the pet breeding
industry need to take a good look at some its member’s practices, and the impact
on the pet overpopulation. Breeding dogs just to supply the demand for
pets is not responsible.
A few breeders in United States claim to have associations or membership with
the American Kennel Club, citing AKC approved or inspected. The AKC does
not have individual members. Nor does the AKC certify kennels or endorse a
kennel or breeder. AKC is a dog registration and event organization,
managed by its event-giving clubs. AKC inspects kennels for registration
accuracy, and will note any animal cruelty or unsanitary conditions which can
result in the breeder loosing AKC privileges. These usually are kennels that
register hundreds of puppies. As AKC continues to take stronger positions
on matters beyond just registration, many of the puppy farmers no longer use
AKC as registry, opting to use other registries.
Even within the breed specific organizations, there is much debate as to what
constitutes a responsible breeder. Issues regarding health, population
management, and long-term obligations are always a heavily debated subject.
The Six basics to responsible breeding are:
Purpose
Quality Control
Population Management
Peer Review
Commitment
Education
Purpose:
For a responsible breeder, every litter bred has a specific purpose. The
purpose includes short and long-term goals. Never are litters bred for the sake
of supplying puppies. A responsible breeder will be able to go into
extensive detail as to what this purpose is and goals they expect to achieve.
Quality Control:
A responsible breeder has a quality control plan. This plan includes the
dogs that they bred, but also includes the premises and methods which the dogs
are raised. A responsible breeder considers all aspects that define the breed,
conformation of traits, characteristics and skills that define the breed, adherence
to the approved Breed Standard. A responsible breeder does
not choose portions of the Breed Standard and ignores other elements, citing
such as only aesthetic, for show dogs or such is not true to the breed history
or ancestry. The Breed Standard is an approved document reflecting the 2/3
majority of the breed's parent clubs membership. A responsible breeder knows this
standard intimately and can often cite many of the provisions by memory.
A responsible breeder evaluates all health issues that confront the breed and
uses research and the tools available to control and reduce the occurrence of
these issues in their breeding and in future generations.
A responsible breeder is a canine behaviorist, knowledgeable of the temperament and
behavior that is characteristics of the breed and is necessary for the skills that define the breed.
A responsible breeder strives to produce dogs that excel in the tasks that
define the breed.
Population Management:
A responsible breeder is very concerned with overpopulation, not only within their
breed, but includes all dogs and the social impact it has on society and canine
welfare. A responsible breeder has a strict spay / neuter policy.
Limits breeding to that which is necessary for the preservation of the breed’s
skills, traits and characteristics.
Peer Review:
A responsible breeder submits to peer-review, by being involved with breed
specific organizations and particitating in breed specific events that evaluate
their breeding practices.
Commitment:
A responsible breeder is foremost committed to the best interest of the breed.
A responsible breeder provides for the long-term welfare of every dog they bred
or helped produce.
Education:
A responsible breeder is both a student and a teacher. A responsible breeder
participates in organizations to disseminate information, events to educate, and
studies all aspects of the breed. A responsible breeder educates the
prospective owner accurately in all aspects of the breed and ownership.
Bryan and Laurie Gregory
Jumoke Basenjis
