The American Kennel Club fights to keep puppy mills open. They breed at puppy mills

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44. Here we go again

Every year around Westminster, this discussion starts.

I have had purebred Afghan Hounds for 40 (FORTY) years. I have shown dogs for 40 years. I have been training dogs since I was 6. I LOVE my dogs more than you will ever know. I don't take extended vacations because of my dogs. I am always home by a certain time because of my dogs. I spend money on my dogs (and have for forty years) that could have improved my lifestyle, but the dogs ALWAYS come first. I spend at least 18 hours a week grooming my dogs and much more cooking their dinner, training them, playing with them and picking up after them. I KNOW WHERE EVERY PUPPY THAT WAS BORN HERE IS NOW, and a lot of them have stayed with me. We haven't had many litters because, you see, as responsible breeder is prepared to keep every puppy they breed if necessary. I live in an extremely red section of the state I live in because the dogs can have room to run and play and BARK, because, you see, neighbors SUCK. Their kids can raise nine kinds of hell, all hours of the day and night, but your dog better not bark at all. Oh, and BTW, I do rescue, and have for forty years. We don't get many Affies because they don't act like Labs (they are aloof like a cat), and Af breeders know this and are careful about where any Af goes. Mr. and Mrs. America want a dog that hangs on their every whim, not one that says "Don't bother me now."

Shelter dogs, I have noticed, are usually pits and labs and small dogs. I cruise the sites in case there are Afghans. Lots of shelter dogs have behavior problems and that is why they are in a shelter. This is extremely sad, but until you convince Mr and Mrs America that socialization is necessary, it is likely to remain this way. Show dogs have to be socialized because a perfect stranger comes up to them and touches their most intimate places. Shelter dogs also come from "breeders" (anyone who puts a bitch in heat with a dog and gets puppies is a breeder by definition) that want the money for the dog, but don't want to take it back if the owners can't keep it. They come from people that get a puppy and want to "recoup" their "investment". Shelter dogs also come from people that want a puppy as a new play-pretty for the kids and they, quite frankly, don't care what the kids do to it. When the dog snaps, suddenly he is "vicious". Then there are the people that get rid of a dog because he is "too old", or they have a new baby. This pisses me off, especially when responsible breeders get blamed for it. Then there are the people that couldn't train a dog if their life depended on it and they won't listen to ANY advice, or they seem to and them repeat the same mistakes they made thus reinforcing the bad behavior. I teach a training/puppy socialization class.

Now...purebreds vs. mixed breeds...
I want a purebred because I LOVE THIS BREED!!! I rescued the cutest mixed-breed puppy years ago and gave her to a friend. This dog grew up to be the fugliest dog you have ever seen with some strange personality quirks. If she were purebred, I would know WHAT she is going to look like when she grows up and probably would have had some clue to her personality. If people want a rescue (I often recommend rescue to people looking for a specific breed) or a mix, THAT IS FINE!!!! I LOVE LOVE!!! my Afs. I don't want any other breed even though I like ALL dogs. The rescue dogs that I have kept (I keep some of the old ones so that they can live out their life getting all the perks the show dogs do) ARE wonderful critters. They ARE grateful. One I kept was hilarious with a pile of toys because he had NEVER seen toys. He dived right in the middle and threw toys everywhere. It was GREAT.

This discussion will be hashed and rehashed until doomsday. AR wants ALL animals and animal use gone and they are very good at propaganda. Those commercials? From China. From Mexico.AKC will be on you like stink on shit if you have any cruelty charges brought against you. One prominent breeder that had been wonderful for years had a nervous breakdown and started neglecting her dogs. She is GONE. FOREVER. AKC keeps good breeders in perpetual fear because they WILL come after you.

Once again, I LOVE my dogs MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. I also like steak, cheese, wool, leather and I am NOT prepared to give any of that up for (A)nimal (R)ights. All animals deserve a decent life, but going after people that are trying to do things right will only move them to the other side.