Homebound Dachshunds

We love our dogs, and have spent a lifetime studying their breed, genetics, and health in order to become the best breeder we can be. Our only desire is to produce top-quality pets that are a tribute to their breed, and an improvement upon past generations. The quality of our dogs speaks for itself, and people routinely approach us for puppies. Money-making isn't the objective for us--in fact, we barely break even after we are done with health certifications, and pre- and post-natal puppy care. But, none of these things matters. We are doing it for the love of this breed. Our pups are strong, healthy, and stable. As a responsible person who cares about the welfare of the dogs we produce, we want to be certain that every pup's new home will treat him or her humanely, lovingly, and responsibly. We want to protect our good name, so we offer guarantees on our puppies that also states that if at any time the owner of the puppy cannot or does not wish to keep the dog, we will take the dog back. We love our dogs, and want to make sure that each lives a long, healthy, full life. We keep in contact with our buyers, offering those help and assistance along the way. We feel responsible for our dogs for their lives--whether they are living with us, or in the homes of those who have purchased from us.

Responsible Breeders

Do not sell or buy their pups to or through pet stores. Instead, they personally screen and select homes for their puppies, advise people on caring for the breed, turn away people whose lifestyle, commitment or home situation does not fit the breed, test for and guarantee the health and temperament of their puppies, have detailed documentation of their pups' lineage, demonstrate knowledge about canine health, genetics, socialization and development, and take back their animals at any time and age if the buyers cannot keep them.

* Do not sell multiple breeds of dogs, since they specialize in one or two breeds.

* Demonstrate extensive knowledge of the breed's history, traits, temperament, and conformation. They have years of experience with the breed.

* Keep their dogs as house pets, so they know that the offspring will be good pets as well.

* Value their reputation for seeking to improve the breed. They do not sell pups as a for-profit business. Indeed, many reputable breeders lose money, since breeding and caring for puppies in a responsible, quality-focused manner is typically expensive. They breed only dogs that are themselves good pets and fine representatives of their breed.

* Provide written guarantees covering genetic disease.

* Take back the dog at any point in his or her life for whatever reason the purchaser no longer wants or can care for the animal.

* Provide advice and guidance to purchasers, placing pups only with people who demonstrate they can provide safe, responsible homes.

* Responsible breeders breed their female dog to the best male, not the most convenient one.

* Breeds the dog only a limited number of times; not every heat cycle.

* Line up qualified buyers in advance of birth of a litter.

* Do not separate a pup from the mother and litter before 8 weeks of age. Also deworm and vaccinate their puppies.

* Can provide references from happy puppy buyers.

Pet Shop Problems

Regardless of staff claims that they buy from reputable breeders, nearly every puppy in pet shops comes from a large-scale commercial breeding operation, also known as a puppy mill.

The Code of Ethics of AKC affiliated Breed Clubs discourages members from selling puppies to pet shops. Any breeder who sells to pet stores is not an ethical breeder, since good breeders want to personally interview and educate prospective owners of their carefully bred puppies. As documented by the Companion Animal Protection Society, breed rescues and humane organizations nationwide:

* Pet shops typically buy from brokers who get animals from puppy mills, which are commercial breeding establishments that mass produce dogs for resale. Many puppy mills and brokers are based in the Midwestern U.S. and Pennsylvania, but they are located across the country.

* Puppy mills and pet shops often do not properly socialize their puppies. Many pet shop puppies lack fresh air, exercise, play, and sufficient positive human contact, which help a puppy become well-adjusted.

* Unsound breeding practices can predispose dogs to hereditary afflictions like hip dysplasia, dislocating kneecaps, eye problems, and aggression, as well as genetic conditions such as liver and heart diseases, autoimmune disorders, and seizures.

* Pet store pups and animals from irresponsible breeders typically are not adequately protected from illnesses such as parvo, as documented in news reports and in Animal Court cases. Thus, countless families have endured the heartbreak of seeing their pet store pups eventually become crippled by hip dysplasia, lose their sight due to progressive retinal atrophy, lose their hearing due to congenital deafness, die of cardiomyopathy or suffer from many other breeding-linked disorders from allergies to patellar luxation.

* Pet shop puppies can be prone to parvovirus and distemper. For example, parvovirus symptoms are not immediately detectable, so a puppy with parvo may share a cage with a healthy puppy. Symptoms may not appear for several weeks, and by then the puppy might be in a new home.

* Pet shop puppies typically come into contact with numerous animals at puppy mills and brokers' holding facilities, during transportation, and at pet shops, often exposing them to illnesses and parasites. Transportation stress can make them more susceptible to disease.

* Puppies can also be exposed to disease, infections and parasites at the pet shop/kennel.

* A number of the trucks used by commercial breeders to transport their live "merchandise" have been caught transporting puppies in inhumane conditions, as revealed in local newspaper stories this year and in past year.

* Pet shops do not typically screen buyers. Impulse buyers may not have prepared sufficiently or have a suitable environment for a puppy. Pet shops do not take back dogs from customers who later realize they cannot or do not want to keep the dog for life.

While the problems of puppy mills, puppy brokers and irresponsible breeders continue, we must stress the importance of buying a puppy/dog from ethical, responsible breeders in order to avoid both the health and temperament problems associated with dogs purchased or adopted from poor sources.