What is a Backyard Breeder?
You’ve heard the term used on numerous occasions, but just what exactly determines a “Backyard Breeder”.  A Backyard breeder is also commonly known as a Puppy Miller, and the same can be applied to Puppies for sale from Pet Shops.  A “Backyarder” is a breeder, registered or not, who decides to breed their bitch or dog with little or no regard to what it is they are exactly doing to both the dogs concerned and the Bullmastiff breed in general

Scenario
You decide you want a Bullmastiff. You’ve heard the name, seen them on the internet and movies, hopefully researched the breed as being deemed suitable for your family and lifestyle and so you begin your search to purchase one. You contact a few Registered Breeders to enquire about the price, the parents, and availability.  You become a little shocked at what the Breeders are asking for their puppies, even though, most of them are fairly consistent with each other, give or take a few dollars, and even more shocked by the questions being asked and that you may just have to be placed on a waiting list for your new friend.  You decide you can’t wait, so you scour the weekend Classifieds, just to double check, and low and behold, there is a litter of Bullmastiff puppies for sale for a quarter of the cost.  You think GREAT!!  You make the call, and there are still some available so you excitedly go and have a look.

Just what might you find?
If you are lucky, you may find an owner who cares very deeply about their bitch, and she appears to be healthy and well cared for.  Without papers though, how can you be sure you are buying a Purebred Bullmastiff? 

More often than not, you will find a bitch who has lived a terrible life by being mated every season, delivering puppies on her own, outside in the dirt or kennel with little if any help or support from her owner.

So, you view the puppies, they all look up at you with their cute little Puppy Dog eyes.  You melt, and you feel that you can’t possibly go home without one, after all, you will be giving this puppy a better life than this you feel.  You hand over your money, take home your pup and you think life is all about to change.  Well, it is, but not necessarily as pleasantly as you had planned!

A backyarder often refuses to routinely worm their puppies every two weeks until it leaves them, you may therefore be presented a pup riddled with worms.  This is detectible by a puppy that has a coat in poor condition, has a potbelly, and is ravishingly hungry all the time and is loose and smelly in its motions.  The worms can sometimes be detected in the stools of the puppy, but not always.

The backyarder more often than not would not have gone to the expense and trouble to ensure each pup has been, vaccinated, micro-chipped and had a thorough examination from the Vet to check for things that can’t be determined otherwise such as heat murmurs, retained testicles (in a male) etc.

Without proper nutrition and care as a new born and young puppy, it may develop all types of diseases,illnesses or complications throughout it's life.

Your puppy’s parentage would be completely unknown as for its pedigree or worse, your puppy is quite possibly a cross bred.  It is often hard for a novice to tell the sometimes only slight differences between Purebred and crossbred Bullmastiff puppies until adulthood!  A black face does not make it a Purebred Bullmastiff, don’t be fooled by that line!  Think of the other breeds out there that display a black mask, such as the Boxer or Rhodesian Ridgeback.

By handing money over to the Backyard breeder, you are keeping this person in the breeding game by purchasing their “sick” or “cross bred” puppies and you are playing a large part of keeping that poor mother breeding, pumping out those pups, season after season as she slowly looses condition and eventually becomes sick herself.

Ethical v’s Unethical
Not all Registered breeders can be deemed “Ethical”.  It is up to you to do your homework and find out as much about your breeder as you can.  This can be done simply by a phone call and/or a visit!  If a breeder is ethical, you will know.

An ethical breeder will have an extensive knowledge about the breed.  They will be able to answer your questions happily and without hesitation.  They know the background behind each one of their dogs, and can produce paperwork, photos and generations of pedigrees behind them.  They only breed with sound, healthy animals that are deemed of a high enough standard that the puppies will proudly carry their kennel name in the Show Ring, as well as for family companions.  Both Pet and Show puppies will come with registered papers either on the Main or Limited Register.  They breed only from stock that are at minimal risk of passing to their offspring, genetic diseases, and would have passed the necessary precautionary tests that are available to do so.

An ethical breeder is with you throughout the entire life of your dog, should you need them

Remember....You Get What you Pay For!
Don’t go for the cheaper option because you think it will save you money. In the long run, your “cheaper option” puppy may end up costing you much more money than you had ever imagined.  Buying a Bullmastiff should be a wonderful experience and a well-planned investment.

Do your homework, attend a few dog shows, ring around the various breeders and visit their kennels.   Don’t be surprised or offended if you are not allowed to go while they have young puppies, this is a precautionary measure to ensure their puppies don’t get sick from something you may have walked in on your shoes or clothing. 

A dog is for life, do your best to ensure it’s a happy one for the both of you.