Is there a difference between a licensed kennel and a hobby breeder?

[Snowshoe]

Breeder websites can look really great and say all the right things, and still be a poor breeder. Your local Lab Club should have a list of vetted, ethical breeders as well as a volunteer that can help you navigate your local web of breeders.

The opposite can be true as well. They can have poor websites, or none, but be good breeders. They can't be good at and have time for everything, the website can suffer.

[smartrock]

The provisions for kennel licensing are probably locally determined. In our county, if you have more than 3 dogs, rather than individually license the dogs each year, you're supposed to get a kennel license. If you breed, sell, or trade dogs, or have more than 25 dogs in your kennel you may be subject to inspection by the health department and animal control. So, if you have a kennel license because you have more than 3 dogs, I suppose you could say you're a "licensed kennel". It has nothing to do with the quality of the dogs or the kennel, just the number of dogs you have.

[annkie]

What if a breeder literally has a kennel? I came across one online who was describing his licensed kennel and although it sounded like physically the dogs are taken care of it turned me off. I guess I like the idea of a breeder having the dogs they breed as family members not just puppy producers.


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[annkie]

The opposite can be true as well. They can have poor websites, or none, but be good breeders. They can't be good at and have time for everything, the website can suffer.

Man, a good website is so important these days though. My background is in web design and every time I see a bad site it takes all of my will to remain open minded and not click that X.


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[JenC]

A lot of the terminology and stuff that goes along with breeders and their business can be overwhelming I think finding a breeder that raises dogs in a way that is comfortable for you is key. It can take a bit to weed through the BS. Some of the best breeders I know of in the business never talk about licensed kennels or champion lines. Find some breed clubs in your area, go to some shows or join the lab clubs, get to know the breeders, you'll find a good one pretty easy. Look at some good breeder websites to get a feeling of what they should say so you can weed out the BYB's dressing themselves up.

[Annette47]

What if a breeder literally has a kennel? I came across one online who was describing his licensed kennel and although it sounded like physically the dogs are taken care of it turned me off. I guess I like the idea of a breeder having the dogs they breed as family members not just puppy producers.


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Completely depends on what you are comfortable with, but it’s worth at least having a conversation with them about their practices. Just having a kennel is not necessarily a bad thing, depending on how it is used. I know a few breeders with kennels, and practices vary widely. For example, I know of one whose dogs are almost exclusively in the kennel - she has a toy breed as a house dog. Another keeps some dogs in the kennel and some in the house at all times, and rotates through who is in the house - when you have 8 dogs, it can be a bit much to have them all in the house all of the time. Personally, I wouldn’t want more dogs than I could comfortably keep in the house with me, but I don’t think that it means it’s a bad breeder or bad dogs if they spend some time in a kennel.

[Tanya]

What if a breeder literally has a kennel? I came across one online who was describing his licensed kennel and although it sounded like physically the dogs are taken care of it turned me off. I guess I like the idea of a breeder having the dogs they breed as family members not just puppy producers.


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I would inquire on if the dogs actually live indoors if this is a concern. Some breeders have a kennel as a business but THEIR dogs live in the home with them.

If their own dogs live in the kennel....i'd ask if the litter is raised indoors (with mom) the entire time. If so (and ALL other things are done live proving dogs and clearances and working with the litter) - then it's more a question of personal taste (assuming dogs get plenty of hours out and about with their humans. But I agree I prefer to go with a breeder who's dogs live in the home.

As mentioned above I have heard of many rotating indoor dogs and the humans spend the bulk of the day out with the dogs (if their job is running the kennel).