Dog breeding is the practice of mating carefully selected specimens to produce specific qualities and characteristics.The skilled breeder has knowledge of canine genetics and health, and the purpose for which his dogs will be used.Breeding can be a slipshod enterprise in which the major concern is profit, with little regard to the health and welfare of the dogs. Breeding is often done by so-called ‘backyard breeders’ (the pejorative term for random or ignorant breeding conducted on a small scale), and ‘puppy mills’ or ‘puppy farms’ (larger businesses). However many small-scale breeding programs in homes, barns, or back yards, as well as large-scale operations, may provide quality breeding programs.
