Crazy6corgis Position Statement on Criteria for Responsible Breeding: and how we meet those criteria

Because there are homeless animals awaiting adoption in almost every community in the nation, the ASPCA firmly believes that when people decide to bring a pet into their homes, they should first consider adoption from a shelter or rescue group.

Here at Crazy6corgis, we agree. Our family has several rescue pups and until we fell in love with the corgis breed, we’ve always had “pound puppies” — Mitzi, the OG pound pup from when I was 8-years-old; Buddy, a gift from a vet I worked for in high school; Sheena, a gentle but scary looking black dog with a wolf-like face and a snaggle tooth; Nala, a blue heeler mix; and Rosie, a tiny but fierce Chihuahua who will rip your pinkie toe off with whats left of her bare teeth. However, sometimes a very specific set of standards and behaviors is wanted in a dog, and for us ( and many thousands of others) the Pembroke Welsh Corgis is the only dog that will do.

Those who choose to purchase a pet should visit a responsible breeder, a term whose meaning is explained further below. The ASPCA recognizes that there is a demand for purposefully bred dogs, and they know that there are dog breeders who share a vision for humane communities in which all animals are treated with respect and kindness. These breeders reject the practices of commercial breeders, brokers, pet stores, auctions and others who profit from cruelty and instead plan breeding carefully, place dogs thoughtfully, and take a lifetime responsibility for the animals they have bred and for all of their offspring. I proudly count the gang at Crazy6corgis as members of this community of humane and responsible breeders.

Responsible breeders provide their dogs with a high quality of care, which includes:

• Providing all dogs with quality food, clean water, proper shelter, exercise, socialization and professional veterinary care. Check

• Keeping dogs clean and well-groomed. Check

• Raising dogs intended to be pets in a home environment. Check

• Prioritizing the wellbeing of the mother dog (and the father too, where applicable) by developing a breeding plan for each dog based on the dog’s age and health, in consultation with their veterinarian. Check, we use Dr. Bell, a reproduction vet in Castroville (a bit of a drive for us but totally worth it).

• Safely handling puppies daily and socializing puppies with other dogs and people of appropriate ages. Check

• Placing dogs or keeping dogs as pets that are unable to breed, dogs who are unsuitable for breeding or dogs who have been returned. Check

• Not subjecting dogs to permanent physical alterations that are done solely for cosmetic purposes. Mostly check, we do doc the tails according to the breed standard unless the puppy family states in advance a preference for a long tail.

• Ensuring that puppies are gradually and fully weaned before being placed. Puppies should not be fully weaned before 8 weeks old unless there are medical or behavioral reasons to do so. Ideally, puppies are placed when they are between 10-12 weeks of age. No check, we follow other guidance for weaning at 8 weeks (as do most breeders and Dr Bell agrees), and we place our pups between 8-12 weeks, which Dr Bell also agrees with.

Responsible breeders strive to breed dogs who are most likely to result in happy and healthy pets. They:

• Prioritize health and function over appearance. Super check

• Screen for heritable traits that could negatively impact puppies, and only breed the heathiest and most physically sound and behaviorally stable dogs. Check

• Reduce the risk of offspring suffering from an inherited disorder by not inbreeding dogs (parent to offspring or sibling to sibling). Check

• When placing a puppy or adult dog with a known heritable issue, disclose all relevant information to the new family and ensure the dog is spayed or neutered prior to placement (or that the purchaser is contractually obligated to spay or neuter within a designated time frame and follow up to confirm that the surgery is done). Check

Responsible breeders are transparent and provide a complete history of the dog. They:

• Encourage prospective owners to visit where dogs are bred and raised, meet the litter and preferably both parents (but at least one), and discuss their breeding and sales practices. Check, except when COVID has made us all crazy!

• Provide accurate and reliable health, vaccination, and pedigree information. Check

• Prepare an adoption/purchase contract in plain language that spells out the breeder’s responsibilities, adopter’s responsibilities, health guarantees, and return policy. Check

Responsible breeders commit to ensuring all dogs they breed are provided a good home by:

• Using waiting lists or other strategies to assess that there are quality homes available for their dogs before breeding. Check

• Committing to making a good match between the owner and the dog by sharing the characteristics and needs of the specific dog (and breed if applicable) and understanding a prospective owner’s expectations. For this reason, they only sell animals directly to prospective owners and not via a third party or broker. Check

• Serving as an ongoing resource for new owners and being able and willing to take back or rehome an animal if needed for any reason at any time. Double check, please call us if your pup is not a good fit, we will happily take them back, no matter how old they are!! We already don’t want them to leave in the first place, we’ll take them back in a heartbeat.

Responsible breeders care about the welfare of all dogs, which they demonstrate by:

• Altering pets prior to sale or securing a commitment from the owner to spay or neuter (if health or age prevents altering at the time of sale) and following up to ensure that the surgery is done. Check

• Educating prospective buyers and others in their community about the risks of buying dogs from commercial breeders, stores and websites. Check

• Supporting laws and policies that ensure breeder transparency, quality of care and accountability. Check