TL;DR – Dog breeding is a problem because breeders lie, the AKC doesn’t do their job, and overpopulation will never end.

The argument that there are plenty of dogs living in shelters and that it is completely unnecessary to buy a dog from a breeder because of this will always hold true. The more dogs there are without homes, the more of a problem it is to bring dogs into the world who are not guaranteed a stable one.

Breeders perpetuate the myth that you will be getting a superior pet when you buy a purebred dog from them rather than adopting from a shelter. Breeding is in fact a business and that is the ultimate selling point – a lie. Purebred dogs may be able to avoid health issues in special cases, but it really is dependent on the dog. There is no hard evidence against adopting from a shelter for health related reasons and ironically, at least 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred anyway.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is regarded as the authority for breeding dogs and purebred standards, but a lot of their certifications even show to be lenient with breeders’ “puppy-mill like conditions.” Even with all of their certifications, a lot of breeders prove to be irresponsible and use reckless breeding practices that cause abnormalities while the AKC isn’t even held responsible.

Though breeders could love their dogs the same way shelter volunteers do, many continue the practice without addressing the issue of overpopulation. Euthanization should be enough of an argument against breeding for anyone.