Backyard breeding

The term backyard breeder is a general term used to describe people who allow their dogs or horses to procreate regardless of physical, genetic, and/or emotional health. While this term is often reserved for "home breeders", or those who breed for fun, it has also found recognition in the description of unreputable show and working breeders. The latter two groups often focus on one aspect of the dog (such as aesthetic), while ignoring the original function and temperament of the breed. In the process of careless breeding, many backyard breeders produce genetically weak animals that can be predisposed to debilitating physical deformities. When such breeding is carried out on a large scale, the venue is called a puppy mill (especially in North America) or puppy farm. Because of the time and expense of feeding and caring for horses, which produce one foal per year, there are fewer horse breeders who produce animals en masse, though some individuals do engage in animal hoarding and breed far more animals than they can support. Backyard breeding is popularly blamed for the proliferation of aggressive dogs for the sports of baiting and dog fighting. Dog fanciers generally believe that such ill-bred dogs are the reason for the bad reputation of some breeds in the public perception, and the resulting breed-specific legislation. In the horse world, over breeding of grade animals that cannot be sold raises concerns that such animals will be slaughtered for horsemeat.