I own male and female chins. Why do people assume I want to breed?

[ReneeM]

In this past week I have been asked twice about breeding my chins, and questioned as to why I don't. People seemed shocked that I looked horrified and at the prospect. They told me I could make money on them.

I would never breed my chins. I know nothing about their genetic background, except for one of my boys who came from a breeder. I experienced one litter when Mira surprised me with kits. It was stressful the first couple of weeks, rotating kits, and giving the runt goat's milk. I easily spent $200 on toys/cages and general necessities for the kits before they were weaned. It may have been a bit more. While I did have fun raising the kits, and got my baby girl Marika because of it, I would never have willingly bred her.

I would never be willing to risk the life of Mira, nor Marika for babies.

I explained it to them, and the response was just a general "oh". I still don't think they got it. :rolleyes2:

I just wonder why people think I would randomly throw my chins together to make money?

 

[mishellyshel]

because some people are ignorant both in general and in the world of pet care.

 

[Vyxxin]

Ah, the making money aspect! LOL! When people question me as to whether or not breeding is right for them...I ask them if they enjoy their chins as pets? I then tell them to continue doing so because life is NOT the same for breeding animals (of course I elaborate) Yeah, some people just don't get it.

 

[Jenn]

People don't understand the responsibility around breeding properly. I think people assume that since they see so many cats and dogs (especially) being bred, that this is acceptable and can be done with any type of animal. Of course, that is naive thinking. And I think any knowledgeable breeder will tell you they aren't making a lot of money from the business. There is a lot of time and money invested. People need to be educated and then those kind of remarks won't be thrown around anymore.

 

[ticklechin]

After all I have experienced with rescue chins and the such, I wish I would have just had pets that I got from a reputable breeder and nothing else, I don't rescue or foster anymore and just enjoy having pets to spoil, I can't imagine dealing with all the breeding crud that people deal with. People just don't understand having pets, I get slack because I don't rescue or foster anymore.

 

[Chinmama]

I get that too. As soon as people find out I have a male and a female the next question is almost always "do you breed them?" I have a male and female dog too, but no one ever asks if I breed them...

 

[ShannonLee]

Same thing has happened to me, and I used to explain the genetic issues involved in breeding chins and how it deteriorates the quality of the species.

But then my male chewed his way through a cage divider and we ended up with a kit anyway. Sigh!