Choosing and breeding dogs responsibly
In this activity young people look at some of the myths surrounding the breeding of dogs and the rehoming of dogs from animal centres.
Young people will develop the understanding that:
- it is not cruel to deny a dog having puppies
- having a dog from a pup does not make him/her more loyal and faithful
- most animal centres have strict rules about the homes they will allow their dogs to go to so the dogs go to suitable homes with responsible owners. The young people can use these rules as a guide to what we mean by responsible dog ownership.
Before completing this activity, please ensure you have completed both:
This session is most useful for young people who have dogs who they love and admire, or who hope to get a dog, but you are concerned that they are either going to source a dog from an unsuitable ‘breeder’, or that they plan on using their dog for breeding. It is unlikely to have any impact on a young person who has been keeping a dog specifically for illegal dog fighting or who is heavily involved in gang warfare. If you are working with someone who has been involved in illegal dog fighting, refer to The incident section in Breaking the chain in the first instance.
