Glossary

Backyard breeder

A person who breeds dogs casually, usually without health testing, breed knowledge or a plan for the puppies; not a puppy mill, but often a poor source.

Also called: backyard breeding, casual breeder, accidental litter, irresponsible breeder, oops litter

A backyard breeder is someone who breeds dogs informally, often just because they have a female and a male of a breed, or for a little extra income. They usually do not test the parents for inherited conditions, do not know the breed's faults, and may sell puppies with no contract, no support and no plan to take a dog back.

The scale is small, and the dogs may be well kept in a home, so a backyard breeder is not the same as a puppy mill. The problem is the lack of knowledge. Puppies can have avoidable health issues, and unplanned litters add to the number of dogs entering shelters. Registration papers do not fix this, since a litter can be registered without any testing.

Check how a dog breeder answers questions about health testing, the parents and what happens if you cannot keep the dog. If the answers are vague, look elsewhere or consider a dog rescue.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Dog breeder A person who plans and raises litters of puppies; a responsible breeder health tests the parents, follows a breed standard and stays involved with each puppy. Puppy mill A large-scale breeding operation that puts profit above the welfare of its dogs, producing puppies sold through pet stores, brokers or websites. Health testing The screening of breeding dogs for inherited conditions, such as hip, elbow, heart, eye and DNA tests, whose results are shared with buyers. Purebred A dog whose parents and ancestors belong to one recognised breed and are recorded in a registry, so its ancestry can be traced on paper.