There are many sites (including this one) that list traits common to ETHICAL breeders. But what are the traits common to BAD breeders? I scanned sites of breeders that lacked the ethical breeder criteria as laid out in the PBOA Breeders Code of Ethics and noted what they had in common:

Bad breeders....

1) make claims about their dogs being "the best", "superior", "super", "amazing", "top of the line", and a long list of other adjectives YET offer no PROOF of their claims. What makes a dog "super" or "amazing"? Apparently nothing other than claiming it is so. Bad breeder sites never include a list of dog show, weight pull, obedience, or working trial wins/titles.

2) may or may not state something like, "..all dogs/pups up to date on shots and have certificate of health from a veterinarian". But NONE of the bad breeder sites I looked at mentioned anything at all about health certifications such as OFA, PennHip, brucellosis-/vWD-negative, CERF, etc. In speaking with some of these breeders, they either did not know what such tests were or claimed they didn't need them.

3) many times boast a bloodline named after a famous modern-day gangster or a sharp-edged cutting implement. I have yet to find an ethical breeder who boasts either of these bloodlines.

4) brag about the size of their dogs and that size is always grossly over the UKC & ADBA standards' recommendations for the breed. These brags usually mention head size and chest width as well as weight (75, 80, 95+ pounds).

5) charge obscene amounts of money for puppies. I've seen some bad breeders asking $5000 for unproven pups from unproven stock (..." a fool and his money are soon parted"...). Again, claiming that your dogs are top of the line and "the best" doesn't make them so. The going price for a GREAT dog from an ETHICAL breeder is about $500-800 for UKC or ADBA and about $800-1000 for an AKC dog.

6) use color as a major selling point (such as "Monster Blues"-- blue is a BIG time fad color right now and all the rage with bad breeders who capitalize on the market's demand for blue). Blue is JUST a color and NOT indicative of a dog's q

7) may enter "expos" that are sponsored by other Bad Breeders. Their dogs cannot compete in UKC or ADBA-sponsored events and actually win, so holding their own events is the only way to go. I recently visited the site of a "notorious" kennel who claimed their dog won "Best In Show". I dug a little deeper and discovered that the "show" at which the dog won Best In Show was an expo hosted by other Bad Breeders. This wasn't a recognized show and the award certainly doesn't mean anything to the dog fancy at large; its only significance is that which is placed on it by the unethical breeders who created the award to begin with.

8) may cross in dogs of other breeds to create merle-colored or grossly oversized dogs. The ADBA recently adopted a policy that forbids the registration of merle dogs not only because of health problems associated with the color but also because merle dogs are suspected to be MIXED BRED DOGS. Also, many Bad Breeders today are producing huge, mastiff-looking "pit bulls" that do not even begin to conform to the UKC or ADBA standards. It is likely that such breeders achieved size in their dogs by crossing in dogs of mastiff or bulldog breeds. Pit Bulls are medium-small to medium sized dogs. They have medium bone density and their "proper" weight is under about 60 pounds. They should not be overly bull-doggy as many of these Bad Breeders' dogs are. Compare ADBA or UKC conformation champions to some of the dogs belonging to Bad Breeders and you will be hard-pressed to even identify them as the same breed.

9) sell indiscriminantly. They require little if any information from potential buyers and sell dogs to whomever has the money.

Bad breeders are ruining the Pit Bull breed. Not only do they produce large quantities of dogs in a world where thousands of Pit Bulls die weekly due to lack of homes, their dogs are poor representatives of the breed. Temperament and physical conformity to the recognized UKC and ADBA standards are sacrificed to appeal to the fad crowd that wants in on the "bad ass Pit Bull" craze. These people known nothing about the breed, nor do they care to learn. They sell to irresponsible owners who in turn begin to breed, do not provide their dogs with adequate care/training/confinement, and present a bad image. Bad Breeders are not responsible for the dogs they produce, and the dogs coming out of the yards of such breeders are making headlines by way of attacks on people and other animals.

Speak up for Pit Bulls! Don't let Bad Breeders continue to destroy our breed. Educate yourself. Educate others.