I thought this article was thought provocking and worth posting, there are two pages with a link on the bottom of page one, quite lengthy but interesting.
http://www.k9obedience.co.uk/dogbreed/breeding/designerdogs.html

Nothing really provoking about this piece.
Truth and good reading.
Thanks for the link.

I wouldnt getting a rescue dog was more ethical than getting a puppy from a good breeder , but interesting article .

Good article, but pity they glossed over the fact that the originators of the breeds we know today would have culled their puppies ruthlessly.  Any obviously deformed, weak or not what the breeder was looking for would not have survived, they would have been 'put down' as soon as the fault was detected.  They simply would not rear pups for the sake of it.  Any 'poor doers' would not have been helped but allowed to fade or helped on their way and if the litter was considered too large it would have been reduced, only the absolute best of the litter surviving.

Then of the adults remaining, only the absolute best would have been bred from.

A far cry from breeding practices today, especially the designer dog breeders, where pups = profit :(  And who can forget the outcry at the suggestion 'that programme' gave of breeders culling puppies ?

Today's puppy buyer wants a perfect and healthy pup but doesn't want the breeder to be responsible and not rear deformed or sick puppies, which leaves a dilemma, when the breeder can only breed from the best to produce the best.

Certainly well worth reading. :-)