Dog breeding is a controversial practice, especially because the morality of it is questioned. As followers of Jesus, this is immensely important for our family to think through. I think it could be helpful to get our thoughts out there so that they may help others who have similar questions.
Here are two important guidelines for us as we reason through this question:
1. Humans are image bearers of God
2. Humans are to care for their animals
First, humans are image bearers of God. He created a material world, and created humans to rule and care for his creation. We physically represent him here. In the same way that an image of a dog is not the dog itself, but represents the dog, so we are not God, but we represent him. We are his image in his physical creation.
One of the primary ways we represent him in the physical creation is by creating. Sure, we don’t create ex nihilo (out of nothing) like he did, but we take the raw materials he created from nothing, and we craft them into some pretty amazing things. He made ore, and then we made steel. And then we made buildings and bridges. In this way, we are image bearers of God, as little creators. That’s why he made Adam and Eve and said they are “very good”. Whenever we create something, we are telling the world, “This is what God is like! He is a creator!”
Let’s go ahead and address the push-back: sometimes humans make bad things. I accept this and lament it. After sin entered the world, we became distorted images of God. Oftentimes, sin enters into our creations, and it is a curse to the world, not a blessing.
However, this calls for creating righteously, not ceasing to create altogether. This would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. We should continue to create, but we should be careful to create things that are a blessing to the world, not a curse.
Okay, so this means that the creation of animals, especially creating specific genetics, at its best, is living out life as image bearers of a creating God. By understanding genetics and creating beautiful dogs that we can call “good”, we are “playing God” in the best possible sense.
Second, humans are commanded to care for their animals. This is God’s wisdom according to Proverbs 12:10. A gentle and caring man is going to be gentle and caring even for animals, because he is himself gentle and caring. But a wicked man will be cruel.
For us, this means we pay attention to what our dogs eat - we don’t want them living off the equivalent of a McDonald’s diet. A bad diet affects them the same it affects humans. When they eat well, they have more energy and have better looking coats.
It also means that we recognize that they are social animals. They get plenty of time with other dogs, chickens, and humans on a daily basis. They spend a lot of time hanging out with our chickens and kids in the backyard. They also spend time with the family on the couch.
We recognize that dogs (especially young dogs) have a lot of energy. Our dogs are not cooped up in a pin. They travel with the kids from the backyard to the house throughout the day. They go on walks with the family around the neighborhood and meet our neighbors.
Overall, I lament that not all dog breeding is what I would consider moral, but we are committed to loving our dogs. We are in the business of making family dogs for dog families where they will be cared for and loved.