What exactly is a backyard breeder?

A backyard breeder is breeding for money not the betterment of the breed. Their first and main concern is the money they're going to make off this litter. They have no regard for breed standards. If their breeding stock doesn't conform to breed standard and they just keep producing puppies...they have no regard for the breed and indicates their motivation is money. The living conditions of their breeding stock is treated as....stock. They let the puppies go way too early and they spend very little time socializing and handling each one.  They have no vet reference, no groomer reference, no trainer reference, no references of any kind and the reason is they don't do anything with their dogs except breed. They most likely got their dogs for free or on the cheap surfing the internet for people re-homing their dogs. If they find a purebred dog that isn't altered...that's the new breed they are breeding now. 

You can quickly determine what category of breeder you're dealing with by asking yourself these simple questions: 
Does the breeder have a genuine love for and in depth knowledge of aussies and is this love and knowledge clearly evident in their actions? Are they making decisions that will improve the breed or their dogs daily life but not necessarily their bottom line? Upon retirement, do their adults have to be taught how to live like a normal dog? Do they have a mentor in the australian shepherd world or are they winging it willy nilly?

​Backyard breeders suck. Don't be a backyard breeder.