Gonna visit a serious ACD breeder soon.. Will he look down at me and my dog? :[

There's a registered ACD breeder living only about 2 miles away on a ranch.. I found his website, gave him a call, got his address, and we'll visit his ranch soon. I'm not interested in puppies but I would like to get this guy's personal experience with ACDs...
Thing is the breeder I got mine from isn't registered and her tail is docked.. I feel like when I go there with mom the guy is going to think we're trash or something. I've never met a breeder of champion anything before. On the phone when he asked where I got mine from, I told him, and he didn't say anything. :L
http://www.castlebutteacds.com/index.htm

There's stuff on there I don't even understand.. All the titles for the dogs and stuff, I see the same thing on horses that do show. Looks like alien writing to me... I'm such a chump compared to the breeder.. I really feel like when we go he's gonna look down on us...

Have any of you BYCers met serious dog breeders before? They're not mean right...?

I'd also like to say I did not get Clementine from a dirty ol' backyard breeder... The woman's name was Eva, she was at a park with her kids when I got the puppy but her dad was there, they were Hispanic, they had a super lovely home, huge ranch, show horses, goats, and cattle. Also a lot of cactus growing in one portion of their ranch.. Anyways the parents didn't have that ugly upward face that some cattle dogs have, they looked really good but their tails were docked. Definitely not show dogs but working dogs.
When he asked on the phone about where I got my pup from.. He asked it like he expected me to give him a name and he'd know who it is. I just said the town and he didn't say thing.

For the most part, that is a Conformation breeder. They have some Obedience titles on their dogs but that isn't their main pursuit. In short, they want a perfect dog structurally without really focusing on the true design of the dog. That's a breed meant to work... if they want to be a TRUE ACD breeder of note, they need to be titling their dogs in working events in addition to the show ring, IMO.

You might run into criticism about your pup, or they may be a bit dismissive with your dog in lieu of picking it apart.

Fact is, working pups from working parents are more of the true spirit of the ACD than those just showing in conformation. Keep that in mind if you feel intimidated.

I've been seriously involved in my breed of choice for 12 years and when I do show in Conformation we kick butt I host an annual event where the chairperson of the registry in the home country of my breed comes over and appraises dogs, plus host working events judged by seriously qualified working judges ... and my focus is on the complete package. My female working dog just tied for 2012 Working dog of the Year in her breed club. Personally, I really don't care if a dog has a tiny structural flaw here and there if it works like the breed is supposed to!!

Just be polite and take in what they have to say. If they pick apart your pup, listen to it and learn... but with a grain of salt. Most importantly, understand that the people who TRULY rely on ACD's to work don't give a hoot if they fit the standard perfectly if they hold up structurally, are healthy, work their speckled little hineys off and have a great temperament.

I know plenty of breeders who show dogs in conformation and some in various performance events (not ACDs). This guy's attitude will depend entirely on his own personality and to some extent how you approach him. If he's mean, it will just be his nature. I know breeders who look down their noses at people who show up with dogs they don't think are up to their standards and others who will go out of their way to help anyone with any dog.

Ohh okay. I see the same with chicken people.. Cat people.. Etc. some folks look down at me and my birds, because they're not up to the SOP, but they're still good egg layers and fertilizer machines :] I will visit and dress as mature as I can (I'm still a teenager), knowing mom she'll just go in whatever and her croc shoes, as for approaching.. I'm a little shy, but I'm polite.
I was a little giddy too to find another person with ACDs.. Seems like not a whole lot of people have them around here. I thought they were just as common as Labradors.

I wouldn't worry too much about their attitude, you are not looking for new inlaws, just a good dog. If they have one you are interested in great, if not, then adios and no hard feelings. If they are too dismissive or make you feel uncomfortable, just walk away. There are plenty of good dog breeders out there. If they question you about the dog you already have, just tell them you got her from a situation where she needed a good home, and you were looking for a pet dog and the tail dock was not important for what you wanted her for. Most ACD breeders are interested in good working dogs and understand that, and if they don't do you really want one of their dogs anyway? My ACD has one upright and one tipped ear, slightly crooked teeth, and was born deaf, but I wouldn't trade her lovely, bright, gung-ho, smartypants self for any show dog in the world.

Ok, if it was me, I would go, make it clear why I was there, tell him what you want to learn from him and that you would be very grateful for the information to help you in training your dog, if he knows you have your dog purely to work he should not even feel the need to give an opinion on conformation etc, I would like to think he would be encouraging to you and in no way look down on you, personally if he did then I would be off home! Hope it goes ok, keep us updated X

Every breeder is an individual, so you can not say that breeders do this or breeders do that. All I can tell you is what I do.

If I ever meet anyone who is sincere about learning about my breed, I am willing to do double back flips to teach them. People who are genuinely interested in a breed are very valuable. Those are the people who have the potential to be converted into serious fanciers and devotees and protectors of my breed.

You might run into some criticism of your dog. Most breeders are more tactful than that, but a few are insensitive. Your best course of action is to listen carefully and ask the breeder to show you exactly where your dog can be better. It is a chance to learn about conformation. Take advantage. If knowledge is going to be offered, take it, even if it isn't sugar coated. It's a good opportunity if you have found a breeder willing to teach you.

I didn't go today, mom's been busy cooking and preparing a whole bunch of meat she got yesterday and I've been teaching English to my cousin.
His dogs are supposed to be really good.. Australian lines and such, but I wonder if we ever get another dog if I should go to a breeder that works on looks or one that does working. I'm not entirely sure which one is better. Or if it's the same. I'm also not sure about puppy price with serious breeders, like all I payed for was Clementine's first shots - I'll be paying later for her other shots and to get spayed.. Was that too cheap? It didn't look like the rancher was money hungry, like some other people and their pet maltipoos being $500+ ... I think the registered breeders just charge whatever comes with the dog? Like they'll let them go a little older with all vaccinations, possibly potty trained, trained with this and that, comes with toys, etc etc.
Also will goats/sheep kick Clemmy? I think when I introduce her to livestock it will be on a leash, but I don't want some angry goat stomping on her even if I do have her on leash. She met some goats and sheep yesterday through a fence.. Only one sheep took an interest in her, a horse with blue eyes was sniffing her, and a couple goats followed her up and down their pen. She didn't bark at them or go crazy, she actually ignored them when she wasn't sniffing them. Is this good behavior or bad?

If this breeder looks down on you or your dog and is rude, then i would NOT consider them a good breeder that you want to ever buy a puppy from. a breeder is just as important as there dogs. you need to have the same ideas on dogs/ raising them as them otherwise youll clash and will become annoyed and never want to talk to them, and you want a breeder you feel comfortible contacting with any problems or questions.

when i got my puppy, the breeder was SOOO helpful and SOOO nice! he went over everything with me and answerd ANY questions i had, we both agreed on everything and he was more then happy to sell me a puppy, and im more then happy to contact him whenever i feel the need to ask questions.