Aaaargh! Dog breeders!

[Souperchicken]

Quote:
and if you don't like their stipulations, you are free to go to someone else. It's as simple as that.

Totally agree!

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
and if you don't like their stipulations, you are free to go to someone else. It's as simple as that.

Totally agree!

on another forum, the owner has a saying "My sandbox, my rules" I think it applies to this situation as well.

I can tell you that I do, hopefully, plan to breed someday. Right now, I only know enough to know that I don't know enough. My breeder is holding my hand through it and will be on hand to help me pick females that will compliment my boy. Of course, that is provided that he passes all of his health tests and stops acting like a teenager

So, it will be a min of a year before we will know if it is even in the cards.

 

[QuailHollow]

Quote:

Totally agree!

on another forum, the owner has a saying "My sandbox, my rules" I think it applies to this situation as well.

I can tell you that I do, hopefully, plan to breed someday. Right now, I only know enough to know that I don't know enough. My breeder is holding my hand through it and will be on hand to help me pick females that will compliment my boy. Of course, that is provided that he passes all of his health tests and stops acting like a teenager

So, it will be a min of a year before we will know if it is even in the cards.

lol

 

[TrystInn]

Listen, there's four problem areas in the "industry".

Its the AKC judges who reward the breeders who have bred these dogs into ridiculous conformations where they cannot breed naturally, have unnatural hips (GSD), tiny heads (seizures and neurological conditions), insane cancer rates, surgical mutilate their bodies from cropping, etc.

Its the breeders who keep breeding their dogs to the standards without demanding they be changed.

Its the BYBers who inbreed, crappy temperaments and breed poorly bred dogs.

Its the buyers who are willing to pay whatever they can, top or bottom dollar, so they can have whatever their little hearts desire whether its good for them or the dogs.

But frankly, its also OUR fault. Because we don't have proper laws to stop any and all of this.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Quote:
the LAST thing we need is the goverment interfering with dog breeding (except maybe to outlaw puppy mills). We don't need more laws. We need more ethics and that can't be legislated. We need for people to stop impulse buying the cute little puppy at the pet store. We need people to stop supporting crappy breeders who only offer dogs that are CKC (continental kennel club) registered. We need people to do their homework and only buy pups who's parents have been health tested.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I have worked for vets(tech), volunteered at Best Friends, and have breeders for friends and summing this up it comes down to one thing for me -when people value animals more than they value people. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who are cold, rude, critical and/or downright mean toward others all in the name of defending their opinion on how to raise an animal.

Good post Souper. I addition, I have found it to be true again and again in life that the people who think that they, and only they, are right (and completely right) are ususally the most deeply wrong and biased individuals I meet.

 

[dainerra]

I agree that it is "our" fault, but not because we need laws. We humans are a very impulse-driven bunch. We see a commercial with a cute fluffy puppy and say "Oh I want one." We call around to see who can give us that cute fluffy puppy from TV and it has to be RIGHT NOW. It's no different than buying a pair of socks. Shoot, most people do more research before they buy a pair of shoes than before they buy a dog.

The people who breed for $$ are just supplying a product. As long as there is someone there to pay, they will continue to breed.

That is also the reason I won't support a breeder whose sole livelihood is breeding. In business you need to make money. To make money you need to produce a product, sell it quickly, and keep costs as low as possible. Those things are counter-productive to breeding a good dog, especially that last one. To make up for breedings that don't take or puppies that die, you have to breed more. To keep prices low, you have to breed more to spread out the costs PLUS keep the costs down in the first place.
Little Timmy needs braces? Need some extra cash for the holidays? Just pump out some more pups!

Give me someone who is passionate about their hobby and their love of a great dog and that is the type of breeder I will support.

 

[animalpro24]

I'm sorry but I don't see any problem in their decision. If I was a breeder I would do the same. But I do understand your frustration. If I were you I would keep looking, until the right breeder and puppy comes around. Good luck!

 

[yoie]

I have not read through all the pages on this thread but thought I would post my little bit. I also wanted a multipurpose breed to help herd, protect, and be a great family pet. I found that the farm collie AKA English Shepherd was the breed for me. I got in contact with a local breeder that used her dogs for what they were intended for. The father is a champion voler (not sure of the correct term

) But both the mother and father where on the farm and performing there duties, herding the cattle and goats. Making sure the chickens didn't wander into the cow pasture, keeping away vermin and protecting the property. They also used the father as a hunting dog too. They are a great multipurpose dog! We met with the owners three times before we actually picked up our sweet little Ginger and they wanted to make sure it was going to a home where she was going to be used. They suggested that we fix her if we weren't going to use her for trials. Also if we intended on breeding her we get her hips checked, even though her parents and grandparents had no problems, you just never know! We had our vet look at her and he told us that she is an awesome specimine of her breed and to seriously think of breeding her, but after she had turned 2 and had her hips checked. She has just turned two and she is a great farm/family dog. We only have an acre with duck and chickens but she really takes care of them and our family. She herds the ducks back into their pen, chases off any critters that don't belong in the yard, and if strangers come over she gives a nice deep warning barks until we tell her that they are ok. She is also awesome at frisbee and ball.

We have thought long and hard and decided to fix her even though she is great in both confirmation and protection. If I wanted another English Shepherd I would go back to her breeder since she knows what she is doing! I couldn't imagine my life without her

Here are some links to her kind that you might find useful: http://www.farmcollie.com/ & http://www.englishshepherd.org/

Some of her family is listed on both of the websites too

and of course a picture of her

 

[Okie Amazon]

As a breeder of working line GSDs I have to weigh in here.

We rarely breed more than one litter (if that) per year. Our dogs are Schutzhund competitors and are radiographed before being bred. We concentrate on balancing drives and creating stable, strong temperaments.

We have a direct German import male and a direct Czech import female among our dogs that we would NEVER breed together because the pups would be so high-drive that they would be unsuitable for anything but the most skilled of trainers, and a handful for most of them. We are very picky on who gets one of our pups. Out of every 30 callers, maybe ONE will get the O.K.

We have had people wait an entire year because we felt that their current situation was not ready for a puppy. If they go on and buy from someone else, O.K., but we aren't putting a pup of ours into a family/situation where the odds are good that it's not going to work out.
We are observing and making notes on personality traits and behaviors of our pups from day one and we match the family to the pup. Only twice have we had to take a pup back (both of which we still have). In one case, it was an ugly divorce situation and the wife asked us to take her back, which we did; the other we pretty much insisted the guy give us back the dog and luckily he agreed. If he hadn't we would probably have taken him to court. If the right family/person does not materialize for a particular dog/pup, they will be with us until the right situation comes along for them or until they die of old age!

We sell all our dogs on a limited registration basis until they are 1. titled in sport; certified as a Police Service Dog, drug/bomb/human remains/or other detection or SAR dog, or gain a herding title; AND 2. have passing OFA hips and elbows. We also offer obedience training for all our pups until they are 6 months old. (People can continue to come and train after that with a small fee) None of our dogs would EVER title in an AKC conformation ring because they aren't built like mutants and can actually WORK! In German style conformation, they could easily make at least a SG or better rating.