Define Ethical Breeder ???'s - Page 3

Beats me. I will give a discount on a puppy that has some minor flaw that might keep it from getting the breed survey, like a kinked tail for instance, but guarentee everything else (hips, elbows, ears, testicles, etc.) Don't know about everybody else. SS

Hadn't planned on getting into this discussion but for lack of anything else to do right now I will. Ethical, meaning moral or dedicated to opperate in the best interrest of the recipiant, in this case breeding of gsd's. Being ethical to the breed first, means to do everything in ones powers, no expense too much, to produce dogs that are the best representatives of the breed. Keep the horse before the cart. Motives are key to this. Do I breed to get a big name for ME. Do I breed for ANY selfish motives. Other then having a sincere desire to produce the best dogs possible, in order that others that need and want a good dog will have one available to them. Do I have a deep love for these animals and live to see them re-gain the place in society they once had, or do I have hidden agendas that creep in to put ME as most important? Example, say I purchase a stud from Germany that has the appearance,pedigree, temperament, courage,etc.etc. that I am hopefull of reproducing. Now I have paid my lifes earnings for this dog and my future is resting on his shoulders. After 2 years of breeding I start noticing things in his offspring that keep cropping up,like,say they fold when really stressed. Because he is my lively hood and I have not gotten nearly the $$ I paid for him back, what do I do? Do I stop breeding him and loose all? These are the type of questions that a person needs to ask them selves before breeding. Am I willing to loose big time for the sake of the breed or will I continue to breed knowing that most dogs will do fine as long as they are not stressed too much, which most aren't. Real easy to rationalize. Real easy to get "kennel blindness". If I have the proper ethical heart condition to breed ,the natural out pouring of that will be to follow up on all of my pups so I do know what he or they are producing! When my motives are pure I don't need to have a list of what to do and not to do, I will instinctivley know what I need to do. None of this is to say one should not make money breeding, but be honest about it and realize that if I am going to be an ethical breeder then Money should not be considered a priority. My dad had his own succesful business for many years and he taught me that going into business is not about making lots of money, having the hours you want or the recognition, but of providing a good service for people, done with integrity. The results of that are often sucessful as was in his case. The horse has to be in front of the cart. It's really not difficult if one knows who they are.

Without meaning to bring in religion or evangelism: I put God first. Everything else follows, including but not limited to ethics and honest business practices. Dogs are not my creatures. They are HIS. (Just like everything else) I think we forget this too often. 'nuff said.

Shelley, Thanks for setting the priorities straight. When I speak of putting dogs first over fame I have a base understanding of Who is first. And it's not me,my dogs or even my family. Some very tough lessons, failures in life brought me to this conclusion. I humbly thank you for sharing that it is about Him. Everything else pales in comparison. Thank you Shelley

My definition of an honest and ethical breeder is one who doesn't feel the need to sit on the internet all day patting themselves on the back for being honest and ethical. Talk is cheap. Let your actions speak for themselves. Or let's hear from a few of your customers. The last time a breeder kept telling me how honest and ethical he was he tried to sell me a dog for $3500 and the very next day had the same dog advertised on the internet for $1500. Honest and ethical my ass. Run like hell from anyone who has to keep telling you how honest and ethical they are. Their actions will speak for themselves.