Questions about becoming a breeder - Page 3

Yogi I don't have very much experience around the competitors and other people who hang out around Hundsport and its Clubs. Particularly anywhere than in my own country. You may be largely right about how self-interested they are, in the countries you are familiar with. I hope you are not 100 % right, though ! Its a very sad situation if they are.

I can say that I have not much come up against this attitude at the few Clubs I have visited or been connected with through other people here in the UK, it may be a little more competitive than Show-oriented breed clubs are (?) but it is not as obvious as you state. There is always someone who is a p.i.t.a. in any club ! But mostly GSD Training folk are like GSD folk at any other gathering, here. So I am hopeful that this is also true in some other Clubs, some other nations.

I would like to say to Susie she could add the UK to her list of places where nobody wakes up one morning and just decides to become a breeder - but unfortunately she is right about those other countries with little in the way of rules to stop them, and we can as easily slot into that list. The good thing about having both good, caring breeders who want to follow what rules, or guidance, IS available, as compared to those who do not, is we can see at first hand which methods are best and produce the better dogs. And the happiest customers.

Yogi I don't have very much experience around the competitors and other people who hang out around Hundsport and its Clubs. Particularly anywhere than in my own country. You may be largely right about how self-interested they are, in the countries you are familiar with. I hope you are not 100 % right, though ! Its a very sad situation if they are.

I can say that I have not much come up against this attitude at the few Clubs I have visited or been connected with through other people here in the UK, it may be a little more competitive than Show-oriented breed clubs are (?) but it is not as obvious as you state. There is always someone who is a p.i.t.a. in any club ! But mostly GSD Training folk are like GSD folk at any other gathering, here. So I am hopeful that this is also true in some other Clubs, some other nations.

I would like to say to Susie she could add the UK to her list of places where nobody wakes up one morning and just decides to become a breeder - but unfortunately she is right about those other countries with little in the way of rules to stop them, and we can as easily slot into that list. The good thing about having both good, caring breeders who want to follow what rules, or guidance, IS available, as compared to those who do not, is we can see at first hand which methods are best and produce the better dogs. And the happiest customers.

Oh, this effin' dashboard is driving me nutz again this week - forcing yet another double post, and now it won't allow me to edit by deleting the second one. Sorry guys !

Hund I would not say I'm 100 present right but it is certainly a large percentage. I done a fair bit of training over 19 years with some very good trainers in Europe some i would go back to in a Hart beat and others I would have asked for a refund.

susie, crooks are crooks, you may bump into them independently of geolocation.
also question - what a difference between breeders in the countries without much of control over breeding practices and the breeders, who does bred under control but crippled GSDs because that's official perception of the "beauty" by their respected clubs?

If I may add that finding a good mentor is key to any success in anything you do including dog breeding. If you display the right enthusiasm and moreover passion and true appreciation, you stand a far better chance of being taken under someones wing.

Today, because everything is accessible so easily and so quickly, people expect the same results as quickly in life. This is just not the case. Just because you can see the mountain, doesn't mean you can be on top of the mountain without the journey. Getting there will take you through many peaks and valleys but with that come many lessons and rewards as well as failures. Today people want to take a helicopter to the top of the mountain, take a selfie and show everyone that they are on top of the mountain. Personally I would rather endure and enjoy the journey.

Very true.

So many excellent responses! Personally, a great way to become a good breeder is get out and train the dog you are wanting to breed. I know zero about herding dogs, but I have learned so much about IPO. It has certainly taught me the weaknesses and strenghs of my dogs. By doing this, I eliminated a female that I had high hopes of breeding, even though she was titled and passed all health testing. I have gone to many trials and watched dogs on and off the fields to evaluate their temperments.

If you decide to become a breeder, I truely hope you are fair when looking at all strenghs AND weaknesses when considering breeding. Find a male that will stregthen your females weaknesses. Many breeders suffer from "kennel blindness". Others are just in it to make a buck.

Best wishes!