Breeding programs, open and "closed" - Page 2

Mike Russell, I love the last paragraph of the above post. "Stewards of the breed" is a very telling term and either they get it or they don't. People who love their breed and care enough about it do not routinely withhold studdogs from their peers; their joy is in seeing others produce good dogs. Coming from another breed, frankly I think it's shameful the way some of the big players conduct themselves; it not the way it's done in the majority of other breeds. My greatest pleasure in the dog world was breeding a dog that in turn contributed positively to the breed both here and in Europe. His successful progeny were all out of bitches not owned by me; in fact I never bred him to one of my own bitches. IMO it will take the general public a very long time to get the picture and the hobby breeder will continue to be the ugly stepchild of the GSD world.

I stud my males out, but only to titled, hip rated females that I like the pedigree for repro on. If the female comes and is a crapper I will turn her away!! I let everyone know this before they ship. I can say I see the results of being selective already with the young adults coming through my males!! What I think is more funny is the newby that imports a dog and wants to charge $1,000-1,500 + for stud fee's... Gotta love the internet.... Everyone is an expert instantly!!! :-) Dennis

I offer my stud dog to outside females also - but I am very picky and turn away MANY, in fact he's only been bred to a few outside females. BUT, and I'll probably be attacked for this - I made one mistake, and I learned from it. I accepted a breeding to an outside female - a black working line female with nice pedigree - she was titled, hip rated, imported - had a couple litters in Germany before coming over. New owner contacted me for breeding - she had purchased this female through a breeder I know very well, and respect(ed). So the owner brought the female, and she came out of the crate with tail tucked, looking extremely insecure. She was early in her heat, she was going to board with me for a while - so I took her in, and watched her carefully. She showed herself to be a spook, afraid of noises, slinking around, very insecure. When she was out in the yard she would loosen up, but in the kennel she would freeze and was not getting better with time. So I called this breeder I used to respect, and asked about this dog - told her the dog was a nervebag and I wasn't going to breed her to my stud dog. Breeder assured me that in Germany she was very strong in the work, very sure of herself in new situations - she knew the dog well and had never seen the behavior I was describing. Maybe being shipped from Germany - new home, now relocated to a noisy boarding kennel - was making her nervous. After all, she was titled, and breeder "promised" me this female was A+++ in temperament, quality and nerve. So against my better judgement, I bred my stud dog to her. Now, I hear "through the grapevine" that the puppies are shy. And of course I hear that it is coming from my stud dog. What a surprise. So I learned "the hard way" on that one. That won't ever happen again, outside females will be what I would breed in my own program, or they will be leaving with no breeding and returned stud fee. molly

Mike Russell and Blitzen..... to quote a favorite song.. "You took the words right out of my mouth".... Well said and I agree...