Unethical breeding practices - Page 2

I don’t understand this personal attack on myself and my kennel from www.Burgdorfgsd.com. I always follow AKC rules and regulations and believe in Capt. Max von Stephanitz theories of raising German Shepherds. I completely stand behind my written health, hip, and elbow guarantees. I treat all of my customers with respect and dignity the way I, myself, would want to be treated. This is the one and only response that will be given to this obvious personal vendetta against myself and my kennel.

Kristi Schmidt

www.gsdpups4sale.com

OOpps....  

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.   Or something about throwing rocks when you live in a glass house.

Anyway this is all common place here on the database.

I do have one comment to make and its this.    The GSD of today and what we are doing with them has nothing to do with what the old captain had in mind.   Spout his name all you like (anyone) but I'm sure he would not be pleased.

JMO.

I'm sure each person who has posted is a qualified expert  who have perfect kennels, produce perfect GSD pups, from perfect litters from perfect parents and their breeding practices are well.."perfect".   I am not going to particpate in back and forth "opinions", because I am not an expert and I doubt very much those who posted disparaging comments are either. 

This thread caught my eye because I noticed the website called out is that of a woman who I bought two German Shepherds from.  I can say, I am very pleased with the research and dedication Kristi has given to her "growing" kennel.  I'm sure all Kennels are a work in progress.  Without learning you can't improve and I don't recall ever being led to believe Kristi is an expert.. 

I see an honest woman who is trying to develop a very nice Kennel, and breed nice German Shepherd's.  I own two of her puppies.  I purchased one from the "A" litter, and  I had such a positive experience, four months later, I bought another pup from her "B" litter.

Why anyone would think they are qualifed enough to take someone else's inventory personally and professionally and try to sabotage their dedication to improvement makes no sense to me. 

I guess some feel they live in a perfect world?

Laura Savage  - Connecticut

I just dont think its a good idea to be breeding a dog when you havent a clue of what their health is like and 7 months is way to young to really know what the health is like.  Epilepsy frequently doesnt show up until 2 years of age - hips at 7 months - not even close to being done - same for elbows.  How do you know what you are producing is healthy if you breed them that young?  You cant even do most of the OFA certs (thyroid, Patellar, Cardiac) until 12 months - at the least.

And not only that - for the people that work their dogs and require working titles - the dogs can't be titled at that age.  You dont know for sure what kind of adult temperment they are going to have or for females - how they might change after their first heat (which I am under the impression they frequently do).

And then lets go into structure - a dog at that age isnt fully developed - and frequently isnt going to have a conf. title under any org.  And the dog isnt fully developed.  Hec - at 7 months they probably dont even have their full height on them yet!

When I think of people charging that much for a puppy - I usually think of the health certifications and copious working certifications - and depending on what I am looking at I am also thinking of show titles that come with the parents that are hopefully good indicators of the puppies.  Buying puppies is a crapshoot - it's an even greater crap shoot if the parents are neither health tested, titled, or even finished growing (and there are many, many 2yolds in the Shepherd breeds that arent even done or will be done until 3 or 4 years).  How can you know what you are producing without actually knowing what the parents are yet?

Before I really learned about choosing dogs it might not have bothered me as much - but now I know better - and while the above are not always good indicators of the dogs themselves...they frequently are.

~Cate

I just dont think its a good idea to be breeding a dog when you havent a clue of what their health is like and 7 months is way to young to really know what the health is like.  Epilepsy frequently doesnt show up until 2 years of age - hips at 7 months - not even close to being done - same for elbows.  How do you know what you are producing is healthy if you breed them that young?  You cant even do most of the OFA certs (thyroid, Patellar, Cardiac) until 12 months - at the least.

And not only that - for the people that work their dogs and require working titles - the dogs can't be titled at that age.  You dont know for sure what kind of adult temperment they are going to have or for females - how they might change after their first heat (which I am under the impression they frequently do).

And then lets go into structure - a dog at that age isnt fully developed - and frequently isnt going to have a conf. title under any org.  And the dog isnt fully developed.  Hec - at 7 months they probably dont even have their full height on them yet!

When I think of people charging that much for a puppy - I usually think of the health certifications and copious working certifications - and depending on what I am looking at I am also thinking of show titles that come with the parents that are hopefully good indicators of the puppies.  Buying puppies is a crapshoot - it's an even greater crap shoot if the parents are neither health tested, titled, or even finished growing (and there are many, many 2yolds in the Shepherd breeds that arent even done or will be done until 3 or 4 years).  How can you know what you are producing without actually knowing what the parents are yet?

Before I really learned about choosing dogs it might not have bothered me as much - but now I know better - and while the above are not always good indicators of the dogs themselves...they frequently are.

~Cate

Oh but hey - the faster you breem'em the more money you can make, right?  And why bother doing what legitimate breeders do (title, breed survey) when you can charge unsuspecting newbies the exact same amount of money without doing any of the work???   Perfect world my ass.

Woops....sorry about the double

~Cate

This is ridiculous!  First of all none of you know her.  And as far as the person at top who started with the bashing is only doing it because she's at a competition.  She's jealous. Period.  This breeder we are speaking of is well organized.  She takes all the proper steps in maintaining a credible business.  I went the first time to get a dog for my dad and I couldn't believe what I saw.  The kennels were so clean, and the dogs were so well taken care of.  I was amazed!  Everything she says and does holds true and she always follows AKC rules and regulations.  Matter fact I was so impressed I went back for another dog at a later time.  And yes these pups were more expensive but that is because she has begun changing her breeding to a BETTER BREED.  Full German bloodlines from Germany.  She's trying to make her business better just like anyone would do.  And as far as the respect she hold's for her customers, well everything I wrote should speak for itself.  Give it a rest!

Let me ask some questions again :

How do you know what his Health is like at 8 months?
How do you know what his Temperment is at 8 months?
How do you know what his Drives/Working ability is at 8 months?
How do you know what his Mature Structure is at 8 months?

And here's some more :

How can you better a working breed without working them?
How can you better a breed that has health issues without testing for them?

Typically what makes a Highline better than an American line (at least this is my impression from others) is better structure and working ability.  But how can you know this dog is any better without testing for either or even waiting until the dog is fully grown? 

~Cate

CTGSDS4ME,

Welcome to the board and join in more often.   Takes time to get the flow of it figured out.

No such thing as a perfect world thats for sure.   But some of these people here really do work hard at being the best they can be and putting many hours of love and hard work into what they do.  There is a difference here that is obvious.

I'm not going to bash this lady because she's not alone, lots of people would like to get into dog breeding and it takes them time to learn how.   

As with anything its very competitive and she must learn quickly as I think she is right now.  

Good luck to you both.

Moons.