Close the ranks on breeding - Page 1

Before I begin let me state that I realize all here want to better our beloved breed.  But, even when the best dogs are bred all puppies will never be perfection, some being sold to pet homes and being perfectly suited to that purpose.  Although the conscientious breeders out there (I am not a breeder, never have been, never will be) are and have been striving to breed the best, you will always have well intentioned people who think their dog would be good at carrying on specific traits. For example: I have a friend whose son bought a GSD around the same time I got Link (2 year old who recently died).  She rambled on about how so many people told her son that his dog would be a "good candidate for breeding".  She also stated that it took over a year for ONE EAR TO COME UP and the other one never did.  He has never been completely housebroken, is not leash trained, is HUGE, etc., etc.  I asked her why they think they should pass on all of these wonderful traits??? "Because he has a beautiful face and a wonderful temperment" was the answer I got!!  Needless to say, I gave her a little education on NOT HAVING AN EDUCATION and breeding poor quality.  Months after our discussion they had him neutered (my small contribution). Most people who purchase pets have no clue and should never have a full AKC registration.

On the other hand, I have two Border Terriers (which most people have never even heard of) and we had to jump through hoops and go our of state just to find a breeder. You will never find them advertised in the local paper, you have to search long and hard and you will rarely pay less than $1000.00 for even a pet quality dog. These people have close their ranks and are very loyal to their breed. You can't go buy a BT and breed it, limited registration is the tool they use. 

All of that said, my question becomes, "Where are BYB's and puppy mills getting their breeding stock with full registration??"

Unfortunetly It's too late for the GSD to close ranks.  Way too many true BYB (in the worst sense) have AKC registered GSD's for sale.  Just look in your local newpaper.      It's good to hear about one breed doing it right.  Hopefully that will last a long time.

A person I work with showed interest in our upcoming litter. They had owned GSD's before and wanted another.  He's still interested in one of ours though will never get one since I found out they just bought a white shepherd and now want to breed.  Tried talking sense into him to no avail.  All I can do at this point is take him off the list of candidates for one of our pups. 

Popularity is the death knell for dog breeds.  Keep your BT's under wraps, because mark my words, if and/or when the general population decides BT's are the  next big thing, unscrupulus breeders will find a way to mass produce them.

Animules it's NOT TO LATE contracts are the way to go.IF you have a dog forsale for 800$ give thim 100$back when it is fixed thank of thangs.I will give classes,100$back or somthing to get that dog fixed

I offer a $100 discount for people who intend to spay or neuter, pre-paying for that procedure, if you will.  Then they recieve a restricted registration.  I have had some change their minds, saying they "want to breed", but then they already know from their contracts they have to get a working title, get my written permission, and pay me back the discount before I will lift the restriction.  This works well for me.

I do give full registrations on puppies to people who are members of a working dog club or certification type working program.  I assume they are serious about titling/certifying their dog. 

In my first two litters, I naively gave full registrations, believing in the rights of individuals to make their own decisions.  I certainly learned to regret it and to offer the spay/neuter discount instead.  (This was a blow to my Libertarian heart, LOL.)

Spook, my pups are priced at what they are priced at, usually before they are born, except for the discounts I offer.  I think there are also a lot of breeders who have a fixed price, like myself. 

Question, how do you take care of the people who want to get a breed show card on their puppy if you sell them with the limited registration?  I had contemplated using it with this last litter but couldn't figure out how if I wanted to tie breeding to a show card, working title/certification, hips at minimum I would be able to with limited. 

Okay, so what you're saying is that every titled dog is worthy to breed? I'm not being difficult here, just trying to understand. I think my dog has some good qualities and plan to title him in at least obedience, possibly more if he has what it takes.  But, having no experience I would never consider breeding him, I don't know enough. I know there's more to breeding than titles and confirmation, don't you have to research and know which traits are dominant and have a better chance of carrying over to the next generation? Which you can breed out if undesired? Floppy ears and peeing in the house aside, I think your average Joe or Joanne (me included) does not have the background to just breed because you have a titled dog.

Like I said, I'm not trying to be difficult and absolutely adore this breed but I'd prefer to leave the breeding to those who have the knowledge and experience to do it right.

Sparrow:  I love what you just posted.  I feel exactly the same as you do.  I don't have any where near the knowledge or the experience  to breed GSD's, PLUS I have WAY too much respect for those who are working so hard to get it right.  Nothing chaps my ass quite so much as all these folks with WAY less experience & knowledge than even me, (let alone not titling or breed surveying) who are blythly breeding away.  Not for a minute do I believe they are in it for anything other than money.  Very sad indeed.

I am not a breeder though when looking for my pup the adds that I came across would say purebreed, which means no papers. So the way i see it they can still breed any dog and not give papers. Unless you know what the papers mean. I just paid $2000 again, yes spent it before. On a female pup with main rego, I have no idea on genetics in dogs or breeding. Though I spoke to the breeder and he will give advice as well as other people in the dog world. The reason I did this was because years ago I had a dog who I would have love to have had pup out of but she was desexed. I am one of these caring people that  is willing to loose $1000 to desex my dog if she not good enough, though not everyone is like that. I've worked in shelters and know the waste.

So where do we stand in trying to keep a good line going, it would be lost if we all desex. Mine is working lines and here in Australia we have to spend $10,000 and more one cost $18,500 to import, it would be ashame if I had to spend that much to have a good GSD, more like I'd have another breed now.   People need to educate people and what you did was what I believe most of us do, talk the ill informed out of breeding. Maybe the law should bring out a licence that allowes people to breed their dogs.