I'm a backyard breeder........... - Page 8

 Trending on Google...Alfred Hahn

No, I'm only kidding. 

Flash, You have made points, but only scratched the surface of what could be labeled the best.
Best is too vague a term to have merit, too many ways of defining best.
Starchar, (this is the message board)? so we should dumb it down you think.
Yes I know all the different (lines) we see today.
My point is there are dog's that do not follow given lines, let's call them mutts yet pure GSD. No particular Line, mixed down through generations by amatures.
There is diversity here.
And since they are in private hands no one really knows whats there to any certainty.
I contend that some of them do carry the original standards in their genes.
One might never know, unless he owned one.
Brent.

In Germany, people like the OP wouldn't have a chance. THe breed has been divided into two there, the SL and WL, but at least there is some consistency (be it good or bad) and all the dogs still have some working ability (I know the WL people may disagree).

Gustav, Thank you for your response. It sounds like you've been intentional about producing good dogs. As far as the criteria I wrote above, there are a number of breeders that do all of those things and IF I were to ever buy a puppy I would want to buy from someone like that. I am not trying to impart my philosophy on anyone. I clearly stated it was my opinion as to what I think a responsible breeder "looks like". Again, it is MY opinion.

Moons, My intent is not to "dumb down" anything, so next time I will be certain to be more thorough.  Yes, I know that YOU definitely know all the various lines, but I was just trying to recover from not being as thorough as I should have been to begin with. Your point about what people have done to the breed, cutting out their own little niche, rather sticking to the standard, is very true. I know you breed good quality dogs and are intentional about what you do. Too bad the OP doesn't.  I hope you have a good day.

There are so called BYB's who breed to sell a pup at what 500 dollars, no health screens on hips and elbows. There are BREEDERS who do hips/elbows supposedly. Charge an arm and a leg for a dog but cheat and break tails and color dogs coats. ARE BIG TALKERS AND GOOD SALES PEOPLE! What are they considered? A BYB! NO DIFFERENCE, but the price tag!

JMO!

Dawn B.

I agree Dawn and both are doing a great disservice to the breed.

I think a certain amount of self examination & honesty go into being a 'good breeder'. The ability to look at that dog you love so dearly, or have invested your life's savings into, or 3 years of your life training; & honestly evaluate the points of the animal, good or bad, & be able to accept that even though the dog has a wonderful pedigree, or 'rare' bloodlines, or titles, or stunning beauty, or a perfect temperment, or uncanny intelligence, or passing health certificates, or near perfect conformation......none of those things by themselves make a dog breedworthy. Only when a dog has ALL of the above, or nearly ALL of the above, (& I'm sure I've left out considerations that many would feel are important....like drives, biddability, stability, bitework, nose, etc....but you get my point) that the dog should be considered as breedworthy. But, then, are only absolutely perfect dogs the only dogs bred? IMHO, no dogs would be bred, if that were the case. The SV has a system that allows dogs to be judged with some amount of impartiality. But even the SV could be considered by some to be 'slanted' towards one type of GSD or another. I think the BEST that can be hoped for is thoughtful consideration, honest evaluation, restraint, a plan, a goal, & the commitment & ability to keep every puppy you produce, should you be unable to place them in appropriate, successful homes. NOBODY who cares about the dogs they produce, that I've known, anyway, gets rich from their puppies. LOL, most are just keeping their heads above water these days. Your success is measured by the success of your dogs. Any money made goes right back into the dogs....a better kennel, more equipment, that special puppy someone else produced, (LOL!), a trip to Germany, etc., etc.. Financing your favorite veterinary clinic! And restocking your own supply of emergency meds, expanding your library....the expenses are endless! And don't even start about club dues, insurance, registration fees.....! If you're a 'good breeder' you know all about this, & this is your world. While other people bore you with pictures of their kids, you can only talk about your puppies, your dogs, your kennel, your last trip to the vets. LOL! You would drive half way across the country to rescue one of your pups, or a pup related to one of your pups....! That's a good breeder. You can recite your dog's pedigrees, you know how any other dog may be related to yours, & their strengths & weakness. It's a lifetime of caring. It doesn't matter if you have 100 acres, & a huge kennel; or a modest house on a small plot of land....& I think that smaller breeders can probably maintain that mindset & commitment better than the huge high priced breeders, because they don't have that major overhead, & how can you take the time to evaluate every placement if you produce 150 pups a year? Dang...I'm just saying, but I said a whole lot more than I thought I would! Sorry for the rant, but I think that the standard for what makes a good breeder is almost intangible, & best considered on a case by case basis, rather than one sweeping judgement! jackie harris

Titles and good lines alone do not make a respectable breeder.

The BYB label goes synonymously with irrepsonsible breeding but does not cover all types of it.

A good breeder ensures their breeding stock is tested in mind, body, and health prior to breeding by unbiased expert, such a judge, a koermeister, the OFA, etc. A good breeder's dogs and puppies are well cared for, well socialized and the buyers of said dogs are well covered under a comprehensive contract.

When a breeder with a big barn is cranking out puppies by the dozen with no screenings of any type, they do not fall under the BYB label. When a big commercial breeder of titled dogs is using a bitch back to back to back to back, they do not fall under the BYB label. Nor does a working breeder knowingly selling extremely high drive, nervy pups into pet homes, or a show breeder knowingly breeding dogs producing serious GI issues even though they know their lines produce it. Who could forget the 7 year old used up, titled, imported show bitch dumped in a rescue for a cyst? She probably wasn't dumped by a traditional definition of a BYB- but just as bad, imo.

Either you're a responsible breeder or you're not. Either your dog are proven correct in structure, ability and health or they're not. Either you stand behind what you breed and treat every dog who passes through your hands with care and respect or you don't. Either you hold to the standard or you breed whatever the hell you want and call it a quality GSD.

There's just no stopping people who have no respect for the breed, the dogs themselves, the buyers...only respect for the almighty dollar and the appeal of playing god with a litter of living creatures. As my favorite book as a child said, "Do your best and leave the rest, 'Twill all come right, some day or night."

well,
The OP has not returned, and I did say they just wanted to stir things up.

Moons.

I think you are right moons she did come on to stir things a little but i have enjoyed this thread more then the others that has been posted lately.

If nothing else it produced an interesting discussion. I would like to think that the OP has read the posts and it has caused her to think about what she is doing, but I doubt it. I am guessing she is a person who can not see beyond herself and prefers to focus on what SHE wants rather than looking at the big picture and what is best for the breed and dogs in general. I hope I'm wrong.