Becoming a reputable breeder, when is the right time to start asking questions?

Question

Are we s'posed to automatically know what standards are or why they're important? If you agree that we're not born with that knowledge, then when's the right time to ask? Is it when you have the interest or when you're capable of getting the things you'd need, like a car to get to shows, but no desire left to learn because every question you've asked on the subject has been somehow worded wrong?
Teenagers do things in a very bullheaded manor. I'm to the point where I know this, know it's bad, but I still do things at a very fast pace when it comes to learning things of interest. If I want to be a breeder ten years from now, should I wait till then to ask questions or go ahead and learn what I can? I dun even know if I'll go that far because I don't beleive in objectifying a living thing the way many show dogs are, and where upholding the standard is important, being a champion isn't in my eyes. If temperment is good and standards are at least met, why need to be BOB?

People say breeding for money is bad, and breeding simply to show your kids the miracle of birth is, though a nice thought, not a good idea.
But no ones said anything about how a puppy can light up the eyes of most people of any age and just being with that puppy makes a person happy, and then as the dog grows, assuming it's been raised right, that puppy can become a companion more than a pet or dog you show for the glory of it.
I dunno how to put it and not sound like I'm for BYB, but I'm not and I want to make that very clear. But really, when I think happiness one of the top things on my mind is the thought of puppies in play and making some kid/teen/adult/senior happy.
Is bringing the joy of a puppy into the lives of people that may "need" it a bad reason to breed?
And yes, I know puppies become dogs, which need training that can be an awesome learning experience for, maybe, a soon to be single teenage mother?

Yeah... joining a club is not going to happen for the breed I'm interested in. At least not a local one. I'm in Florida. Lake Butler. The three major cities I think of is lake Butler *the old people's city* Lake City *the city run by irrisponsible/poor adults it seems* and the Gainesville *a college town. need i say more?*
I don't have a car, nor would I have permission to drive all that far even if I did. I haven't heard of anything even bordering on being related to a dog show.
Before you say "Jacksonville's not far off" consider that *I* cannot get a trip into town, a 30min round trip, letalone a 2+hour trip to Jacksonville. My 12 year old sister can, but that's because she hasn't become a screwup like me yet *in other words, she doesn't have the probs with depression that I do*

This is not the place to learn EVERYTHING, I agree, but it's easier to read a comment saying "You too young therefore you're an idiot for even thinking you will ever be capible of this" than to hear it from a breeder over the phone or in person. I'm nearing 18, but when nervouse my voice can sound like a 12year old's, and the younger you sound the less respect you will earn from a breeder, normally. I gather that from my experience in an attempt to get a puppy from a breeder as a companion that'd prolly get spayed once I grasp the concept of "heat". Just the way that I've been treated over the phone.... I don't like it, and I feel that if I go into it better prepared with more knowledge to start with I'll not only get the diserved respect, but I'll prove to them that you don't gotta be fifty to have an idea what you're talking about.

Isn't the best time to ask questions BEFORE you do it? I haven't bred the mutt I wanted to because I've been told of it's evils, not because I can't find a female dog. That one would be easy, I just found out my friend has two oops litters a year *from four females, so it's not one dog allways pregnant or nursing* because they can't afford to fix their dogs. I don't want to hear about how horrible that is, i want to prove a point that if asking a question means that you will never know the answer, then why do we ask if we don't understand how you get the square root of whatever? Asking questions is a huge part of the learning process, even if all that you learn is that there's a lock of humanity in the world.

I'M GUESSING NOT A DAMNED ONE OF YOU HAS A REASING LEVEL ABOVE THAT OF MY THREE YEAR OLD SISTER. YOU SEE THE WORDS, KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE THEM, YET HAVE NO EFFING IDEA WHAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY MEAN. IF YOU CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS IN THE ONLY PLACE OFFERED FOR THE SUBJECT, WHERE ARE YOU SPOSED TO ASK? HAVE YOU SEEN BREEDERS LISTED IN THE PHONE BOOK? I WAS ONCE UNNAWARE THAT YOU COULD FIND THEM THROUGH THE ACK. SINCE WHEN WAS ASKING IF BREEDERS WERE BORN WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THE SAME AS SAYING "I KNOW EVERYTHING ALREADY" WHEN I'M HERE ASKING QUESTIONS.
FORGET TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT OWN DOGS, YOU PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED THE RESPONSOBILITY OF TREATING A MOUSE IN A HUMANE WAY.
I NEVER SAID I KNEW IT ALL, QUITE THE CONTRARRY. I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW IF ALL DOGS ARE PREGERS FOR 9WKS ORIF IT VARIES BREED TO BREED.
TO THE ONE THAT SAID A CAR IS TRIVIAL. LET'S PUT YOU WHERE NOT EVEN YOUR NEIGHBOR IS IN WALKING DISTANCE AND SEE HOW TRIVIAL A CAR REALLY IS.

Answer 1

The right time to start asking questions is: as soon as you have an interest, but there is also a right place: join the closest local chapter of the breed's club in which you are interested! Find this at www.akc.org. This is where you find reputable breeders that take an active interest in the breed - showing to prove their dogs are good breed specimens & doing proper genetic testing to ensure passing on good genes & improving the future generations. You can get started by volunteering to help some of them at shows in exchange for being taught the basics. Observe & soak up all the knowledge you can, and good luck!

Answer 2

There is no wrong time to ask a question. Asking is one of the best ways to learn. Research is vital, so learn the breed you are interested in. As for standards, you can go to www.akc.org and pull up all AKC recognized breeds and their standards.

Health testing, both general and breed specific.
Learn what health issues there to help you figure out what pair would reduce the chances of those health issues arrising in the offspring.

Talk to other reputable breeders.

My personal opinion.....this is however an open forum..... Confirmation is a sport for top purebred dogs. If you have a dog that is an outstanding specimen for the breed, why wouldn't you want to show it? Especially if the dog came from champion lines...

Alot of people don't understand why reputable breeders ask so much for their puppies. The amount of time and money involved/invested in raising a "quality" litter doesn't just begin when the puppies are whelped. It begins WAY before that. A pup from a champion sire and dam from a reputable breeder could possibly run you $2000 and yet you could get one from a newspaper ad for $350.
What's the difference?
The ones for $350 were probably born under a shed somewhere from untested parents left to raise themselves and skiddish of strangers. These pups might have been to a vet for 1 series of shots and the "breeder" doesn't care if the go 6 wks or 8 wks. because buying extra puppy food is getting to be a pain.

The other pups are from a sire and dam that have had health testing (can get very expensive) to reduce the chances of producing pups that carry disorders that could shorten their life-span significantly, raised with care and usually very well socialized. This breeder will not allow a pup to leave until a minimum of 8 wks. (it is the law in the state of FL), and some won't let them go until 9 wks.

There is alot of homework involved in you consideration to become a reputable breeder. Start with choosing a specific breed, and read whatever you can find on that breed. go to shows and see what is being shown.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Having some other than yourself tell you the quality of your dog is what is important. Finishing a CH title on your dog shows that you have put forth a effort to make sure that your dog is a great quality and a great representation of the breed. Most show dogs are health checked and would not be bred if they were not healthy. That is very important.
Showing a dog only shows that you are dedicated to that breed of dog and not just breeding for the money.
If you want to be a dog breeder start in Junior showmanship and learn about how to show a dog. Then purchase a dog and show it to the highest level you can. Then look at breeding that dog if it is a good specimin. Donate time and money to rescue for the breed you are involved with. Be willing to provide care for any pups that you produce for the life of them.
It is a huge responsibility and to many people breed dogs as a way to make money. It is not a way to make a living. Most people are show people who breed because they have great dogs who are a good representation of the breed. They are not making money or a living being a breeder.

Those of us who work in rescue see far to many dogs being bred, far more than there are homes for. Many die needlessly because there are not enough homes. People are not responsible when they breed. If they were there would never be another dog with hip displaysia not ever. It could be stopped so easy but nope people just breed because they have such a nice dog or they want their kids to see the miracle of birth. What a crock.

Yes you should learn all you can now and throughout your life but this is not the place to learn about breeding dogs.
If you are a single teenage soon to be mother you are not going to have time to breed dogs or the money to do it the proper way.

Answer 4

Florida dog clubs

http://www.barkbytes.com/sclubs/flclub.htm

Some show superintendants, I know Onofrio does shows in your area, not sure about the others. Also check the AKC site. Find a show and get to one. If you can't get a ride, educate yourself by reading until you can drive yourself. The BEST book about structure is K9 Structure and Terminalogy, by Brown.

Onofrio.com
mcnultydogshows.com
royjonesdogshows.com

"I don't beleive in objectifying a living thing the way many show dogs are"

It isn't so much objectifying as pride in the dogs you have bred. You might be surprised at how gratifying it is to have a dog YOU bred do well in the ring. Anyone can breed dogs, but isn't it nice to do it WELL? Besides, most dogs LOVE it!

Quit making excuses, there is plenty you can do. Depression is common, MANY people have depression at some point in their lives.


Torbay - "when I was in junior high, I got all kinds of dog books out of the library. I learned a ton on my own. I was not raised in a "dog environment".

Me as well, I even got the rest of the family into it! I was teaching obedience classes at the age of 16. Pretty much learned by reading and studyed. STILL reading and studying!


"I just found out my friend has two oops litters a year....because they can't afford to fix their dogs"

No, it is because they are not being responsible. I have had boys and girls for 30 years, NEVER an oops litter, you just keep them apart when a ***** is in season. I am not saying a SINGLE oops cannot happen, but 2 a year???

Answer 5

You sure have some kind of pity party going on here now don't you! You have a ton of great advice and you still keep making excuses! You're the same person who wanted to mutt breed before too. You have NO RIGHT BREEDING! You should be thrilled if you're able to take care of ONE dog!

ADDED: First of all, your "friend" who keeps producing litters is paying out a fair amount for these and no doubt getting money for the puppies, even if only a little. So this jive that they can't afford spaying and neutering is crap!

Second of all, this is NOT THE PROPER PLACE TO BE LEARNING ABOUT DOG BREEDING. You'll get your answers if you look for them. This forum is not the place to do that! Grow up and be responsible already. Enough about your depression. No one cares! If you really want to be a breeder, for God's sake, do it the right way... this is NOT the right way and it's not the place to LEARN the right way.

Take the PROPER ADVICE YOU GOT HERE AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH IT TO BETTER YOURSELF before you end up just another BYB like your so called "friend".

Answer 6

From what I can tell, no one is telling you that this is something you'll never be able to do. What I am reading is that you are being told proper routes to go thru in order to become a responsible and ethical breeder.

If you don't have transportation and your parents aren't willing or able to help you in this search for knowledge (i.e. attending dog shows) then you simply have to wait until you are able to do this on your own. Be patient. Contact a local dog club of some sort, even a training club is a good place to start, and go from there. I promise you they will be able to give you a world of information more than you will find on here. Also get some suggestions for good training books (I have a question about training books that has a "best answer" with a great book suggestion in it) and begin to learn now, even before you ever get that puppy. Trust me, I so wish I had the book I do now before our new puppy came into the home.

All in all, be patient and give it time. No one is saying that you can never do it or shouldn't be, only that you really have to make a huge commitment and investment in time and money in order to do it in an ethical way.

Answer 7

if your motivation is to bring the happiness of owning a puppy to children, elderly, etc, there are other ways to do it. you can work with rescue groups, or other animal services and share the love of animals in that way. there are simply too many homeless pets out there, and a pet can bring joy some a person's life no matter what breed or mix they are

breeding is a lifelong commitment that starts at a young age. a true breeder raises animals because they wish to preserve the physical, mental and temperamental integrity of that breed. the enthusiasm for a particular breed, and the knowledge of that breed takes time, though basic standards for each breed are dictated by the AKC, and thus basic information can be found through them.

being successful as a breeder is not as simple as just buying two dogs and having them make puppies, and your worries should not be of trivial things like when you will get your car so you can "get to shows". what will you do once you are at the show? you need handling skills, the ability to control your animals, and a lot of this is not learned from others but developed within yourself from years of interactions with a specific breed of dog

Answer 8

Your correct they do must begin at a few factor and the best way to begin to be a authentic breeder isn't asking elementary puppy breeding questions about Y!A. I'm definite if there wasnt any such gigantic difficulty with puppy over populace extra persons could be rather less judgemental and cruel however that's no longer the truth. People right here love puppies and nobody wishes to inspire a hindrance in which extra puppies could also be created so as to simply be placed down and shipped off to rendering crops. Before you even begin breeding you have to begin displaying and making connections with breeders inside the breed you desire pursue. You have to understand as so much approximately the breed and its average as you'll be able to so you'll be able to determine what makes up a pleasant puppy and what doesnt. You have to understand what defects are regular on your breed and the way to display for them. You must uncover a mentor whose been there and performed that and can instruct you alongside the way in which. There's plenty to understand and uncover out earlier than you even suppose approximately settling on out 2 puppies to provide a muddle.

Answer 9

Hello,
I started to become a registed breeder of Jack Russell Terrier when I was 12 (everything is registed with my mum because I am too young you have to be 18), I am now 16. I live in NSW, Australia. Breeders can be a little hard to get on with but when you do find that special person that takes your by hand and tugs you through it is wonderful. I used to be shy and nerver talked to adults but now I have no problems. I was lucky my parents were happy to drive me to shows and look after my dogs. I am hapy to help you but I won't be able to help with American regulations and driving but I can help you with knowledge and finding friends. I know breeders all over the world andmay be able to pull some strings. Please contact me I do want to help but i need you to help me before I can help you :) Best of Luck. What Breed do you want to breed? Breeders are always learning to be a breeder you need to love the breed so much that you could spend hours reading about it.

Answer 10

The problem with cute little puppies and BY is seeing that family a year down the road having to look at their cute little puppy when they are told it has horrid hip dysplasia and needs to be euthanized. Or they have found the temperment of the dog is bad and they cannot keep it. They call the "breeder", and are told, "Oh well, it is YOUR now...not our problem!"
The other problem with "breeders" that do not breed for the standard is that nice people get a dog and find out it is NOT a dog that looks like it should!!
Years ago I was working a fun match for our regional breed club. We had a family that had contacted us because they had a year old female and wanted to learn about showing her. We invited her to the fun match, and they came. Well, that was the WORST looking Newf I and many others had EVER seen. It HARDLY passed as a Newf. These people were DEVESTATED when they saw what the other dogs looked like and angry that they were never going to be able to show their girl. She went on the earn some working titles, despite some health problems, but these people didn't get what they paid for or wanted. THAT is the danger of BYB, and not adhering to a standard. The standard is there to keep my Newfs from looking like a Flat-Coat. A breed is only a breed if you can tell it from another. And when you lose that standard, you lose the function of many breeds. If my Newf doesn't have webbed feet, or the double coat...can it do what it was bred for???? No. If the rears on Newfs looked like the rears on GSD, what would be the use of that to the Newf????????

The thing about knowing the standard and what makes a good dog a good dog, is that it doesn't come from ASKING...it come from SEEING. I know crap about terriers. Still, I like to watch them in the ring and can pick out a good one. Same with toys. HATE them, but I know a good one when I see one. Most all breeders may only be into one or two breeds, but we all appreciate a fine example of any breed. You don't ask about breed standards, you learn them by seeing. No one can tell you that. That is why one day, faced with the same 12 dogs, one judge will pick one and the next day another judge will pick another. Each person gets the perfect image of that breed in their head. Each image will be slightly different. You just learn by doing and seeing. There is NO otehr way. And you cannot just keep dogs in your backyard all the time and say it is a good example of the breed. If you are not getting it out and seeing it against others of that breed, you cannot know what you have. That is why showing is important. And it isn't "objectifying" the dog. The dogs loveit, and if they don't, you don't show them. there isn't much point dragging a dog from show to show that hates it. For most show dogs, it is a part time job for a while. I show them, they finish, they go on to do working events, fun things, and maybe breed. In between shows, my dogs roll in dead deer they find in the woods just like any other dog. They don't sit around waiting for the next show.

Just by you not "getting it", shows that you are just not ready or at this time capable of getting it. This stuff cannot be explained in a way you will find satisfactory. It just is not like that.

Well, here is a LINK for the Greater Gainville Dog Fanciers. They DO exsist!!!!!!

http://www.ggdfa.com/

You don't have to attend all the functions!!! Sometimes even the newsletter and any other publications can help. I bet there is a GOOD breeder of something not too far from you.

And of course no good breeder is going to sell a puppy...pet or show...to a almost 18 year old that suffers from depression. Nothing personal, but you are not at a point to take on that kind of responsibility!!! I hear a lot of cop outs as to why you cannot LEARN the things you ask about. My God, when I was in junior high, I got all kinds of dog books out of the library. I learned a ton on my own. I was not raised in a "dog environment". I learned, without the internet, and found all kinds of resources with that kind of info. Where there is a will, there's a way.

Your "friend" just likes having puppies. It is not a hard thing to keep you female away from males and avoid having "oops" litters! That is just TOTAL stupidity. There is NO excuse for that al all. And no one can tell me that in 2 years, they could not save up enough to get a dog fixed.

I agree with one of the lower posters....the "pity party" needs to stop. Either start doing what you can now to learn, or don't. Either commit to being a GOOD dog person SOMEDAY, or another person like the friend. It comes down to choice and personal responsibility. And CHOICE. No one can spoon feed you the proper information. Get off your duff and LEARN. Knowledge is FREE.