Aren't you sick of these people lecturing you to spay or neuter your AKC dog that you may want to breed?

Question

Yes, I love dogs. All dogs equally. I have had mutts. I know how many dogs are put to sleep because no one wants them. I belong to an organization that helps people spay/neuter their pets if they can't afford it. I have 2 AKC Shelties that are show quality, extremely smart, excel in agility and obedience, have wonderful personalities and I'd like to breed them! What's wrong with that? Yes, I could've gotten 2 mutts from the shelter but I wanted Sheltie pups that I could show and possibly breed. I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with that. I have money to afford this, I already have names and numbers of responsible people who would want their pups and I have no kids and only my partner works so I have all the time in the world for these dogs! Every time I ask a breeding question, EVERYONE says "Don't you realize how many unwanted pets there are?" Yes. However, these are wanted. And it REALLY UPSETS me when breeders lecture me! They were beginners once too! STOP IT!

Answer 1

If you're such a reputable breeder would you be asking questions on Yahoo Answers? I have never bred a dog in my life. I've helped deliver thousands of shelter puppies and purebreds. I know how long a dog is in heat for. What happens when something goes wrong. Yesterday we had a 20# Beagle with a twisted uterus trying to deliver 8 pups that looked like the dad was a Rottie. We got her to the vet in time and they were delivered by c-section. Everyone is fine. My point is; many of these females have never been seen by a vet. Even if you know what you're doing, things can go wrong in a hurry. Over 7-10 million dogs are euthanized in shelters yearly. More cats. Someone is breeding them.

Answer 2

If your dogs are fisished champions and you have had all the genetic testing done so you are not passing on hip displasia or other types of defects then go ahead nad breed your dogs.
If you have done all the right stuff and have a list of people waiting for puppys you are a responsible breeder and are doing the right things. There is nothing wrong with wanting to breed some quality dogs to have some nice quality helathly pups.
I have a rescue dog at all times and volunteer with a rescue as a trainer for people having problems. But I still own two other dogs who came from breeders and will always have at least one "papered pure bred" that I am showing in field trials.
It is the people who are asking how to breed or the really easy questions that should spay their dogs as you can tell from the questions they have not done anything other than buy a dog and want to make money on pups.

Answer 3

I'm sure it is frustrating to be told that, if you're doing it *right* (as it sounds you are, with dogs who come from good lines, are Standard enough to be shown, with whom you compete in an activity...and who have, I assume, passed all of their genetic tests).

Unfortunately, many many people come to this source with no interest in any of these things, only in breeding. It gets frustrating, and I've seen the knee-jerk reaction that it's created in many of the regulars on this board.

However, speaking as a longtime breeder/exhibitor, I have to wonder why you're asking your questions here, rather than going to your dogs' breeder, or other Sheltie people with your breeding questions. You dogs' breeder could certainly give you the information and resources that you need.

Personally, I'd go to someone I knew for this information *long* before I'd ever ask a breeding question on YA. Why would you ask a bunch of strangers when you have (or should have, given your dogs' lines and your activities) a mentor?

The people who come here asking breeding questions don't have mentors, because they got their dogs from a pet store or other BYB, are not involved in any activities to prove their dogs worthy of breeding, and are ignorant on the subject of why these things are important. This happens all of the time, so you get lumped in with them.

I'm sorry that you've gotten these types of responses. But if you're serious about breeding a good quality litter, I have to say that your mentor is your best resource, anyway.

Yes, I was a beginner once, too. But I got my first dogs from someone who'd been in the breed 15 years already, and was willing to help me every step of the way. *That* is where your breeding information should come from.

JMO

Answer 4

I suspect you get the answers to your breeding questions because serious, long time, responsible breeders know that you should be asking questions like that to other Sheltie breeders and not on some generic group posting/hosting site like Yahoo Answers. Direct your questions to breed specific people who can help you make the right decisions. Search for Sheltie breed group lists on Yahoo. This forum for those questions makes your questions seem lame and give you the appearance of being a BYB type. So my suggestion is that you find yourself some really knowledgeable Sheltie breed group and ask your question there. BTW, you do know there are health issues within your breed that need to be addressed before you breed your dogs, right?

Answer 5

It isn't that no one wants people to breed (and producing a litter is actually a very small part of the whole thing) it is that way too manyn people do so irresponsibly. Just because a dog is registered with AKC, UKC (United Kennel Club) or CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) it doesn't mean it should be bred. Before a dog is even considered it needs to have had and passed health testing (OFA/PennHip,CERF/PRA, thyroid, heart, etc),it needs a complete pedigree research done of at least 5 generations that check for health, breed standard, longevity, temperament, it needs to be evaluated itself to see if it meets breed standard and/or has something ot offer back to the breed by way of improvement, it needs to have an impeccible temperament..there is so much more to breeding then simply having a male & female and producing puppies.. Once puppies are here they and mom need a vet check and need to be dewormed at 2, 4, 6 & 8 weeks old. They need to be kept clean & flea free, mom needs to be fed a good quality diet throughout pregnancy & nursing, the pups need their first vaccinations at 8 weeks before they go to new homes.
It is wise to remember that when you breed two dogs together you aren't just breeding them you are breeding every single dog in that pedigree for good or bad.

Being a novice breeder isn't a crime being an irresponsible one novice or expereinced should be.

Answer 6

As a breeder myself I can sympathize and completely agree with you. If you take all of the responsible and reputable breeders out of the picture what are you left with?!? Puppymills and BYB's and guess what, you still have not eliminated the unwanted dogs in shelters! My advice to you is if you want to breed then do so for the love of the particular breed and find a breeder who has been breeding this breed for years and has experience with it to mentor you. Most reputable breeders are happy to do this if you go into to this with an informed decision and are willing to follow a strict code of ethics. Good Luck to you as your journey begins!

Answer 7

While you find it upsetting, and I used to find it upsetting, I have watched enough Animal Rescue programs on Animal Planet that I now understand how they feel and why they say this.

I helped a friend set up her own yahoo group when our group attacked her for wanting to breed. But I recognized that she was doing the right things to become a responsible breeder.
She was reading and learning what needs to be done.
She was doing the health testing her dogs needed to have.
She was giving the proper health care to the dogs.
She was committed to giving the dogs all the time they'd need from her.
She had homes for the pups and was developing a plan for proper placement.
When the male developed a hereditary problem AFTER the pups were homed,. she went to all the owners to ensure all the pups were neutered to prevent any passing on the problem. Unfortunately this problem had not shown up in the pre-breeding testing.

Most breeders, as a part of being responsible breeders, also work with local rescue groups and help rehome rescue dogs. What they see and learn in their rescue work makes them overly sensitive to the question "I want to breed, where can I find a good dog to breed". They are so devastated by the treatment they've seen to rescued dogs that they overreact when anyone expresses a desire to breed. They forget to find out first if you are doing the right things to learn how to be a responsible breeder.

So you can understand the other side of t he question better, and in the process become a better breeder, you really should volunteer some time with a local rescue group. You should consider fostering some rescue dogs and helping retrain them so they can be properly socialized and capable of having a good life with a forever family.

I recommend you do this before you breed. I feel these people go overboard in their responses, but they don't upset me as they once did now that I understand what made them so over reactive to people who want to start breeding.

Meanwhile, you can either ignore them, or explain that you're working on learning and doing what's needed to become a good responsible breeder.

Answer 8

WOW--I am shocked by the answers you have gotten!! I think it's a bunch of bull that people are lecturing you on what you already know. You have every right to breed your Shelties and you sound like a very responsible dog owner. It's the unresponsible dog owners people should be lecturing.

Try to ignore these people; they have aproblem and they are trying to make it your problem too. Enjoy your babies and happy breeding. The fact is we need more responsible pet owners like you breeding their dogs--you make sure they go to good homes and don't end up in shelters or worse.

Answer 9

I think that the world has seen too many puppy mills with atricious conditions to hear about breeding animals without being somewhat suspicious.
You are being victimized by the sordid reputation that animal breeders now have.
If you breed animals in clean conditions, have good homes for the offspring, and are genuinely caring towards these animals, then you aren't what people typically think of when they think of an animal breeder.
People tend to generalize, and in the case of animal breeding, it's the stories about neglect and abuse that make the news, not the stories about successful breeding and adoption.
If you intend to do it right, i agree with you.... there's nothing wrong with it.

Answer 10

I dont know what set you off but as a breeder my self now retired I always try to answer questions about breeding with information and with advice. I'm sorry that you have had such a bad experience here so far. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion when a question is asked you have to ignor the answers that offend you and look for the ones that are helpful.
I would be more than happy to assist you you in the future with any questions you may have. You just have to e- mail me and ask.

NOTE: Watching Animal Planet does not qualify you to be informed enough to answer questions with any real knowledge of the subject matter.

Answer 11

If you don't like it, don't read it. Simple really. I'm afraid you can't come on Yahoo Answers and be safe from opinions!

To the person who said it's your 'right' not to get your pet fixed, I would just like to point out that owning an animal gives you no rights, just responsibilites. You have to do what you think is best based on what is best for the dog, not what you think is your 'right' to do.

Chalice