Why does everyone on this site think your dog should be titled to breed?

Question

I have a very lovely AKC Sheltie. She is show quality but I have chosen not to show her because I'm not into the dog show scene. I'd rather do competitive obedience and agility with her at which she excels. She is an excellent example of what a Sheltie should look like and has this exceptional temperment (a lot of Shelties are a bit shy). I know there are tons of unwanted dogs euthanized at shelters. This is terrible and it's from people not spaying/neutering because they are too lazy or don't want to pay (in which case, they shouldn't own a dog), people not realizing how much work a dog is and giving it up, and overbreeding (which some of the best breeders even do). This is the first litter I've ever had with my dogs. I already have a list of 8 people who want her puppies. I am not doing this for money. I will actually lose money. I am doing this because this is the type of dog that should be bred! I only have 2 dogs at the moment and am very responsible. QUIT LECTURING!

Answer 1

You have a Sheltie, you're competitive in obedience and agility and you haven't TITLED her?

Personally... I'm NOT of the belief that a dog has to be a Champion to be bred.. or even titled. I DO believe that the dog needs all it's health certifications (which, if you're running agility you should be getting anyhow). I also believe that the owner needs a clear understanding of the parent's pedigrees and the possible genetic risks for that particular breeding.

Its really nice if the owner actually does some research on whelping and rearing pups also. Seriously, you can make a tremendous impact on pups very very early in their lives if you know how to do so.. and why.

Answer 2

Have you ever visited this website? www.secondhandshelties.com
You need to read some of the terrible stories of these poor rescued dogs. If your sheltie won shows and is show quality judged by top breeders, why not breed her to better the breed? If she has not been judged show quality by top breeders, you have just contributed to that website. You probably didn't do it knowingly, but if you don't guarantee your dogs for life, one or more could end up like that.
I own shelties. My first sheltie I had people following me around asking me if I wanted to breed her because she was so small. I refused and spayed her. My second sheltie is what you would call "show quality". She has never been shown and I have never had her evaluated. Even though she is beautiful, she has had arthritis since she was two-from bad breeding. If I had bred her, she would have passed that to her puppies. She was spayed.
There are so many diseases that are passed through not doing proper health checks before breeding, and that "timid" trait can certainly be passed on to puppies even if mom is great.

That is pretty much why people want breeders to be absolutely sure that their dogs are healthy GENETICALLY, not just visually, and that they have proven themselves to be the very best of show quality. Anything else is a pet, and there are millions of pets in this country already.

Edit: Kitty143-thanks! I always get screwed up with the org and the com!

Answer 3

Obviously not EVERYONE thinks that, or there wouldn't be so many "my lahsa/shihtzu puppy is 8 months old, when can I breed him" questions posted here everyday. I don't know you, I don't know your dog, and I don't know much about the breed- so I certainly wouldn't say if its right or wrong to breed her. I think the problem is that the vast majority of people that are breeding their dogs know very little about the breed, breed standards, genetics, etc. and have no business creating puppies...I am far from an expert, but I do know that years ago when I was showing and breeding APBT's I had a great girl who did not do well in the show ring- met the standard, genetically sound and incredible temperment, but she was too masculine looking for most judges. Before I bred her, we did a lot of checking with people who were experts in the breed, and were very selective about the male we bred her to. Most people, however, just find the first available male who has papers, have no idea what they will end up with, and wouldn't know a show quality pup if it bit them in the a**....I understand your frustration with the answers you see here, but remember, you are dealing with "mass media" and an awful lot of people in the world are fools- so I for one will never encourage anyone to breed anything that I haven't seen. I'd rather be part of the solution than part of the problem. Good luck with your pups.

Answer 4

If your mother has already bred the dog than it is in a way too late. Though I am hoping she will realize what she is doing wrong and will NOT make the same mistake. I don't understand why anyone (but the people doing it- its obvious why they do it) would agree with backyard breeding. It not only adds to the amount of dogs in the shelters but usually always ruins the life of the dogs involved. I have a 1.5 year old purebred German Shepherd female with champion bloodlines that I had planned to breed next year when she is a few months over 2 years old. But after rescuing a neglected, badly matted, over bred and most likely abused Bichon Frise from a BYB (she gave birth to 8 more puppies a month after I took her in). I can't say I'm too sure i want to bred her anymore if there is a chance her puppies could end up in a home like that. And it is mostly homes like the one I rescued the Bichon from that backyard or irresponsibly bred dogs go to. You might want to point out to your mom that she can foster pregnant dogs that way she is doing everyone a favour and still gets to watch puppies grow. Most shelters would provide the food and vet care. "BYB's have little caulk": You misunderstood as I did not explain- She is champion sired- (by champion lines I ment that her grandparents on BOTH sides were champions) I was NOT going to breed her unless she could earn herself a title in search and rescue or obedience (what I am training her in) AND has good hips and elbows as well as maintains her overall great personality (she contradicts bad stereotypes). I have already gone over this with the registered and well known breeder I bought her from (my breeding mentor). Who would assist me in everything from the check-up for her hips and finding a sire with a title down to finding all the puppies homes, they even take any puppies I cannot find homes for IF I decide to breed. Added: I hope so, but I won't know until next year when all the text and competitions are done.

Answer 5

Honestly, I don't think every dog is entitled to be bred. The point of breeding is betterman of the breed or what can I improve this female by breeding that male. There are so many considerations need to think about. I have some questions for you: what is your purpose of this breeding? Are you trying to have an offspring of your little girl which will be like her? Or you want a better one on obedience and agility? Of course, everybody thinks their dogs are so beautiful and want to have an offspring just be like him/her. They never realize is you will never have an offspring just exactly like the mother/father. Even repeat breeding is not the same as the first litter. I have a female at home who is from the repeat breeding of my other female. They are completely different.
I'm not lecturing here. I'm expressing my opinion and hope you can think about my questions. Remember to have VWD, eye, thyroid and hip check on your girl.

Answer 6

The majority of people on here have no idea what a quality dog looks like. They want to breed their pet dog (note: NOT a show-dog, NOT a working-dog, just a PET) because it's "so cute", but cuteness does not equal correctness.

Therefore, I recommend that they show their dog in confirmation. At least if they go to a show, even to watch, they will be able to see what a quality dog looks like and hopefully realize that the pet dog they picked up from a petstore or backyard breeder isn't as good of an example of the breed as they were previously led to believe.

I don't think every single dog in a dog's pedigree needs to be titled (even top show-dogs often have non-titled dogs in their pedigrees), but I do believe there should be multiple titled dogs as an assurance of quality. Even Kirby, the most winning papillon in the history of the breed, did not have a pedigree made 100% of champions (although most were): http://www.lotekipapillons.com/ch/supernaturalbeing.html

I do believe that the dogs should have their proper health clearances (CERF, OFA, checked for anything known to be an issue in that breed, etc.) before being bred.

I do recommend having a dog that is going to be bred evaluated by a 3rd party that has experience in the breed. This could be by showing confirmation, or at least by a couple/several show-breeders. Sometimes, 'kennel-blindness' strikes and even experienced breeders may fail to see certain faults in a dog that they have vested interest in. Even if your dog excels at obedience and agility, it may not have correct confirmation. (As we know, mutts can excel at these sports as well. It's not a measure of the quality compared to the breed standard.) I am not going to say your dog is or isn't quality, I cannot evaluate that. But I do recommend you have an outside party do so.
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Answer 7

Great thoughts!!!
I myself Show, but also compete in Agility,Obedience, and Hunt.
I have had dogs that were wonderful working dogs but really could never cut the mustard in the Show ring.
When i show a dog I hope that it`s all that and will be able to place in either Group or even have a chance on going Best in show.
But the truth is even if you have a good dog the best that most will achieve is to just finish their show career.
That just doesn`t seem right to just be able to breed the dog.
Yes I too have had wonderful working dogs that i wish that I had bred for the work ethics.
As long as the dog is medically sound I personally have no problem with this thinking.
Bravo to you!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Actually, the answer is very simple. We humans always wanted the best things. Best quality, famous brand and etc. Majority prefer to buy a well-known breed of dog than to adopt one. That's why the number of stray dogs are increasing rapidly every year + the adoption center have to put some older dogs to sleep as the shelter lacks place for younger strays.

I have 3 dogs (2 poodles + 1 cross-breed Siberian Husky). But I never buy dogs. My 2 poodles were given by someone to my neighbor and my neighbor's cousin and my neighbor gave them to us. Whereas my cross-breed Siberian Husky was previously a stray or so I thought. Although quite some people did ask to be listed if ever any of my dogs breed, I just smiled.

My whole family had treated them as one of us and the thought of forcing our dogs to breed doesn't seems right. I don't know how to describe it. It's like they are our daughter and sons... You will always be there to protect them. They believe in us and we won't want to lose their trust don't we?

I don't know if this do answer your question but I'm just saying right from the bottom of my heart... I'm just another dog lover...

Answer 9

It is ESSENTIAL that dogs be bred because of working ability as well as for conformation. It would be nice if both could be found in the same dog, but chances are that it will not be.
Yes conformation is important, but it is NOT the only reason for breeding a dog. I have to admit that over the past 50 years on occasion I have bred to some gowd-awful ugly dogs in order to improve disposition or working ability, and IMHO to properly manage a breed doing so is essential.

I'll be blunt, as often as not those that say a dog has to be a show champion in order to be considered for PROPER breeding are just as ignorant about genetics as those that breed any old mutt.

The key is ; What are you trying to achieve by doing the breeding.
The most common misconception is "I want a pup just like the dog I have now". It will never happen!!!! And,, the closest you can get is to repeat breed your dogs parents, NOT BREED YOUR DOG!!!!!

Answer 10

I understand what your saying! Your dog is a purebred, great temperament, AKC registered, just perfect right? Has she had her eyes checked? Other medical conditions that are hiding in her background that are not showing up yet? Yes, even those with all that done, can produce an inferior pup, but chances are slim. That's why it's important. When you sell a pup, and in a year those people call you crying because their puppy is dying from a illness that was passed on by your dog, you will feel so awful & helpless & wish you had not produced those pups without the necessary genic testing.
Get the testing first. Please.