What are the Websites breeders are using to help them with their breeding programs?

Depends on what you mean? The KC's website for verifying health results of course but other than that, I use mentors in both my breeds -two people with many years experience of their breed, both long term breeders/exhibitors, both judges that give tickets. No website can do what they do including answer worried phonecalls in the middle of the night during whelpings and similar. It doesn't matter how much I learn, these two will always have something left to teach. :)

http://www.gundogpedigrees.com/vizsla/modules/animal/

BreedMate here:

http://www.breedmate.com/

I looked at the Breedmate site a few weeks back but was so confused at the jargon used when explaining how to use it didn't want to invest in something else for the computer that I wasn't able to make work.

What do folk think of the proposed KC " find a mate " idea?

May be more useful to those of us who are new to breeding and wary of approaching the owners of the best studs out there for fear of being snubbed.

> May be more useful to those of us who are new to breeding and wary of approaching the owners of the best studs out there for fear of being snubbed.

Why would you be snubbed???  That makes no sense if you have a well bred compatible bitch,a dn the dog has not been over used on bitches of similar bloodlines then if you satisfy the stud owner that your responsible, have the breeds interests at heart and are capable of rearing puppies well etc why would they snub you.

My view is that you go to the top for info advice and the best dogs.

> What do folk think of the proposed KC " find a mate " idea?

I'll be interested to see it when it finally appears. But as they are so late with even the first breed, I won't be holding my breath.

> wary of approaching the owners of the best studs

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Nothing beats knowing the dogs, talking to people, getting help etc - with border collies there is a fantastic site (Anadune) where you can look up dogs, check out pedigrees, check health tests, probabilities, colours etc.  Brain picking is definitely better than a website though....

There are some who won't entertain communicating with a newbie, so far I have been introduced to stud owners by friends who have been in the breed for decades and that has gone well but would like to become more independant.

I have approached breeders/stud owners at shows just to comment on their dogs or a result in the ring and unfortunately don't always get a friendly reception and I haven't even broached any other subject so that puts me off trying them again.

There are of course good times and bad times to approach people at shows. If they're trying to prepare themselves and their dog, either physically or mentally psyching themselves up, then a random enquiry is going to be unwanted and given short shrift. Talk to them an hour later and you might well get a totally different reception!

> I have approached breeders/stud owners at shows just to comment on their dogs or a result in the ring and unfortunately don't always get a friendly reception

There are plenty of people like that, but as soon as you make that call or ask about using their boy, well a whole different ball game. Some breeders say yes to almost anything providing same breed and health tests done, £ signs are wavering!!! :-(
I'd personally be put off using a stud which is allowed to be over used, lines end up getting tied up and doesn't help the breed at all.

There are the good ones and you just need to weed them out - but on a personal note if someone is that rude and unapproachable then i'd not want to be dealing with them with regards a mating(something which i've toyed with for a while in my head) - no matter how good their dog was.
Friendly, open and honest - Thats the type of breeders you need to be seeking out.

My approach has always been after they have been in the ring as I understand folk need to concentrate before hand on getting ready.

I need a badge that says 'I'm not unfriendly: I'm just concentrating' ! 

I'm really poor at small talk whilst I'm getting ready to go in the ring, and I'm not great at conversations whilst I'm in there either - my mouth is dry for a start and I only have eyes for me woofer.  When I come out and we've finished, not waiting for the challenge etc then I could put a new badge on 'Come on over and have a chat'

I do hope people don't think I'm stand offish - really I'm not :)