Just had an email through champdogs.

"! I have a **** dog called Fred and I want to breed him but haven't got a clue how this works! Are you looking for a stud? Could you please give me some advice regarding this? Thanks."

My mind just  boggles. Not sure if i should reply and give them a lecture about the perils and pitfalls of breeding or just delete it.

Well.......
At some point someone will have to gently and kindly point out the ins & outs of this to the enquirer. If you don't have the patience and tact to do it yourself (not all of us do!) then I'd suggest pass the enquiry onto someone who does. If nobody does, then you have a potential new BYB on the scene.

If you delete it and don't reply then that could add to the 'snooty breeder' image.
If you do reply and frame it nicely but still in the negative, you risk their response because it's not what they wanted to hear.

It's a difficult call, but for my own peace of mind (when I have had similar strange requests, not dog related), I've gone for the friendly support & education angle. I can then sleep well, knowing that I've given them the whole picture and whatever they choose to do next, they have had the offer of backup from me if needed. If they choose to tread another path, then that's their choice, and I'm gone.

There are those who listen, and those who don't.... and closed minds don't care what you have to say anyway.... but once in a while you do get someone who is grateful for your input.

>There are those who listen, and those who don't.... and closed minds don't care what you have to say anyway.... but once in a while you do get someone who is grateful for your input.

This is true.  Mostly I get so incensed that I end up deleting my response as it sounds too rude!  But I once had an enquiry from someone who wanted to use my Yorkshire Terrier boy.  To be fair, their bitch wasn't in season, so it wasn't a last minute thing.  As they were only an hour away I invited them to visit, and bring their bitch with them.

They spent several hours meeting my dogs, talking dogs, and learning about everything that can go wrong.  They went home to sleep on all they had learned.  I received the most lovely letter, thanking me for all my time, praising the dogs and their temperaments.  And telling me that the family had discussed all the reasons why they didn't want to risk losing their beloved pet.  I know a BYB would have just wanted the stud fee.  But I was proud that they had listened, and didn't take offence at my advice.  So MsTemeraire is right - some folk are grateful for the input.

> So MsTemeraire is right - some folk are grateful for the input.

And I was just about to post an addition to that, saying the older I get the less patience I have! LOL :)
If they got me on a bad day they might get both barrels.. but hey, that's what happens in the real world.
(Impending menopause has nothing to do with it, your Honour).

JeanSW is right....
Keep to the script, because you know what you are saying is right, and sometimes it does filter through... my personal belief is that among the majority there will always be a few who have the right attitude and ethics - and they need to find like minds - Imagine what they'd be left with if nobody helped them.

A fairly easy option is to give them the link to the article in at the head of the breeding board about using a pet dog at stud.