I just had an interesting conversation with a woman who I consider rather intelligent & informed. She's a librarian in her late 20s/early 30s who told me just out of the blue, she is now looking for a male poodle to stud her bitch.

When I said that I didn't realize she showed or was a dog enthusiast, she said she wasn't. I told her to "don't get me on the subject of breeding just because I'll be blunt about it." She kept pestering me to tell her why I didn't like the idea of her just deciding to breed her bitch. After I said politely (I stayed polite!!!!!), that dog breeding contains more complex factors & work than just putting dogs together because they're 'nice' examples of a breed.--you all know- showing & being rated, health tests, genetic histories, conformation, temperament, of both sexes, etc...
Then she casually drops that since her dog was a mix anyway, none of the above issues matter. WHAT??????? Why????????

Here's her reasoning.... she loves her mixed breed poodle's temperament & she believes she would be a wonderful mother and pass along that temperament. After all, that's the first item that breeding adresses. The woman's own mother wants a puppy and so does she (for future replacement). That's it. That's her only reason for wanting to breed her bitch!!!!! She couldn't understand why I was anti-breeding for her 'reasonable' reason. To her, it was completely logical.

Apparently, there are no other mutts that have wonderful temperaments & needing a home out there in the whole wide world!!!!! ARGH!!! Stupidity from an educated & rational woman. Is there any hope to reduce the amount of unwanted dogs in our society? At the present moment, I think not!!!

So after stating my attitude [$ warning her that I held firm opinions on this subject, she acted as if I was nuts by not agreeing with her. Tactfully, I just changed the subject. There was no way I'd ever change her mind, but at least I brought up a few sensible points. AND ME in such a cranky mood today :D :D :D See Leigh, I told you I'd try to behave. ]) ;) ;)
toodles

since I controlled my rant then, I just had to vent now...sorry

Ummm Sara .... I'm going to get in trouble again :D While I agree with what you are saying, I reckon that there are even worse things done by 'reputable breeders'. I have holes all over the carpet where I've chewed it after being told yet again that "If all X-hounds who have close relatives with problem A, B or C, all of which have a genetic element, were removed from the breeding pool, then there would be no X-hounds." Or that "I've just got to use "Ch Wonder Boy" the X-hound stud dog, because although he has a slightly iffy temperament, he's such a good specimen of the breed, and anyway his temperament is only iffy because Y happened". Or "Well of course I used "Ch Thirty CCs" just like everyone else. It doesn't matter that we have a tiny gene pool, or that mum, dad and all of Thirty's sibling died young. He's just too good not to use."

Sharon,
I'm not saying that 'reputable' breeders are anywhere near perfect. I understand that there's ignorance & silliness everywhere.
I can at least understand the average owner thinking my dog has 'papers' AKC/KC, therefore it must be a wonderful example and I MUST, just simply MUST breed that dog.

But getting into breeding mutts on purpose????? That's really out there. Esp. from someone who is fairly smart & definitely well-read. That's where my suprise originated from

Hi toodles!
I can see what you are getting at & I for one understand your worries,I have had dogs all my life a lot of them + breeds & would never have thought of breeding from them.
we now have a KC border terrier that we intend to breed from, but this is only after nowing and haveing contact with the breed for more than 9 years.
and even now it has taken a lot of preperation and research to decide to do this
karl

Since we've had Holly one of the neighbours has been constantly asking me if we're going to breed from her. I always say no, but they still ask every time I see them. I've tried to tell them that she's no where near goog enough to breed from as she's got a dodgy temperament and her pedigree isn't exceptional. It's good but no where near good enough for me to breed from her. She was bought as a pet, with some show potential but no breeding potential. She's was also very nervous of strangers as a puppy, although she's now outgrown that, but I wouldn't want to risk breeding incase it would be passed on.

All my neighbours can see is that she's a pedigree registered with the KC and we paid nearly £500 for her. As Cocker tend to have 6 in each litter we could make £3K from just one litter. I've tried going into the expenses involved and explaining that, with all the start up costs of the 1st litter, we'd end up in debt. They still don't get it though.

I've had 17 phone calls this week from people asking to go on the waiting list for the puppies that I'm apparantly having in September. When I said that I'm not having a litter they seemed very disappointed as they had been told I was definitely having a litter. Now because of my idiot neighbours I'm being made to feel uncomfortable and a liar when I'm fielding phone calls.

Holly was bought as a friend and to act as an introduction to dog ownership. It's quite likely that I will get into breeding at some point in the future but it won't be with Holly and not until I've got a lot more money and experience behind me.

Unfortunately there as some people who just don't get it, and never will, all they can see is £££££££.

Fiona
x x x

I have a fairly standard response when someone wants to mate their bitch (generally for the first time) and says that they have homes lined up with their family and friends

If said family and friends really wanted a dog they would already have one - as they have not done so already there is little chance that they would want a pup when it was born or would keep it for very long, as, without really wanting one, would not be prepared to put up with the work involved..

Christine

Fiona, you poor thing. What a mess!!! There is a simple way of stopping your neighbors [$ friends from spreading the news of Holly's impending motherhood.... start a rumour that you had her spayed :D :D :D No one needs to know differently since it's none of their beeswax anyway. ]) Sure you'll have the mournful looks...but they'll get over it.

Seriously, that's the main reason I hear of people wanting to breed their dog... to make back that initial cost of ownership. Ick. Investing in love isn't supposed to have a monetary return. You don't expect it of kids... and they grow up to get jobs!!!! ;)

Christine, I completely agree with your statement. It is so true. If they really wanted a dog, they wouldn't passively be waiting....they would have shown some initiative just like 'you' did and got one all on their own. There's just some people out there who love to talk up a good storm...all thunder, no lightning, either to sound impressive or interactive. I'm not sure which.

Hi sharon, oo you do have a way with words :):):) Please may I use Ch Thirty CCs after you have finished with him!!!!!! lol
Hope you are feeling lots better now, talk to you soon, phil xxx
ps kiss for wee flea.

You may have Ch Thirty CCs with pleasure Phil, 'cos I'm not even going to start with him :D

I'm fully recovered thanks, but I think I've found the diagnosis right here on Champdogs. Hadn't looked at the 'Mystery Virus' thread before, but it fits! Several of the dogs had the 24 hour squirts at the right time, though none were very sick. Guess who does all the cleaning of squirted upon floors? (Hint: not Ian the squeamish.) Guess who had all of the right symptoms for a human? And who never thought about Campylobacter jejuni? And who spent half a week thinking unpleasant thoughts about sigmidoscopes and barium enemas? Yep, I thought you'd guess right :D :D

Funny things people, really. I have always had dogs and grew up with them. I had always suspected that there were dodgy people out there breeding but just never realised how bad it was until my last 2 purchases.

I am sorry to say this, but so far in my experience there are more bad than good.. I actually really feel sorry saying because there are a lot of good ones but I feel whta I have said is true.

I just this week heard a lady say that her bitch is nearly due her puppies.
There was myself and another lady there. I said oh how lovely etc and asked her a load of questions. I asked if she planned to keep any as I know she shows them etc..

Her reply straight faced was " Oh no I am selling them all and with the proceeds I am buying a puppy from *********" I nearly fell of my chair..

She said it cold as ice as if it was the most acceptable statement ever..

What can you say...I felt like punching her LOL I really did..

It drives me crazy when I hear people saying oh it's KC registered...
What do we have to do. Maybe it should be added trainin at standard grade level or something..

Just wish there was something we could do about it all but where do you start..

That was my wee addition to the grumble

Pamela

and you thought her Intelligent!!! her brains must have gone south then.
mind you a neighbour of mine aid to me did you get that dog from battersea I had just had him groomed as well ,Always thought the guy was a imbecile anyway.

Pat x

I like! :D
Gina