Why do YOU breed?

I hunt with terriers and may breed our female Shiner. reason we might is because she is a very gamey, drivey, smart hunter and is also healthy.

I will never breed for looks, looks are the very last thing to worry about if at all. When breeding a working terrier you want hunting ability, drive, and health. I have a intact male patterdale but most likely will not use him, he works well and has drive but not as good as Shiner. I found a male in california who is a excellent worker and the kennel owner breeds very good workers and has done alot of terrier work. We want to go visit him and his dogs and have him evaluate Shiner while she works and get his opinion if she is good enough to be bred. He has 20 plus years doing terrier hunting and Ive only had 2 years so I want to be sure breeding Shiner will create awesome hunters.

We have had Shiner for 3 years and dont plan on breeding until next year or the year after. we are saving alot of money up first because first of all I want to drive to cali from MI and go on a hunt with this hunter and get a 2nd opinion on Shiners ability, then we have to go back when she is in season for the breeding or get sperm shipped to us and lastly we have to be prepared for all the tragic occurances that can sometimes happen when breeding a litter.

This will be my first time breeding a litter and I want to do everything right and I want the pups that are produced to be as good as the parents or a cut above. Im going to secure deposites before the breeding takes place because these pups will only go to hunting homes and if any pups have to go to a non hunting home they will be placed with someone who does dog sports or has experiance with a working terrier and those pups will be spayed or neutered before they leave my home, hence why im saving a crap load of money so worst case scenerio I can do right by my dogs.

I want a pup from Shiner and wont get another dog untill my 16 year old dog passes so we might not even breed her at all because my old gal is doing well and if she lives untill 20 then Shiner will be too old to have a litter. If that happens then I will find a good working pup from a good kennel.

It is so stressful and money consuming to have and raise a litter, My aunt breeds working border collies. So I have been around for litters and saw how stressful it can be but when she produced  amazing herding dogs she was very proud and the dogs were amazing with the farm and helping keep up with it. In my opinion I think dogs should only be bred to improve thier breed, such as borders for herding so they must have herding drive and stamina. terriers for hunting so drive, game and stamina or pappillions so breed for friendly, healthy, lap sized companions! If not to improve what the dogs is breed for then why breed at all?

I don't breed dogs myself, although I have always been involved in it, and I do own a stud dog for another breeding program, and actually I am aiming to get a really nice son out of him to carry on with for when he is finished breeding. The stud I own now is for a breeding program in a breed that is now deemed entirely a companion dog. It doesn't have any other purpose. So the purpose, if you will, would be to breed healthy, stable, adaptable, social dogs that will live long happy lives with their families, be it an apartment, condo, suburban house, or country home. One main goal in that breeding program, however, is in leaving tails and ears intact, so that also plays a role in selection.

Right now I am very much into performance sports, so breeding the right drive, temperament,  and trainability, while keeping the independence and firey attitude of the breed present, would be important to me. I will be looking for these traits in a son I keep from Zipper as well, in hopes to raise my next agility dog, and have discussed with the breeder (who has his breeding rights) what I am looking for in my next dog, as well as what will hopefully make a strong stud dog. I get the opportunity to select (within reason) which bitch I would like to try for a male out of, and I've got my eye on a girl, we just have to wait for her to finish growing up before we'll know for sure if it'll be the right match!

 If I ever breed it would be to get the dogs with the temperament and structure that *I* want for sport and performance.

First of all, I'm assuming we don't need to bring up PM/BYB's whose obvious goal is monetary gain.  So with that in mind, I'm only addressing reputably bred dogs.

I think that "improving the breed" is subjective, which is why people breed. ... everyone's idea of "improvement" is different.  Some think conformation, natural instinct (for their original use, in my case bird work) is more important, some for temperament, or health.  I think some look at the whole package.  Going with the whole package may be a "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of deal to others.  So, everyone breeds for a different ideal therefore their idea of "improvement" is subjective.

 So, your breeder wasn't as happy with the pups from her last litter so she's going elsewhere, that's IMO, being very honest.  She's aiming for a high standard, based on conformation, and she didn't get it, she's able to admit she's not happy and try again.  Right on!  I've noticed a lot of people aren't able to be that honest with themselves, completely kennel blind. They bred it therefore it's perfect.  

 I own a stud-dog, as most of you know, and have co-bred a litter.  The goal was to have happy, versatile pups.  I want a dog that can win in the ring and then go out and hunt.  I want a dog with a wonderful, biddable temperament, and healthy long-lived pups.  My mentors are those who can scrutinize their own line, recognize their weakness (or plural!) and strive to improve it, to whatever their standard is.  If someone is content in their breeding program, I don't think they are trying hard enough ;) LOL  That's what I've learned.  You can always improve, but you must be honest with yourself about what you have to do so.

 If I ever breed, it will be for breed type and temperament, and so that I can have the puppy (ies) I want. I am picky, to a fault, if I'm going to LOOK for a dog. It has to be right, period. If the Universe drops one in my lap, that's fine, but otherwise? Nothing short of exactly what I want.