If You Were a Breeder.....

I would breed labs.  My goal would be to breed healthy, dual purpose dogs--dogs with the ability to be successful both in the field and in the ring.  My ultimate goal would be to produce the first dual champion in years....

I would breed Boston Terriers. My goal as a breeder would be to preserve the breed and to breed for the healthiest pets possible. I would show my dogs in conformation so I can get a third party evaluation, I would OFA, CERF and BAER my dogs prior to breeding(as well as CERF and BAER pups prior to placement) and I'd be extremely picky as to whom my dogs are bred with. I would also be very picky as to whom I'd place my dogs with. I would probably place the puppies already spayed/neutered or with a very tight spay/neuter contract because I would flip out if I found out a dog I produced was being irresponsibly bred. I would also make it very known that if the dog can no longer be kept, it is to come back to me no matter what. To make a long story short, I want to make a positive contribution to the breed. If people were to mention my name, they'd say "Yeah, she didn't breed a lot but damn.. she produced some beautiful, healthy dogs".

That's easy, seeing as I want to do it someday. I want to breed shikokus and my goal would be to create dogs that were excellent pets, healthy, beautiful, and of course - workable. I'd use them for search and rescue, scootering/sledding, agility, flyball, obedience, you name it.

I forgot to mention temperment.  I would most definately breed dogs with steller lab temperments.  It seems all too common these days to find labs with temperment issues....

That's the trouble with popular dogs, sadly. Too popular means people will do unethical things to meet the demand. Same goes for German Shepherd Dogs!

ORIGINAL: rolenta

That's the trouble with popular dogs, sadly. Too popular means people will do unethical things to meet the demand. Same goes for German Shepherd Dogs!

 
It's bad enough that I've been told by someone involved in rescue that roughly 10% of the labs they see are dog aggressive, but I have heard of at least one instance where a male lab went after another male in the confo ring.  Donfinately NOT proper lab temperment--one can only hope that dog was not bred.

Tollers, most definitely. I'd breed for drive, working ability, temperament, health, and appearance, of course. Most people don't seem to think appearance is overly important, but I for one am sick of seeing Tollers that look like miniature Goldens. That is not what the breed should look like. I'd want my dogs to easily be recognized as Tollers by those who know the breed. My goal as a breeder would be to better the breed as a whole, and make sure my dogs could do it all. My dogs would definitely all be health tested, and pups would be temperament tested before going off to their new homes (I think everyone should do this, but it seems most don't). I'd only breed occasionally. You wouldn't ever expect more than two litters from me yearly, if that. And never the same dog back to back. I'd also be extremely picky about which dogs I bred and who I bred to. Every dog of mine that was to be sold as a pet would be on a very strict spay/neuter contract. Like Meilani, I'd want to make a positive contribution to the breed and be remembered for it. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there.

a male lab went after another male in the confo ring. Donfinately NOT proper lab temperment--one can only hope that dog was not bred.

I"m sure he was, if he finished and particularly if he went on to do well. Unfortunately, it happens. One thing that's happening with BCs is that breed ring dogs are bred to be outgoing, forward, even pushy in their temperaments - to get that "flash" or "pop" that stands out to a judge. That, combined with the reactive element in the BC makeup, is producing some real disasters already. Not among the straight bench bred dogs that are being imported from overseas, but the ones that are combining these lines with American working lines in hopes of producing the ultimate in "versatile" dogs.

I'll never breed, but from now on, I'm looking for a breeder who puts working ability foremost, and the right combination of working characteristics - not seeking extremes, but the balanced dog. The only acceptable extreme is extreme soundness (mind and body) and endurance. The minimum standard is the Open trial course - either hard work at home or competence across a wide range of trials.

If I were ever tempted to breed show dogs, it would be Chinese cresteds. They are a nice breed with tons of variety accepted, the genetics look like fun, and the people I've met or chatted with online are great. I don't know what it is, but crestie people don't really take themselves all that seriously and welcome newcomers who love their dogs. Maybe that's it - you either love cresties or hate them. I don't know enough about crestie breeding yet to know what priorities are best in breeding programs.

I'd guess health, first of all - and as with the BCs, I lump together "sound body" and "sound temperament". I'd not only do health testing but I'd also pursue an athletic/performance regime with my little angels - dogs that fail to prove themselves minimally trainable would not be bred. Cresties should be people-focused and neither too shy nor too stubborn to perform in public. At least I'd hold myself to that standard. I'm weird though - I think all performance type dogs should have a minimal athletic standard and all companion dogs should have a temperment/minimal training standard, like the TDI cert. - that's in order to be "finished" and bred, of course - we're talking about breeding.

I actually thought of you and your dogs today!  I have "On Demand" cable and was watching an AKC show on Animal Planet.  When I saw the Border Collie I was like "NOW I see what she's talking about--that doesn't even LOOK like a border collie."
 
Appraently the attacking dog's handler in the lab incident didn't see that much of an issue with his behavior--she yelled at the "victim's" handler for allowing her dog to get too close [8|] --to make matters worse, this was apparently one of the breed's top handlers [8|]. 
 
What is really such a shame about it all is that the breed has SUCH potential to be a dual purpose dog as well as a wonderful family pet.  I really believe that the problem is more that breeders on both sides simply are not interested in branching out.

i would breed for temperament first...for sweet, smart, well-behaved, friendly to all men and beasts, low-territorial house ets.
 
next i would concern myself with health and athleticism...a dog that would be excellent for people that like to exercise, but want a relaxed dog when they got back to the house...
 
a dog that was pleasant to look at, and admirable in its sleek, athletic build.
 
i would hang up on anyone who was looking for a dog for show purposes...

Oh yeah, I forgot about Border Collies. I love BCs, in fact, they're probably the only non-spitz dog I really like. Almost every day there's an add in the newspaper for $25-50 Border Collies. They're also very common at the shelters.

So are Border Collies recognized by the AKC? They aren't by the CKC, although there are still lots of breeders in Canada.

When i get out of school, i will only be working about 2-3 days a week, and i iwll be living on a large farm. I would really like to breed, but i'm not sure what kind of dogs yet. German shepherds are always a favorite of mine, but i would be too afraid that people with bad intentions would want to buy them. I don't want anyone buying a dog from me and trying to make it mean. Most likely i would breed ridgebacks. My goals would be : number 1: temperment, temperment, temperment. I want my dogs to be good with everyone, very friendly and very gentle. Health is also tied for number 1. My dogs would be OFA or pennhip tested. I would also breed for intelligence, and then type. I would also try my best to put certain dogs with certain people, depending on what the person wants in their dog.

If I were going to do it, I'd breed working Australian Shepherds (not the show type), and maybe Corgis.  I just love the herding dogs.  I would breed for sale to performance or working homes only, no pet homes, unless the people met pretty rigorous standards, since these are dogs that need jobs. 

If I were going to do it, I'd breed working Australian Shepherds (not the show type), and maybe Corgis. I just love the herding dogs. I would breed for sale to performance or working homes only, no pet homes, unless the people met pretty rigorous standards, since these are dogs that need jobs.

 
I was a breeder( Siberian Huskies). I would not sell to pet homes ever again, example, I sold a male Husky to a very nice couple with a house and large yard, or so I thought, then found out that the dog was crammed into an apartment with other dogs and mostly crated.
 
I would not ever breed again, even though I love German Shepherds & Huskies!!!