What breed would you breed

oranges81

 But I don't want to own a female so I'd probably just get a stud dog to start out with and go from there.

 

LOL that's how I feel too!  I like the process of raising, training, and titling the dog.  I don't want to deal with bitch fights and heat cycles and all that.  I'm not much of a puppy person either.  I like seeing the puppies at my breeder's and I help if/when I can but I don't have this overwhelming longing to do it myself.

I like how my circumstances are right now.  The GSD people I hang out with are more like a "team".  We hook up with 3-4 other kennels, all sit together at shows, cheer each other on, handle each others' dogs, even trade dogs around to get them in the right home and get them the right training.  I like how it functions as a group and I like being part of this group rather than wanting to acquire all my own dogs and essentially do the same thing.  There are plenty of great GSD breeders in this country, it just seems like a more valuable use of time and resources to team up with them than try to start my own thing.

I also like having variety in my dogs.  My next GSD will probably be a working line.  I have 2 kennels in mind.  So it wouldn't really make sense for me to breed since there's no real point in crossing my "types".  I just like to be involved in various activities and some dogs are more suited for each one so I have different types of dogs in the same breed.

I don't disagree with breeding but I just wish more people were responsible so others don't have to pay for their mistakes. In my own experience I have seen the worst come from people who try to breed their dogs for profit.

Smaller dogs are harder because there is a chance they may need a c-section which could cost the owner about $1,000 in some cases. There there are the birth defects that happen in even the best breed dogs. Also, not to mention sexually transmitted diseases that are possible. I had to help treat a stud who caught something from breeding that caused his penis to rot away.

After fostering a litter of 3 week old puppies a couple years ago I don't think I would ever want to actually breed any dog. The time and money I put into those 8 pups without having the parent dog around to help was a lot of stress on my part. They were all adopted, thankfully, but if I hadn't fostered them they would have been put to sleep because the shelter would not keep anything under 6 weeks. Finding them homes wasn't easy either so I could imagine how difficult it would be for a breeder.

Xebby

Finding them homes wasn't easy either so I could imagine how difficult it would be for a breeder.

 

It's interesting because I asked my breeder how she screens people, how she decides what dogs to keep, etc and she told me that she always has 2-3 times the demand for puppies than she can supply.  I was surprised by that, given all the over-population propoganda from AR and considering the current economic climate (her dogs are about $1000 cheaper from other breeders breeding the same lines from the same or similar dogs, but still a pretty penny).  She said that her experience has been that when you breed right and are reputable among the breed community, it's not finding the amount of homes that's the problem.

I've already done it. I got involved with a great mentor in Bichons and Poodles. I showed in conformation (that is cut-throat and way too political that for a lot of people it's not about the dogs, but their 'fame';) I did health testing, I bred 5 litters. I gave it up eventually, as I didn't like the way I was expected to think of my dogs as stock and not furkids. I also hated the ridiculousness of the humans at the shows, as well as bitches in season and intact dogs marking all over the house. Selling the puppies was agonizing, it was emotional for me and I despised screening potential puppy buyers. Then I was also expected to place my older dogs who were no longer 'useful' for me. That just about killed me! So in all, I will not show dogs in conformation, I will not breed again and I can tell you it was more than $24,000 debt racked up by showing and breeding, even charging $1200 per pup (bichons) ($500 poodles). I don't take saying "never" lightly, as I am a major mind-changer, but I can tell you I have zero interest in showing in conformation and zero interest in breeding again.

 I hate the whole "stock" mentality, too. When Ena didn't turn out for conformation, had a hormone issue, and had to be spayed, several people told me to just get another one. For one thing, she was still a puppy. She's NOT replacable. She's my GIRL! And she's rocking the rally ring, anyways, which is way harder than standing on a table. Just ask her. I will, eventually, get another dog to show (and this time from a tested line, so hopefully, I can finish it!), but if it doesn't turn out? Guess what? Already my pet. I'll probably never be serious enough about it to get into breeding. I love the individuals too much to think about the breed.

 I have never been interesting in breeding and can not see myself ever desiring to breed any of my dogs or getting into the hobby of it.  I've never been one that wants to deal with the logistics of all the time, space, energy, emotional mindset, and funds needed to breed.  I also wouldn't want to have to deal with screening potential owners and so on. 

 Heck, I don't even want to breed my mantises even though almost everyone else in the mantis hobby gets into it at least partially.  They are easy keepers, require no training, no vet visits, socialization, titling, genetic testing, or even one on one human interaction.  No one's going to bat an eyelash when you cull the injured or sickly (often by simply feeding them to their siblings).  Still I wouldn't want to do it.  To me they are pets and when the number of them becomes such that they become a chore to take care of, it isn't fun for me anymore.

When I need a baby animal fix I go to the rescues.  There are always plenty of babies needing foster care till they are old enough to be adopted out or released back to the wild, depending on the animal.

Liesje

It's interesting because I asked my breeder how she screens people, how she decides what dogs to keep, etc and she told me that she always has 2-3 times the demand for puppies than she can supply.  I was surprised by that, given all the over-population propoganda from AR and considering the current economic climate (her dogs are about $1000 cheaper from other breeders breeding the same lines from the same or similar dogs, but still a pretty penny).  She said that her experience has been that when you breed right and are reputable among the breed community, it's not finding the amount of homes that's the problem.

 

 That is not unusual IME, as in most breeds the supply does not meet the demand for nice, well bred puppies. And I'm not sure that losing money is not a prerequiste for being a reputable breeder.

 The 'stock' mentality is SO obnoxious. And to be honest, I would rather see someone being REALLY objective- even if it meant thinking of dogs as 'stock' and making breeding decisions based on that, rather than letting emotion drive their breeding program. EVERYONE loves their dogs and can appreaciate their many individual good qualities. But that doens't mean those qualities shoudl be passed on, and a good breeder needs to be able to be objective enough to make those calls.This does NOT mean dogs are disposable, but it DOES mean being able to take a step back and honestly evaluate your own dogs.

On the other hand, you also have people who will criticise you for placing dogs that are NOT of breeding quality. If the dog enjoys performance, that's great- you can go on and do performance. But if they do not? Is the dog supposed to just sit at home every weekend when everyone else goes out to shows and trials?

I'm currently looking for a home for Malcolm - I've been thinking about this for over a year (since he washed out of service dog training) and while I adore him, he hates sports and really just wants to be a sofa and bed dog, and he hates being left home alone when I trial and show. (And takes up too much space for me to bring him along.) I'm going to miss him a TON, but I don't think that makes me a bad dog owner.

 In our house, if we dream about multiple flat coated retriever puppies running around, it's called a nightmare :) 

In all seriousness, most reputable breeders lose money, if they are lucky they may break even.  I wouldn't do it as a job, or even for fun.  There's too much that can go wrong and to be frank, I think Ari will be our LAST puppy we bring home lol.  I muuuuch prefer them once their 6mos. old and older (preferably around 1-2 years).  My favorite breed (flat coated retriever) is high energy, wacky, mischevious, and mature incrediably slow - I wouldn't enjoy having a bunch of littles running amok with all those traits!

huskymom

 I definitely would never make money breeding if I were to breed.  First off, my dogs would not be purebred.  I'd breed Alaskans and they would be for racing and/or recreational dogsledding.  I'd keep most of the pups and only home the "rejects"...the ones that didn't fit my teams.  But that is a far off dream best saved for when I'm loaded, single and finished raising my kids.  So check back around 2045 or so....

 

lol that sounds like me as well. 

 i love my American Bulldogs, but i am smart enough to know that i dont want to handle an intact bitch or dog 24/7..... ugh.. the hormones, attitudes, the size of the mess when they go in season!!??  not to mention they tend to be gender aggressive. if i didnt find homes for all the puppies it would a recreation of the film Gladiator!!

No if i was to make this my life's work it would have to be something a little more placid and could get along in a pack situation WITHOUT the rigorous hard core training. i like working dogs, so it would likely be one of those.

Then again..... i've always ALWAYS had a soft spot for Dobermans... i've never owned but one at a time so i dont know what they are like with others of their own breed and gender.

 Male Dobes have a tendency to be male aggressive, especially if there's bitches to be had

 

Cait, I agree. Sometimes, the home isn't a good fit and a dog could do better somewhere else. Teenie Weenie would have been MUCH happier in a home where she was the only dog, but she was a liability to place. I would have placed her, if the right home had come along. That's different, though, than placing a dog because it doesn't have anything to offer your breeding program, anymore, or because it's old. 

I guess my point is, where is that line? You could look at it as that I am placing Mal since he doesn't fit my breeding program. But at the same time, I also got Kaylee because SHE didn't fit a breeding program, and I've known a TON of folks who have gotten really great dogs at a year or two who didn't grow up to be breeding quality and their breeders let them go to pet homes rather than letting them hang around and not DO anything. I think it's okay to place retired breeding dogs too, if they're young enough to make the transition and you have a home they'd fit well into. (Obviously, I'm not talking about placing a 10 year old stud dog but for example, Kaylee's dad was placed as a pet this year after he was neutered- she has two kids from him who are better quality, and he's now in training as a therapy dog (Something she doesn't have time to do.)

 

Cait

 

It depends on what's best for the dog.

I've placed many dogs that did not work out here because they had too much drive to be happy as "pets" but could never be useful as sheepdogs here. They were going crazy, getting out, and trying to kill sheep (and succeeding). 

And then I've taken in dogs like Zhi and Lynn that will never BE sheepdogs, but are great pets - and ditto to dogs like Cord and Gus that are in semi-retirement and perfectly happy just hanging around.

Pwca

I guess my point is, where is that line? You could look at it as that I am placing Mal since he doesn't fit my breeding program. But at the same time, I also got Kaylee because SHE didn't fit a breeding program, and I've known a TON of folks who have gotten really great dogs at a year or two who didn't grow up to be breeding quality and their breeders let them go to pet homes rather than letting them hang around and not DO anything.

 

Raises hand, Kirby was a pup that didn't turn out to fit his breeders, breeding program.  He was just shy of a year when I got him and I'm very thankful his breeder decided to part with him, because he is everything and more than I needed in a dog.  What I found with the older dogs is that good breeders don't usually go tearing down doors to home a dog that doesn't cut it when it meets maturity or even when placing an older retired dog.  Instead, they recognize when a good family comes knocking.

Initially I pretty much had my heart set on a puppy and was looking to find the breeder that I wanted to get on a waiting list for a pup.  After talking a ton with Kirby's breeder about what I was looking for, she mentioned if I would be okay with a slightly older dog she might have one that would work perfectly for what I wanted.  At the time she wasn't sure if she was going to part with Kirby, because they were enjoying him so much as a pet, but talking with me she thought he would be a great fit.

AgileGSD

And I'm not sure that losing money is not a prerequiste for being a reputable breeder.

 

I don't think it's a prereq but at least in German show line GSDs in the USA I don't see how it would be possible to not.  So far I haven't met a breeder I liked and thought was reputable that didn't have a job.