I have seen several threads on here recently concerning people wishing to breed from their dogs and being given what could politely be called short shrift.
Undoubtedly these people are generally poorly informed about what is involved and choose to ask quite basic questions on an open forum (and even worse, one where anti breeding feeling runs very high) rather than reading up thoroughly beforehand and making an effort to make contact with knowledgable people.
So if I want to breed from my bitch (WHICH PLEASE NOTE, I ABSOLUTELY AND CATEGORICALLY DO NOT WANT TO DO) how do I take the step from being what MN terms a BYB to being a breeder worthy of the title?
Firstly I have seen the breeders stakes at Crufts where several generations of the same family are on show. Clearly in this situation you have a natural advantage as you have knowledge, contacts and a sound breeding stock at your disposal. If you don't have the advantage of this then how do you begin? (obviously not by asking questions on MN )
- My (theoretical) bitch is clearly not the pick of the litter as I am a run of the mill dog owner who now has an interest in breeding. But if we only breed from the top 1% of the breed then surely we start to narrow the gene pool dangerously. Given that my bitch is sound, healthy, of good temperament, has passed all relevant health checks and confirms closely enough to the breed characteristics then what is wrong with using her?
- Homes for the puppies prior to breeding are essential? Surely some homes lined up are, but I have no way of knowing whether my bitch will have 1 or 12 puppies and whether they will be dogs or bitches. And unless I am spectacularly popular then I am going to need to advertise my puppies somewhere as I am not yet well known enough to have a waiting list.
Just these two points illustrate (to me at least!) that sensible and well advised breeding should be possible within the constraints of the KC and with an over generous helping of common sense. I'm just struggling to see how in the majority's opinion one makes the leap from being a BYB to being a socially acceptable breeder?