Q. Hi Claire,
Mr. and Mrs. X
A. Well, you are probably asking the wrong person about breeding. As a
breeder of what I consider the highest caliber, I have a code of ethics
which I am under self policed obligation to follow.
I show my dogs in 3 competitive arenas: show-ring, field trials and
earthdog. I also spend hours with them in the fields getting them in
the best physical condition I can. I spend fortunes on them at the vet
and I spend my days with them getting to know them.
My July 2009 litters cost me over $8500 in vet fees, stud fees,
shipping, storage, C section and food and vet for the puppies from birth
to 20 weeks which is where I am now. I actually broke even this time!
Don't ask me how because I usually end up way in the red.
I don't breed for money. I don't breed to supply a demand. I breed
because I love the breed, I have a goal to which I aspire in my breeding
program, and my ultimate goal is the absolute betterment of the breed,
as I see it.
In every litter I have there are pets and there are animals I will go
forward with. Outstanding owners are hard to come by and I will take no
less for the dogs I breed.
If you breed your bitch to any old male that someone finally sells to
you, how do you know they are good enough to mate if you don't have a
neutral 3rd party who judges your dogs? In my case, the AKC. How do
you know if they even compliment each other and will make healthy
puppies? How do you know you are actually producing an animal worthy of
being born?
So here you come along with your "darling pet puppies" that are genetic
mysteries, with no health screening of the parents, no idea of the
history of the lines, no in depth knowledge of the breed and its
capabilities. You sell these puppies to people and you might even make
a profit as you use your own bitch and sire and probably don't pay much
in vet bills. (Just guessing). If you sell a puppy bitch to someone
who feels as you do and wants to breed too, then there are 2 more
backyard breeders making the same sorts of puppies. For what? Money?
To satisfy the demand? For the fun of it? I'm not sure of your
motivation.
Say you actually do deliver your litter, your bitch lives and your
puppies make it to 12 weeks. Your puppies are taking the owners that
might be sold outstanding puppies by serious breeders for the same
price. This is not a popular breed. There aren't a lot of really great
owners to go around. I'm not about to help someone breed willy-nilly. I know that the standard breeders are exceptionally protective of
their genetic lines. If you do find someone to sell you a male without
a spay and neuter contract, then I would be pretty certain that male is
not of the quality that should be used in a breeding program.
I understand your desire to breed. I really do. I love it myself.
HOWEVER, I have the time, the money and the knowledge to do a really
good job. I have a lot of offer my breed.
I am also more than happy to help people become knowledgeable about the
breed, to mentor you in how to show, how to compete and how to know what
to look for. Down the road, when you have paid your dues, I would
even GIVE you a really good bitch with the understanding that you would
breed her when the time came. However, the bitch would have to be shown
to her championship, and bred at 3 years of age to a male of my
choosing. I always have a contract and my brother the lawyer writes
them so they are enforceable.
This is how important breeding is to me. It is a sacred calling that
must be done by only those with skill, knowledge, time and cash money.
It is VERY expensive. There is a LOT of heartbreak, and I'm not about
to open the doors to the sort of breeding which has ruined the miniature
dachshund that the general public knows.
Who bred your bitch? Does she have a registered name? Was she sold on
a spay neuter contract? I'm guessing she might not even be a standard.
I can't imagine a standard breeder that would allow a puppy bitch of
theirs to go to a home without any kind of supervision or contract.
I don't mean to belittle of your dream of breeding. BUT... I don't play
around with genes lightly and I won't help anyone else do it either.
If you want to really breed well and pay your dues, I have lots of
breeder friends who would be more than happy to help you learn. There
is a very good club in the Seattle area to which you will want to apply
should you decide this is the road you wish to travel.
Wishing you only the best,
Claire L Mancha
