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| … but I want to be a breeder, stud dog owner, and raise a litter of puppies. These words have echoed in people’s minds for many years now and it will effect many more people and animals in the near future. These words can touch many people’s lives… some with heartache and some with joy, or maybe a little of both. These words can be very harmful too most canines, even resulting in death, while the rest are very lucky to have found loving, responsible, and permanent homes. Speaking from experience, on both ends of these worlds, I’ve been a dog owner and a breeder. Needless to say, all breeders are dog owners. However, not every dog owner is a breeder, and they shouldn’t be, since this is no easy task, if done correctly. It’s very true that any dog can breed to another, so long as you have an intact male and female capable of reproduction, coming together at the appropriate time to mate. However, this doesn’t necessarily make it good selective breeding practices so one can improve on one certain breed. For that matter, we all know mutts (mixed-breeds) can arise in such a manner, but in common goals and concerns of purebred dogs, we realize there’s enough of that, and they should only be adoptable as pets without any further breeding. But what about using two purebred dogs, you ask? Better yet, dogs that are registered with a well-known kennel club, like “AKC”. Aren’t they worthy to pass on the genetics of their predecessors? And in doing so, doesn’t that make me a breeder because I raised a litter of puppies? Well, the answers seem very simple to those that have put time and energy into studying purebred dogs and have many years of experience with breeding. However, to the common dog owner, often times the thought process comes from the heart, wallet, or ego, with a total lack of patience, instead of doing lengthy research and thinking extensively on what they are about to embark. We all can understand why people have a passion to breed their own pets. Deciding to move forward with the process, without understanding the full effects that they have caused, even if they were given the opportunity to listen to those that already know prior to, can be extremely disastrous. This is why there are so many unwanted pets looking for homes. People choose to do what they want without any concern or responsibility for the after-math it causes. However, it takes a huge commitment and dedication from dog owners, for our breed, to not breed. There really is only a few select dogs, in every breed, that have those great qualities breed standards call for, that should be passed on to the next generation. I'm sure you realize that there are many issues to deal with, when wanting to breed a litter. Many people own intact registered males and females, but this doesn't mean those dogs should be bred. There are many reputable breeders that also own males and females, but what they have done, was required of them by code-of-ethics, to breed, or no to breed. Anyone can place two dogs together, like I already mentioned, heck they can breed on their own without our help. However, it takes a great deal of knowledge and experience to selectively place two great specimens of the breed together to whelp a successive litter of puppies, and this is usually only accomplished by an experienced breeder. Besides, just think for a moment and realize that this is only the “Tip-of-the-Iceberg”. There is truly a great deal more about being a breeder then mating two dogs! Dogs that are registered with a kennel club are not licensed to breed here in the States. Kennel clubs achieve funding through registrations, so in effect, they survive because you breed and send in money to receive papers on your dogs. They do not normally inspect breeders, so they rarely know what happens behind close doors of a breeder’s facility or home. They do not inspect each dog before they are bred, do not check for important breed health clearances before breeding, they do not demand set prices or written contracts. Those kennels that are licensed with the agriculture department through our government do breed endless amounts of litters. And even these so-called businesses known as puppy-mills, that are hardly ever inspected, usually do anything they feel is necessary to make a profit! This list is endless of the things that they don’t do to monitor breeders, and the breeder’s are basically, monitoring themselves. Anyways, the one and only ultimate goal as a reputable code-of-ethics breeder is to have a litter to only better the future of a specific breed, so they can function and have the same characteristics needed to adhere to that same breed standard. Not wanting to just have puppies, just to have them, nor trying to make monies as a profit! As a reputable breeder, their code is in accordance to their breed’s parent club. A set of rules by a governing majority body that previously voted on specific and important set goals to establish proper guidelines for all breeders to adhere too. For most breeder’s certain proven traits and basic criteria is in order before ever considering any type of breeding. For instance, some of those basics concepts are: All health concerns, correct temperament, movement, structure, working abilities, intelligence, willingness to comprehend learning behaviors, type, life longevity, etc. The following is just one example of many common health problems in our breed. A major life threatening concern that is on every breeder’s mind, with owning an intact male and female, is reproductive cancers. So you have to ask yourself what is more important. Taking the risk that your dog develops cancer and breeding him/her because you believe the dog is nice? Or, you alter him/her and he/she doesn't get the cancer. Great! You have given him/her the chance to have a wonderfully healthy life. However, let's say you've bred him/her. He/she still gets cancer, and then passes it on to all of his/her offspring. How is that going to feel? Do you want other people or their dogs, that you are responsible for breeding, to have the same exact problems? I'm not saying your dog will get any type of cancer, but because he/she isn't altered, he/she can have a higher chance of getting it. These are just some of the questions a reputable breeder thinks about, all the time, when having a litter and/or owning a stud dog! Breeding them just isn’t worth loosing them and seeing them go through such horrible pain and suffering!!! If you want to learn all there is to know about the health of our breed and canines, I suggest reading the entire Rottweiler Health Foundation's, Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, and the health section of the American Rottweiler Club’s websites, just for starters. They will have all the details pertaining to concerns about hips, elbows, hearts, eyes, thyroid, cancer, and more. You should, at least, join the All Rottweiler Health Concerns group and Cancer in Rottweilers group, as well. The members of those lists are important and educated people that know all about our breed's problems and every Rottweiler owner should know these concerns, rather they are breeding, or not. Furthermore, a dog should be looked at in a total complete package and what it can offer to the future of our breed. Not just bits and pieces, or a fly-by-night, with only maybe a handful of nice traits. Take for instance, a dog that only has one nice quality that the dog’s owner thinks is correct in their own minds, but they don’t get many different unbiased experienced evaluations before an actual breeding takes place. What about the other characteristics the dog’s owner doesn’t understand or ever notice, the not so quality ones, that might also be passed on to future generations? Then what will happen? We’d have future breed specific legislation (BSL) and homeowner’s insurance problems for our breed. Well, it’s already here folks!!! Why? For the same exact reasons that are already described in this article. It’s a fact that most experienced reputable breeders know exactly how to go about getting that total complete package without passing on those major unwanted traits, with the help of finding the right responsible homes. On the other hand, the inexperienced novice breeders, that have created the majority of today’s dog over-population, do not have a clue. Besides, there are many reputable breeders that already have nice dogs, that also have pets needing homes, as well as, show and working homes. In fact, the majority of their puppies are placed in pet homes that are required to be non-breeding animals. These breeders already have an upper hand at breeding, and doing what is right for our breed. I understand people want to start somewhere when breeding, and in doing so, they should do a great deal more then just sticking two dogs together. Anyone can do this. I realize that I am repeating these same issues, but they’re very important, and should be completely understood by all! In addition, showing a dog in conformation is just one way for a dog to be judged for breeding purposes. There is more to it, then bragging that you have show dogs, titles, fancy ribbons, or wins. Furthermore, not all dogs being shown in conformation have a correct temperament and/or structure, but there are just as many, that truly are proven. Each dog before it’s bred should also go through some type of temperament testing and working/performance event to evaluate it properly, according to the breed’s standard. Have you had your dog's temperament evaluated by a reliable source? There are several ways to make sure he/she has the correct temperament that should be passed on. Very basic tests are the ATTS (TT), basic obedience CD, and what is required for registered therapy dogs. You can also do a BH and ZtP or BST on your dog for temperament testing, including breeding evaluations. Conformation and some type of working trials should also be done to help determine if your dog has the proper qualities that should be passed on. It will give you an idea why it's important to breed to a standard. There's more to it then just pretty looks and fancy titles! All people should have their dogs evaluated by many outside, unbiased, judges to determine proper breeding stock. This goes without saying, even for livestock. Owners don't show and work dogs, just only for the fun of it, although it is very rewarding, they also do so for very selective breeding programs. Read the correct history of the dog sport’s origin and you’ll understand WHY people are suppose to do conformation dog shows before breeding a litter. The following are some words of great wisdom that was taught too me, among many other novices, and now has been passed onto you! Find a very good breed mentor that is known as a reputable breeder to their peers, that has done many different dog sports in several different venues within their breed, for at least 10 years, if not more. Visit with this mentor and many others that you’ll discover involved in the breed, and just listen to what they have too say, and you’ll learn a great deal!!! If you don't know such a breeder, then join our breed’s parent club, and if you do, still join! The American Rottweiler Club will assist you with many questions you have with breeding and owning your dogs. Don't just take people's word for it, over the Internet, and that includes my words, as well. Find out for yourself! There are also other breed clubs that are extremely beneficial. Try joining them all because each one has important issues that you should learn. Such as: Colonial Rottweiler Club, the Medallion Rottweiler Club, and the United States Rottweiler Club. Furthermore, I ask you to please think about these following questions before you breed. “If you were to look for a dog for yourself what qualities would you really want it to have, and what would you look for in a breeder”? A good breeder always places oneself in a puppy buyer’s shoes, and if you can do this, you’re on the right path of what it takes to do this responsible task. Do you really know everything there is to know in your dog's pedigree? Have you met the parents, grandparents, siblings, and parents’ siblings throughout the pedigree? Have you actually seen them, placed your hands on them, and know a lot of their offspring? If you don't, you cannot even begin to understand what is hiding behind those blood lines and what you can pass on to innocent dogs and what their owners will have to go through. If you do know, can you live with yourself, knowing what you know? I've written a couple of articles on the subject of purchasing puppies. If you want to become a breeder, then please take time to read those articles, and put yourself in people's shoes, when you are going to sell them a puppy out of a litter you bred. On another note, I do suggest reading many breed books, articles, magazines, etc., that are written by several different breeders. Even read those same types of material, on other breeds, they have just as much reliable information. This will help you make good solid decisions. In conclusion, please do as much research as you possibly can on our breed, and on the topic of dogs, before deciding to breed. If you’re really passionate, dedicated, caring, and patient enough for our breed, I think one day, you could become a respected reputable breeder, if you’re willing to put forth the required effort that is needed to succeed and to work towards that ultimate total package that is indeed according to that breed's standard and heritage. I wish you the very best in your decision process. Written by, Jo Ann Lewis - "Von Stallog Rottweilers" |
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