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Originally Posted by WalnutHill  Another thought..... the shows are not ends unto themselves (or, at least they aren't supposed to be). Shows were started as a way for breeders to show off their breeding stock and to show off the quality of dogs they have.
My concept of a "show breeder" is someone who shows to validate their breeding program. But, some people take it to the extreme of the sport of showing, and only breed to show, not show to prove they should be breeding. |
That used to be my opinion too, but shows are a way for breeders to get "confirmation" that their dog does indeed meet standard. When you love a pet, it's difficult to use a critical eye to judge it's appearance, and that's where others opinions become an important part of the process. Developing an eye is an important part of being a breeder, and while not every breeder can afford the show circuit, I believe it's important to attend shows, as an aid to developing your eye. Pictures only show you so much, and seeing a great quality dog in person, allows you to better evaluate your own stock.
To crystalsmom, I agree health should always be taken into consideration first, it is my opinion that show breeders are more likely to do health screening because the are developing a "line", and not just in and out of the game. I don't think most BYB's offer health guarantees.