Belle:
I cannot quote your post because it is too long to allow me to do so.
You say you were involved in purebred/show breeding yet you say conformation is not important to you. Yes, you may see a lot of extreme and flashy looking dogs the have some apparent weaknesses at Westminster, however, the fact is there are still many breeders in the show world that breed according to exacting standards. They may not make it far on the show circuit but it was never their objective to do so. They champion their dogs and continue to breed according to the exacting standards they have set. Getting to Westminster is for a certain sector of the show/breeding world. Many of them will try to win at all costs and don't care much about what it does to the breed. There are people like this in every part of our society. If they can make you give up your ideals then they win in more ways than one.
All that does not change the fact that the true science of breeding good, true to standard, healthy, purebreds does not change. When you start accepting less than standard OR extreme dogs in your breeding program you are degrading the breed not only in conformation but in health and temperament.
You talk about weak ears being passed on by taping them but you find it acceptable to breed floppy ears and other substandard traits because the buyer will accept such dogs. You contradict your own argument. If you do not care about the conformation of a purebred you may as well just breed mutts.
It sounds to me like you are bitter about your experience in the show world and have thrown the baby out with the bath water. You can't have it both ways. Either you breed by exacting standards and abide by them or you become one of those who accepts faults and the degrading of the standard as well as the health and welfare of the breed because it is easier and less expensive to sell pups that way. The public doesn't know any better so why not?
There ARE people who are breeding better dogs. They may not make it to the nationals or Westminster but they have the best looking, healthiest dogs in their breed. They are not making fancy deceptive websites to advertize their kennel, you won't find them easily in a google search but if a person takes the time to educate themselves about true, quality, purebred breeding they will also find out how to find some really nice looking, healthy, purebreds at a reasonable price. |