What, in your esteemed opinion, is a "reputable" breeder?
 

And what are the responsible reasons for breeding?

Just curious.

I'm not a yorkie breeder but I do plan on breeding my Bull terrier later this year. I have my reasons for breeding and I can share those with you as well as my opinions about a "reputable breeder" which I hope to be. I am not really into the "showing" aspect although it does interest me.

We purchased our Bull terrier almost a year and a half ago with the intention of "possibly" breeding her one day. My husband had done his research and searched for a dog for 6 months prior to getting her. Unfortunately we got her from a far away breeder and they haven't really been interested in keeping contact with us. But I did find a wonderful reputable breeder right after we got our dog to mentor me. I've been talking to her for over a year now and she has even offered to stud out her champion male with my female when the time is right. She has taught me about all the important HEALTH TESTING I need to do for this particular breed and given me a list of questions I need to ask my vet about breeding my dog. She is in the midst of helping me put together a contract for potential new owners. This lady is a show breeder and has very few dogs, she doesn't breed often and is very involved with this breed, going to shows, being in contact with other breeders and belongs to the Bull terrier club.

I'm not looking to breed to make money. I understand that the money we will spend on health testing, vet care during pregnancy and aftercare for the babies will not leave us with a big profit.

My husband and I want to breed this breed of dog because we love this breed and want to improve it as best as we can by having healthy and standard puppies.

We are hopeful that if and when we have our first litter we will have a show prospect that we CAN show and champion to build a strong healthy line.

I had a horrible experience with my first yorkie and I can't imagine being an irresponsible breeder and bringing a family the heartache I had to deal with.


I think what makes a good reputable breeder is someone who is not looking to make a profit, "have a miracle of life" or just have a litter for the hell of having a litter. Someone who truly takes an interest in the breed, and the improvement of the breed is someone who is reputable to me. SOmeone who takes the time to make sure their dogs are healthy and within the standard before breeding two dogs they have.

I could go on but I will leave it at this and hopefully someone else can comment on their reasonings.

The motto of the responsible breeder of purebred dogs is "Breed to Improve."

Well seeing as you have already bred your bitch, I find your question interesting to say the least.

Like the other poster here, I plan on breeding BRT;s not Yorkies, in furtherance of my goal I have spent 7 years studying, and showing, and competing, putting titles on my male, doing all the health checks necessary. My goal is to maintain the working qualities of our breed, and also their show qualities, with excellent health, and temperament.

I have now conducted judging seminars on this breed, and put together a web presentation on the conformation of this breed.

The responsible reasons for breeding; at the best to improve the breed, at the minimum to maintain the breed standard.

Whatever the size of your female is you put your female at risk when you breed her. You as the breeder need to provide health guarantees, and be prepared to support the owners of your dogs for life.

There are no short cuts to breeding responsibly. You literally carry the life of your female in your hands. You need to be prepared for that emotionally as well as financially.

Jorja Rules, What is your reason for breeding?

I do not know if there is a valid reason to produce pets to populate the world. If all I wanted was a pet dog to love, I would adopt a small puppy from the pound..BUT I want a Yorkie. I love the breed, everything about it..I want my "pet" to look like a Yorkie, act and be all Yorkie.
How is that achieved? IMO that is done by studying the standard, go to shows, show, keep in close contact with other reputable breeders etc.. and produce the best example of the breed as possible.

If strict adherance is not paid to the standard, then in a matter of a few short years, the Yorkie will not be a Yorkie...it is the responsibility of the ethcial, responsible, reputable breeder to preserve the breed.

I can tell you what I think it is not. It is not just letting your dogs get friendly, forgetting about your girl and then a week or two before whelping you wonder to yourself if maybe your girl might be pregnant and thinking maybe now is the time to learn about whelping.
Shame.

Reputable Breeder

1. Dedication to producing quality dogs is serious avocation. Has so much invested in dogs that he struggles to break even, not make a profit. Will sell pups only to approved buyers.
2. Can explain how planned breedings are used to emphasize or minimize specific qualities through linebreeding, outcrossing, or more rarely, inbreeding.
3. Does not breed dogs younger than age 2. .
4. Written contractural commitment to replace a dog with genetic faults or to help owner deal with problem.
5. Loves the breed and can talk at length about its background, uses, and ideal type.
6. Has an investment in dog equipment and the puppies environment is sanitary and loving.
7. Belongs to national, regional, and/or local dog clubs, indicating a love for the sport of purebred dogs. Shows their dogs as an objective test of how his stock measures up.
8. Shows litter and dam in a sanitary environment. Helps buyer evaluate and choose a pup. Explains criteria for "show prospects" versus "pet picks".
9. Prices will be at the high end of local range. Price will not reflect all that is invested in the pups. A reputable breeder never profits from the sale of puppies. Does not advertise in the newspaper. Has an established waiting list for the pups.
10. After purchase, will help you with grooming or training problems. Will take back a pup you cannot keep rather than see it disposed of inappropriately. Sells pets with spay/neuter agreement and on AKC limited registration.


Backyard Breeder


1. Motive for breeding: "fun", "good for kids", "to make money". Does not screen buyers and seldom refuses to sell, even if buyer is unsuitable.
2. Breeds the family pet to any convenient pet of the same breed just to have purebred pups. Has no understanding or concern with genetics, pedigree bloodlines, or breed improvement.
3. Though the pets (sire/dam of pups) may be well loved, they were not tested
4. Offers no health guarantee beyond proof of shots, if that. Unqualified to give help if problems develop
5. Seller has little knowledge of breed history, the national breed club or of the AKC breed standard. May claim this does not matter for "just pets".
6. Pups raised in makeshift accommodations, sometimes unsanitary, indicating lack of long-term investment in breeding and lack of true care for the puppies well-being.
7. Even when selling "just pets", may produce AKC papers or "championship pedigrees" as proof of quality. Yet seller does not increase his own knowledge through participation in national, regional, or local breed clubs. Is not involved in showing their dogs to "prove" quality.
8. May be unwilling to show a buyer the entire litter or to introduce the dam of the litter. Cannot or will not compare/critique pups or pup’s ancestors.
9. Prices are at the low end of local range, since must move pups quickly. Advertises in the local newspaper classifieds. .
10. No concern for the future of individual pups or the breed as a whole. Does not use AKC’s limited registration option or ask for spay/neuter contract to guard against the breeding of sub-standard pups. If you cannot keep pup, tells you to take it to a dog pound or to sell it.

:bravo: Very well said....

This should be a sticky :clapsmile

I like that.

:rofl28ib:It should! It would save everyone a lot of time and emotional energy.

This information is all over the internet. Each breed club follows it.

Every breeder's goal should be to breed to standard and improve the breed. In other words, leaving it better than you found it.

Wow! Solid. Succinct. Thorough. It's really too bad there are not these kinds of guidelines set for reproducing humans.

You know, a several years ago I was in the process of becoming a licensed home day care provider and at the same time my cousin was in the process of becoming a licensed kennel owner and Shih Tzu breeder. Guess who was "approved" first and with the least time and expense incurred?

Thank you for taking time to prepare and post this extensive check list. It's very insightful.

:yelrotflm
Tsk. Tsk. Didn't your teachers ever make you read directions before answering the test questions?

Why, thank you. I'm glad my pondering interests you.

Amazing! I'm impressed. You really do have the desire to "improve the breed" as they say. If I was in the market for a BRT, or had any questions about that breed you are the one I would ask! :thumbup:

Definitely worth the bolded print!


That is so true! It's truly amazing there are so many in the pet population given the risks involved in gestational heath and whelping, not to mention the health and forever-homing issues with new pups. Those bitches really are cash cows when you think of it. I mean, even if one is not breeding to make a profit, one stands to lose quite a lot if the bitch or the pups don't make it.

I'm sure she did, but is providing the other side of the coin.

As someone else said in an earlier thread. It's very sad that people view YT as a place to bail them out of whelping trouble. They feel that it is ok to breed irresponsibly and when the going gets rough, depend on the fact that all they have to do is post "help" and experienced people will come out of the woodwork to help. It's happened over and over again, that that always doesn't happen, especially if your girl goes into labor in the wee hours of the morning.

Losing a female or a pup hurts more than you know. Last year I lost 2 pups, the first time that ever happened to me. The year before I spent $2,500 hundred to save my girl's life, she went down a week after she whelped. Since she was 5 it was to be her last litter. She is now retired/spayed and living her life ruling the house. But, you go to any length for the love and welfare of your dogs.

Why, I just wanted Jorja to have the joy of experiencing pregnancy and mothe... oh wait, that's not the right answer is it? I meant to say "To improve the breed and promote world peace!"

;)

Honestly? I want another Yorkie (Jett is my daughter's Yorkie) and I have a cousin who just lost her female Yorkie, Princess of Quite a Lot. She asked me when we were planning on breeding Jorja and Jett because she and her husband would like one of our pups when we have them. I have no doubt I will be able to find forever homes for the rest of the litter, should there be more than two pups.

I wasn't planning on breeding them just yet because my daughter's wedding is coming up, a move for us is a possibility and my mom has been ill with cancer... so I knew I wouldn't be up for being a "doggie doula" just yet. Since I am *not* in the business I didn't keep track of Jorja's heat cycles and was just going about family life, school, parents, children, life as usual, enjoying my little girl dog for the companion she is.

So... just like some grandchildren come along when you least expect it we have puppies on the way.

Jett and Jorja are both healthy, standard-meeting, purebred, non-genetical-disadvantaged, well-loved, well-cared-for, never-been-in-an-iron-cage, enjoyable-tempered representatives of the breed.

Jorja has an appointment next week with her veterinarian and we are looking forward to this experience. When I took her in to the vet as a new member of our family, Dr. J asked me if we were planning on breeding her. When I told him I wanted one litter he assured me he would help us with that experience and he gave her a really thorough exam and was pleased with how well she met the standards of the breed. He did encouraged us to wait to breed her until she was 2. Well, we didn't quite make it to the two-year old mark and I'm disappointed in myself for that but I think we'll be alright.

:thumbup:

Absolutely! I'm sorry you had that terrible experience. I guess even experienced and reputable breeders are not exempt from heartache and trouble. I hope your emotional wounds are healing. :hugs:

Read this:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-answered.html

The reasons you gave for breeding are not valid.

Did you have the breeding pair evaluated? Were all the required tests performed on both? CERFs, OFA'd, bile-acids? These tests only inform you that the breeding pair do not have such afflictions associated with the tests, but it doesn't guarantee that their off-spring won't. Since this was an oops breeding, I don't think you had a smear done on both of them to make sure they had no infection that could cause a problem to the fetus.

To be honest it is cheaper and easier to just go out and buy another yorkie than trying to breed your own yorkie.

I also almost lost one of my girls a few years ago. It was her first breeding and she had a pup that came out of her sack in utero (stomach). It poisoned her system and was a good thing I know to keep checking her, because one early morning she had dark green discharge. I called her vet and rushed in around 6AM. He did an x-ray and pelvic exam and sure enough - we were in trouble. Luckily it was time for pups to be born and we ended up with two pups, the thrid one that seperated from its sack, of course died. Then for the next few weeks, I had several trips back to the vet since she ran a temperature and had to hand feed her. I was lucky and did not have to hand feed the pups every two hours around the clock. I forget how much money I spent, but I do know it was in the thousands, not to mention the champion stud fee I paid, and one boy I did keep and now showing.

I have also had a female that went into labor prematurely and ended up with a c-section and then did have to hand feed the pups around the clock and still ended up loosing all the pups after a week. They were just born too early. No signs before that and everything was fine before she started to have trouble. She was the right size, male too, both excellent quality. So you just do not know what trouble you will have till it happens. I also had to take time off from work. So cost of c-section, sleepless nights and days feeding pups, worries, care to mom, it was a lot!! And no pups to show for it all. I ma just so happy that my girl (the mom) was fine and made it through it all. She did go through some depression (I think) when the pups were dying and then all gone. You try everything you can and then sometimes it is not enough. Things happen beyond our control.

P.S. Did your vet recommend the needed tests as Mary mentioned before breeding and then when the pups get older? He should, but many vets are not breed specific and just do not know what is needed or know the standard for each breed. I know about this since I was a vet tech and worked for a vet. My boss (vet) did not know about any other breeds, except Dobermans, since that was the breed he loved and was interested in. Yes, a vet will say they will be there for you and are. They are there to give care to their clients, not to tell you whether you should breed or not. Actually it is in their interest for you to breed - they make more money when you come back to see them with your litter and then sometimes get new clients from the new owners of the pups you sell to.

OH MY If you were hoping for ANY help on here at all, you just blew that chance. No one is going to help you with this snotty attitude. :(

No breeder is exempt from the heartache. This breed can and will bring you to your knees.

Losing two pups was horrid. My girl went into premature labor, it was the second time she had done that. So, she is now spayed and retired.

Keep aware that your girl being as small as she is can concieve more pups that her body can carry to term and may well go into premature labor. It's something some breeders don't consider when breeding small girls.

Definitely better to have just gone out and bought another puppy.
Too many things that can go wrong with breeding small dogs like Yorkies. I used to breed Lhasas, so I know about breeding, and whelping puppies. But no way in Hades would I ever attempt to breed Yorkies or any other toy breeds. Breeding Lhasas was problematic at times.
Like humans, no two pregnancies and births are the same.
You have to be prepared for everything. The life of the mother and puppies are in your hands.

With all this, you honestly believe you are going to be able to give Jorja the attention she needs??? Not to mention the stress all the above is going to add to Jorja's life?

Well, see, I posted my question so that someone would consider posting what you posted...something listed, to the point, easy to understand, etc. I already knew what the majority of the members here think about those of us who are stupid enough to even think about breeding sub-standard, inner-bred or cross-bred mongrels.

And for the record I wasn't asking anyone here to hold my hand when the whelping begins. I was simply asking (in my general forum thread) what some other signs of pregnancy were. I am positive EVERYONE here had the same question when they realized her female was possibly pregnant the first time. It doesn't mean ignorance--if anything it means true concern.

Just what IS the purpose of YorkieTalk forums? If it is to solely encourage the responsible breeding of Yorkshire Terriers then a statement bearing that mission should be a popup to read and acknowledge before permission to post is granted. Otherwise you are going to have inane questions being asked over and over.

Maybe instead of a question/answer forum for just anyone it should be a "sit on your hands and just read what the professionals post" cyber lecture site.

At any rate, the atmosphere of the forum is what it is...

So...now I know what a "reputable" breeder is and I thank all who took time to post. I will keep those who are truly interested updated via private messages.

Sounds like your home could be a madhouse with all the wedding and your mom ill. I would expect the worst, since yorkie mom can pick up on the hecticness in the home. This can cause her to have problems. Alsoyou need to now her due date, since she cannot be left alone at this time. Yorkies do not whlep a litter well by themself, especially the first time. Plus with her being smaller than 5 pounds (and even larger yorkies have had c-sections) is a senerio for trouble. I know of one breeder that left for the store and when she got back her mama dog had her pups - all died on the living room floor and the others were going after the died pups (animal instincts set in) and the mama dog was trying to keep the other dogs away. It was a mess.

What snotty attitude? I'm being as sincere as the day is long! I'm being honest but I am no stick in the mud. I apologize if you feel my posts are "snotty." I mean no disrespect.

And Jeanie, please show me where I was asking for "help" of any kind. I know this forum well enough to know NOT to ask for help unless you are a long-time breeder of good reputation. I was merely asking for 1) other signs of pregnancy and 2) what the criteria is for a reputable breeder.